Would you consider these skincare products "safe"?

Therapeutic Efforts
#1

I just spent the last, I don’t know how many hours, looking up skincare products ingredients to check if they had any endocrine disrupters listed, or anything else which might effect PFS.
These seem to be the best options I could find. I thought I’d check to see if anyone had any input here, plus these could be potential suggestions for others to use who are concerned about skin care products.

I’m trying to keep things simple so will just have a cleanser, moisturiser, and an occlusive. I might swap the CeraVe product for just vaseline to reduce ingredients list, or remove the occlusive option altogether.

When it comes to haircare, I couldn’t find many suitable things so I might just stick with water and occasionally dilute apple cider vinegar. The best commercial conditioner I could find (which also wasn’t madly expensive) was Faith in Nature Fragrance Free Conditioner.
I didn’t look for a shampoo as I didn’t use any before PFS anyway, just conditioner.

Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

  • Cetearyl Alcohol
  • Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate
  • Arginine
  • Caprylyl Glycol
  • Coco-glucoside
  • Disodium Phosphate
  • Hydroxycapric Acid
  • Magnesium Oxide
  • Potassium Phosphate
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Tromethamine.

Avène Tolerance Hydra-10 Hydrating Cream for Sensitive Skin

  • Caprylic/capric Triglyceride
  • Glycerin
  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter)
  • Cetearyl Alcohol
  • Cetearyl Glucoside
  • Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Powder (Citrus Limon Peel Powder)
  • Diutan Gum
  • Sclerotium Gum
  • Sodium Hyaluronate

CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment

  • Petrolatum
  • Paraffinum Liquidum / Mineral Oil
  • Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax
  • Paraffin
  • Caprylic/capric Triglyceride
  • Dimethicone
  • Ceramide NP
  • Ceramide AP
  • Ceramide EOP
  • Carbomer
  • Triethyl Citrate
  • Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate
  • Sodium Hyaluronate
  • Cholesterol
  • Tocopheryl Acetate
  • Tocopherol
  • Caprylyl Glycol
  • Synthetic Wax
  • Panthenol
  • Phytosphingosine
  • Xanthan Gum
  • Benzoic Acid
#2

They should all be fine according to my experience but I also ran it through chat gpt.

1 Like
#3

Thanks for the reply. I had also checked them with ChatGPT and Gemini the other day and they came back fine according to both.

I just did another final check with them and ChatGPT has now flagged an ingredient :confused: Here’s what my prompt was to ChatGPT:
“Do these products contain any endocrine disruptive ingredients? Like with even a hint of disruption? Please do a deep search” (and then I copied and pasted the products and ingredients).

I got back this reply:

"Avène Tolerance Extremely Gentle Cleanser

Sodium benzoate — animal studies report effects on sperm count motility and reproductive organ changes and altered sex hormones in some rodent work. These are dose dependent studies given systemically. Topical cosmetic exposure is typically far lower but the animal signal is real. If you want zero margin for doubt avoid formulations with sodium benzoate.

How strong is the evidence where a signal exists

Sodium benzoate: signal comes from animal studies often at oral doses and sometimes relatively high doses. That is different to a low concentration topical preservative exposure. The animal findings are not proof of human endocrine disruption at cosmetic use levels but they are an indicator you cannot dismiss entirely."

And all the other ingredients of the other products were basically fine. It did mention potential cause for concern if some weren’t refined properly / contaminated, but said products in the UK, EU and US have good controls. I’m not worried about that.

I might still use that cleanser anyway. It’s on the skin for a short period of time, I’m only using it topically (although some topical things can go systemic, like finasteride!). It is also by far the “cleanest” cleanser I could find after hours of research. Although I mighttt have a quick look to see if I can find any other products. I’m not sure if I’m being overly paranoid / cautious here. Our bodies are already damaged. Prior to PFS I wouldn’t have been concerned, but now, I don’t know.

I might just not use the CeraVe product / Vaseline as an occlusive after moisturising, and so I should be fine to just wash my face without a cleanser then really. I’m just concerned at how bad my skin is going to get as it feels dry, and I’ve seen other skin issues people with PFS develop. I’m hoping to try and keep mine as good as possible early on.

I’ve ordered the moisturiser for now, I will see how moisturising it is when it arrives. I already have the CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment as my occlusive before PFS anyway. I’ve used it a couple times since PFS without any symptoms flaring up.

I feel so paranoid about everything now.
I was in the supermarket earlier today not knowing what food was safe to buy.