Many of us who have grown up in malls love walking into Bath and Body Works and trying different scents. Japanese Cherry Blossom lotion! Warm Vanilla Sugar body spray! Eucalyptus spearmint candles The smells seem endless… but do they have any health benefits?
Many people are questioning the brands they once loved due to the growing demand for more transparent and safer skincare products and household goods. Are Bath and Body Works safe brand? Do their products pose any health risks?
Bath and Body Work ingredients, environmental initiatives, and animal testing policy will be examined to determine if they can be deemed a “clean brand.”
What types of products are we talking about?
We looked at the ingredients in all of Bath and Body Works products. This includes:
- We have an article on why Bath and Body Works Candles are toxic.
- Wallflowers (Read our article about Bath & Body Works Wallflowers here.
- Fragrances and Aromatherapy Products
- Lotions, moisturizers, and body creams
- Soaps and Body Washes
- Hand Soaps & Sanitizers
These beauty and home products share many ingredients, despite their different purposes.
The first potential problem is the need for ingredient transparency.
Bath and Body Works products have several problems. The ingredients are not listed on the website.
You can now find the ingredients of their home fragrance products, such as candles, Wallflowers, and room sprays, by clicking on the ” Ingredients ” link at the bottom of their website and using the search bar. That’s something!
If you are in a store or on a product page, you will need help finding the exact ingredients of these home fragrances.
Their website does not list the ingredients of their personal care products, such as lotions and body washes. You can find out the elements of these products by looking at the back of the bottle in the store or online.
It makes it more precise and more accessible for the customer. A product doesn’t need to be toxic because its ingredients are difficult to locate or unavailable. Customers deserve to know exactly what they’re buying and using.
This is what we’ve become accustomed to when it comes to food. Most people think we should know what goes into our bodies every time we eat. This is necessary for those with allergies or sensitivities. But it can also be helpful to maintain personal responsibility and agency.
Why should the products we use to care for our skin, and those we breathe in through the air, be different?
The fragrance loophole is responsible for consumers still being unable to access all Bath & Body Works ingredients. Next, we’ll discuss that.
Bath and Body Works Ingredients – Top ingredients to be concerned about
You can find the ingredients of Bath & Body Works’ personal care products elsewhere on the internet and on the back of the bottles. We’ve combed Bath and Body Works products and gathered the most common and potentially problematic ingredients.
Fragrance
Bath and Body Works’ main selling point is fragrance. Bath and Body Works has released hundreds of scents, ranging from the classic W Arm Vanilla Sugar to Iced Raspberry Bellinito, Twinkling Night Sky, and much more.
The ingredient “fragrance,” listed on almost every Bath and Body Works product, can be found on the label. Please let us know if you find one that doesn’t have it. We couldn’t!
The problem is that this ingredient is very harmful. The ” loophole” allows companies to cover up to 4,000 different chemicals under the umbrella term “fragrance,” “parfum,” or “eau de toilette.” This is possible because the law protects fragrance formulas as “trade secrets.”
Many of these 4,000 chemicals have proven entirely safe and harmless. Many chemicals are toxic to humans, animals, and the environment. One example is phthalates. Most people are familiar with phthalates and know they can harm hormones and cause cancer and other problems.
The “fragrance loophole,” however, allows other categories of ingredients to be added to products, including carcinogens, allergens, and even naturally-derived ingredients like limonene or linalool.
Since all Bath & Body Works products contain “fragrance,” they could include various ingredients. You would only know if it was tested.
Parabens
Many Bath and Body Works products contain ingredients like methylparaben and benzylparaben. Parabens, like phthalates and other endocrine disruptions, can interfere with a person’s natural hormone function. They’re therefore linked to various adverse health outcomes, including cancer and reproductive problems.
Artificial Colors & Dyes
Bath and Body Works products also contain many artificial dyes and colors (listed as “FD&C Red No. 40” or “FD&C Yellow 5”), which are listed on the labels. Bath and Body Works products also contain artificial colors and dyes (labeled as “FD&C Red No. Carcinogens can contaminate the most commonly used colorants.
More independent research needs to be done on these dyes’ health effects. However, many studies have shown that they are linked with hyperactivity or hypersensitivity in children and cancer/tumor development due to DNA damage and cellular mutation.
Sulfates
Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl (SLS) or sodium laureth (SLES), are commonly used in cleaning products like shampoos and soaps.
SLS can be irritating and cause or worsen things like rashes or dry skin. It’s safe for most people as long as they use it in the correct concentrations and wash it off after using it. SLS can cause skin irritations in some people. They may wish to try removing it to see if that helps.
SLES is a less harsh alternative to SLS. Due to its manufacturing, SLES can contain carcinogens. (More on this below).
Although these two ingredients are not “worst,” they may harm some people. Here are some guides that you may find helpful if you are looking for personal care products free of sulfates:
- Bodywash
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Methylisothiazolinone
This ingredient (along with other similar isothiazolinone preservatives) is commonly used in cleaning products like hand soap, shampoo, and body wash. Methylisothiazolinone is not only a skin irritant and sensitizer, but it’s also suspected to be a neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor).
As with SLS, there are restrictions on the amount of isothiazolinone that can be used in personal care products. These limits vary from country to country. However, skin-sensitive people should be on the lookout for this preservative.
Ethoxylated ingredients
Bath & Body Works also contains a lot of ethoxylated components. SLES, as mentioned above, as well, PEGs, and other ingredients that have “eth” as part of their name are included.
The term “ethoxylation” describes the process of processing these chemicals. These chemicals are commonly found in cosmetics, skincare, cleaning, and beauty products. They are used as softeners and thickeners. They also act as perfume “dispersants” or penetration enhancers. Although avoiding ethoxylated chemicals is impossible, many consumers are still aware of their presence.
