How Hidden Skincare Ingredients Can Disrupt Your Hormones

thecrazyvinegarlady
Sep 23
4 min read

When most people pick up a moisturizer, they’re only thinking about soft skin. But what if that cream is doing more than moisturizing? Many everyday skincare ingredients have been linked to hormone disruption — subtle changes that can throw off your body’s balance over time.

Why Hormones Matter So Much

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They regulate:

Energy levels
Sleep cycles
Fertility and reproductive health
Mood and stress response
Metabolism and fat storage
Skin health itself

That means if ingredients in your skincare are mimicking, blocking, or over-stimulating your hormones, it doesn’t just affect your skin — it can ripple through your whole body.

Ingredient by Ingredient: The Hormonal Concerns

1. Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly)

What it is: A by-product of the oil industry, refined for cosmetics.
Concern: If not fully purified, it can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are known to act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mimic or interfere with your natural hormones.
Impact on the body: Daily exposure may stress the liver (the organ that filters toxins and metabolizes hormones), potentially impacting estrogen balance and detox pathways.

2. Phenoxyethanol

What it is: A synthetic preservative.
Concern: Has been flagged for reproductive toxicity in animal studies and nervous system effects at high doses.
Impact on the body: While small amounts are considered “safe,” using multiple products with phenoxyethanol every day increases exposure. This can tax your detox pathways and may contribute to hormonal imbalances by overloading the body’s processing systems.

3. Ceteareth-20 (and other “-eth” ingredients)

What it is: An emulsifier made by a process called ethoxylation.
Concern: May contain trace contaminants like 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen and potential endocrine disruptor.
Impact on the body: Endocrine disruptors can confuse your body’s hormone receptors — especially those involved in estrogen and thyroid function. Over time, this may affect menstrual cycles, energy, and even weight balance.

4. Synthetic Emulsifiers (Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Disodium EDTA, etc.)

What they are: Chemicals added to make formulas smooth and stable.
Concern: These don’t mimic hormones directly, but they increase skin permeability, making it easier for other chemicals (like preservatives and petroleum derivatives) to slip into the bloodstream.
Impact on the body: Think of it like opening a door wider — if other hormone-disrupting chemicals are present, they get in more easily and burden your system.

How Daily Use Can Add Up

Using one product once may not cause noticeable changes. But skincare is a daily ritual — often layered: cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup, body lotion, night cream. Many of these contain overlapping ingredients (like phenoxyethanol or ethoxylated compounds).

Over time, this can lead to:

Estrogen dominance (too much estrogen compared to progesterone) — linked with mood swings, irregular cycles, weight changes, and skin breakouts.
Thyroid disruption — sluggish metabolism, fatigue, and dry skin.
Adrenal stress — trouble managing stress and sleep, since endocrine disruptors can interfere with cortisol balance.
Skin sensitivity — ironically, the more “chemical load” your skin faces, the weaker your natural barrier becomes.

The Safer Alternative

Natural, whole-food-based ingredients — like tallow, olive oil, jojoba oil, beeswax, mango butter, and essential oils — don’t just moisturize. They nourish your skin with fats and compounds your body actually recognizes. Instead of confusing your hormone messengers, they support balance and let your body do what it’s designed to do.

Every swipe of cream is either helping your body’s balance or adding to its burden. When you choose natural, you’re not just choosing soft skin — you’re choosing harmony for your hormones, too.

Conventional vs. Natural: What’s Really in Your Moisturizer

Drugstore Ingredient	Hormonal Concern	Natural Alternative
Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly)	May contain PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), linked with endocrine disruption and burdening the liver’s detox of hormones.	Tallow – rich in fat-soluble vitamins, deeply nourishes without hormone-disrupting contaminants.
Phenoxyethanol (Preservative)	Flagged for reproductive toxicity and nervous system effects at high doses. Daily exposure from multiple products may add up.	Beeswax + Vitamin E – act as natural preservatives and barrier protectors.
Ceteareth-20 & other “-eth” compounds	May contain trace 1,4-dioxane, a suspected carcinogen and potential disruptor of estrogen/thyroid balance.	Olive Oil / Jojoba Oil – naturally stable, nutrient-rich oils that blend beautifully without harsh processing.
Synthetic Emulsifiers (e.g., Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Disodium EDTA)	Can increase skin permeability, allowing more chemicals into the bloodstream and burdening hormonal balance.	Shea Butter / Mango Butter – provide natural creaminess, stability, and skin barrier support.
Fragrance / Hidden Phthalates (not in CeraVe, but common in drugstore creams)	Phthalates mimic estrogen and are tied to hormone disruption and reproductive concerns.	Essential Oils (Lavender, Frankincense, Citrus) – safe, natural aromas with added skin-supporting benefits.

Drugstore creams often rely on cheap fillers and preservatives that may silently stress your endocrine system when used daily.

Natural creams use whole ingredients your body recognizes, helping you support your skin and your hormonal harmony.

At Core Living, we believe what goes on your body is just as important as what goes in it. Keep it simple. Keep it natural.

Want to make your own Face Moisturizer?

Ingredients:

2.75 oz shea butter(approximately 1/2 cup of ra shea butter)

.5 oz jojoba oil (1tbsp)

.5 oz fractionated coconut oil (1tbsp)

5 drops lavender

Or your favorite essential oil blend.

Intrusctions:

Add shea butter, jojoba oil and coconut oil to a glass bowl.
Set the glass bowl over a pot of water to create a double boiler. Melt all ingredients together.
Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Add in essential oils if you are using them and stir together well.
Transfer to an airtight container and allow it to cool completely before securing the lid.