No Shave November is coming to an end!

Hi all – Tom again! Last day of No-shave November! So, as you rejoin the 75 percent of men who shave their face daily, I’m here to share about something most of us never knew.

Shaving can almost be seen as a rite of passage. We are taught by our fathers to lather up with shaving cream and take our time to prevent nicks. What we are not told is that there may be chemicals in our favorite shaving cream.

As we lather our faces, we absorb chemicals through our pores. Many shaving creams contain cancer causing chemicals such as Parabens and Polyethylene glycol (PEG). As previously stated by Alexis in her recent post on personal care products, “Parabens are a group of compounds widely used as a preservative in creams, lotions, ointments, underarm deodorants and other cosmetics. They are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumors.” PEG contains Dioxane which has been listed by California as a cancer causing agent.

I have been using the same brand since I was 16. After examining the label, I found it contains both Parabens and PEG, as well as Propylene Glycol – one of the main ingredients in antifreeze and brake fluid.

Men, as well as women, need to be conscientious about the chemicals we come in contact with everyday. EWG Skin-Deep Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) can be used to check what chemicals are in the products you are currently using and help you find safer alternatives.