Axe Dual 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner From Unilever

Some marketing campaigns are really great, they are effective and intriguing. They make us want to actually be the actors in the commercial. They make imaginary life so appealing that we actually think if we use their product, we might just become the person presented,  or perhaps just a little bit of what they suggest might happen to us if we consume their product.  Axe is just one of those companies who had a successful marketing campaign, Apple being another company.  I can't count how many Apple using, hipster stereotypes I see sipping coffee at Starbucks using a Mac product.  It's almost laughable.  Don't get me wrong, I actually own Apple products; they are good at what they do, and they do what they do really well.  It's buying into the image I find amusing.  Like Axe products, the commercials say that if you use their products women will find you irresistible.  We bought this product for the boys and my partner along with a bunch of other Axe products from hair goop to body spray so they would smell and look nice.  My partner (who would often go to Toronto for work) rode the elevator for part of the day as a mild amusing experiment.  Not once did he get molested by a female, not only that, but not one stuck to him like a magnet.  Now you're probably thinking perhaps he is unattractive and if he were more attractive it would have worked, but the truth is he is a very good looking guy with the perfect amount of hipster to be alluring.  So, not only did he cover himself in an array of cancer causing ingredients (one of which is rumoured to lower sperm count and reduce the size of his manhood, and others which are actually banned in Japan) but did not receive any overtures or form of magnetic induced activities from the opposite sex.  Not only is Axe full of really toxic chemicals, they also use false advertisement to lure in the poor unsuspecting male who may think that these products will indeed make him a chick magnet.      

Axe Dual 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner From Unilever

Ingredients:

Aqua:
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Chloride
Dimethiconol
Parfum
Carbomer
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
Tetrasodium EDTA
DMDM Hydantoin
Citric Acid
PPG-9
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone
CI 77019
CI 77891
CI 77491
CI 19140
CI 17200

Description:

Aqua: is water.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Used in most soaps and shampoos, it acts as a foaming agent.  It is what causes soaps and shampoos to lather.  It is known to be an irritant, though it is considered safe in small quantities, the more sodium laureth sulfate used the more irritating it becomes. It is not considered to be a carcinogen.  

Cocamidopropyl Betaine:  is derived from the coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine (known environmental toxin, respiratory toxin, contact allergen).  It is used as a skin conditioning agent and a surfactant.

Sodium Chloride:  is your everyday salt.  It is not considered to be toxic and is used as a cleansing agent as well as a thickener.  

Dimethiconol: is used as an anti-foaming agent, a skin conditioning agent as well as an emollient.  It is a silicone of a larger molecular make-up.  Due to the size of the molecules the US FDA has ruled it to be safe as it would be unlikely for it to penetrate past the skins surface.  

http://www.fda.gov/

  

Fragrance (Perfume): odours to enhance the product to be appealing and pleasant smelling.  Generally considered safe and non toxic.  However some people do have sensitivities to fragrances and develop such symptoms as headaches or migraines.

Carbomer: is not actually one molecule but refers to polymers made from acrylic acid.  It is used in creams and beauty products as a thickening agent and controls the flow of the product.  This ingredient has been labelled as safe and has a low potential for skin irritations, allergic reactions, photo toxicity and sensitization.

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride: is an organic compound that is a water-soluble quaternary (positively charged ions) ammonium derivative of guar gum. It is used as a conditioning agent in shampoos and other hair care products.  It is considered to be toxic as well as mild skin and respiratory irritant.  It has also been linked to caustic burns on skin and gastrointestinal lining as well as nausea, vomiting, coma, convulsions, hypo tension and death. It is also considered to be an environmental toxin.

TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate: It is a colourless salt and is used in shampoos as a surfactant. It is considered to be toxic, however it is not carcinogenic or considered to be a mutagen. 

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~Lf95ks:1

Tetrasodium EDTA: is a preservative made from formaldehyde and sodium cyanide (known carcinogens).  It also acts as a penetration enhancer which means it breaks down the skins natural barrier going right into the blood stream.  It is also classified as a persistent organic pollutant.  It is a known cytotoxin, genotoxin, causes developmental and reproductive effects.  In my opinion this products should be banned.

DMDM Hydantoin:is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative, basically what this means is it releases formaldehyde making the environment less favourable to the microorganisms. It has been prohibited in Japan for certain cosmetic products.  It is a known human irritant, it is considered to be a broad systemic toxin. However it has been deemed safe by industry panel because the amount of formaldehyde is so small.  Formaldehyde is also a cancer causing agent.

Citric acid: This is in many skin care products especially in the anti-ageing products as an alpha hydroxy.  It acts as a chelating agent, fragrance ingredient, a pH adjuster, buffer and masking.  It is not considered to be an environmental toxin, but there are concerns with broad systemic toxicity and skin irritation.

PPG-9: is also known as polypropylene Glycol 9, and is a quaternary ammonium salt (positively charged).  It is used to prevent the buildup of static electricity.  This ingredient is considered to be a non reproductive toxin, broad systemic toxin and a skin irritant. 

Methylchloroisothiazolinone: it is a preservative as well as antibacterial and antifungacide.  It is a known skin irritant and can cause chemical burns.  It is also considered to be a human immune system toxin.  There has also been studies showing mutagenic effects.

Methylisothiazolinone:  Is also known as MIT, it is a biocide and preservative.  It is a known immune system toxin, skin irritant, developmental toxin, contact allergen as well a cytotoxin.  Why are we using this product?  We need to start holding companies accountable and forcing them to start providing products that are beneficial to us not harmful.  The general consumer should really start arming themselves with knowledge that way we can help to advocate for our health.

CI 77019: is Muscovite potassium silicate mica. What this means is it is a brittle silicate mineral used as a colourant.  There is limited evidence showing that it is a liver toxin and gastrointestinal toxin.  Though the information is extremely limited (almost minimal) it appears that if it is airborne it can be toxin but if it is not, it is safe.  

CI 77891: also known as titanium dioxide.  This ingredient is a known carcinogen when inhaled, it is thus considered to be an occupational hazard. It is considered to be a human toxin but not considered to be an environmental toxin.  It is generally used as a colourant, opacifying agent, ultraviolet absorber and a sunscreen agent.

CI 77491: also known as ferric oxide or rust.  It is used as a colourant.  It unfortunately does not chemically degrade and will stay in the bodies tissues.  According to the safety data sheets it is listed as non toxic.  

CI 19140: is also known as tartrazine, it is a synthetic lemon yellow dye.  It is used as a colourant.  It is an immune system toxin, carcinogen, genotoxin, allergen and causes hyperactivity.  Here is an interesting and highly ironic piece of information.  In the 1990s rumours began to surface that tartrazine will lower sperm count, cause impotency in males and shrink the size of a mans penis and testicles.  Funny since it is in a shampoo designed specifically for men.  There is no proof or documented cases to back up these rumours, however.

CI 17200: is also known as Acid Red 33, it is a disodium salt and is used as a colourant.  It is considered to be a mutagenic.  

TN