October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign that focuses on educating the health risks, prevention and awareness of Breast Cancer and its impacts on women worldwide, especially women of color.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is important to Sabreen Cosmetics because our sister-run business was named in loving honor of our late aunt, Nabeehah Sabreen, a resilient fighter against Breast Cancer until 2009. Through Sabreen Cosmetics, her great legacy lives on through our mission to inspire women of color to live a life of luxury and wellness.

While any cancer diagnosis can be devastating news, Breast Cancer is the most common diagnosis women face worldwide. Statistically, about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive Breast Cancer over their lifetime. Just this year alone, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive Breast Cancer and 49,290 non-invasive or pre-invasive Breast Cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women. In addition, Breastcancer.org revealed that early Breast Cancer diagnosis is typically higher in white women. Yet, Black women are more prone to develop aggressive, advanced Breast Cancer that is more likely to take their lives.

There is a multitude of factors that contribute to women of color receiving more extreme Breast Cancer diagnoses, one of the major culprits being the toxic ingredients potentially lurking in your daily cosmetics. Therefore, we have passionately dedicated our concentration to disrupting the status quo of the beauty industry and the harmful effects of its ingredients on women of color’s health and wellness.

While there is an overwhelming amount of information on toxic beauty, for simplicity, we are breaking down the basics to raise awareness. In the U.S., there is a list of only eleven cosmetic ingredients prohibited or restricted by the FDA’s regulations. Sabreen Cosmetics, however, meticulously curates and develops our formulas under the European Union’s standards of cosmetic ingredients, the strictest standards in the clean beauty world. As a result, we proudly deliver luxury, clean beauty products that are sustainable and free from any toxic or carcinogenic chemicals to provide our clientele with the highest standards possible.

Here is why toxic cosmetic ingredients are harmful to us, they are:

• Known/suspected carcinogens in them (meaning, they can potentially cause or will cause Cancer).
• Endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic or interfere with our hormones, immunity and reproductive system.
• Damaging to our kidney’s lungs, liver, reproductive and nervous system, DNA, etc.
• More likely to cause allergic reactions that irritate eyes, hair or skin.

The sad reality is that toxic ingredients increase the risk of Breast Cancer in all women, but it is especially targeted in beauty products for women of color. According to the EWG, about 75% of mainstream products marketed to Black women contain toxic and harmful ingredients.

Achieve optimal health and wellness by eliminating these carcinogenic beauty ingredients from your beauty routine:

1. DMDM Hydantoin & UREA (Imidazolidinyl): These preservatives release formaldehyde.
   Found in eye makeup, lotion, sunscreen, skincare, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and detergents.
   
   
2. BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)& BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene): Synthetic antioxidant used as a cosmetic preservative.
   Found in relaxers, hair-growth products and skin lighteners.
3. Synthetic Fragrance: The term “fragrance” can equate to hundreds if not thousands of ingredients not disclosed on the label.
   Found in lipstick, perfume, cologne, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, moisturizers, foundation, liquid and bar soaps, antiperspirant/deodorant, and most scented products, etc. 
4. DMDM Hydantoin & UREA (Imidazolidinyl): Preservatives that release formaldehyde.
   Found in hair relaxers, dandruff shampoos, hair dyes, bleach, some skin lighteners, lotion, skincare, conditioners, eye makeup, body wash & detergents.

5. Parabens (methyl, butyl, ethyl, propyl): A toxic preservative.
   Found in moisturizers, sunscreens, shaving gels, toothpaste, nail polish, etc.
   
   
6. Phthalates: A hidden chemical mixture that’s frequently labeled as many different types (rarely states as “phthalates”) & sometimes listed as a “fragrance.”
   Found in nail polish, hairspray, perfume, aftershave lotions, soaps, etc.
   
   
7. PEG (polyethylene glycol) compounds (PEGs): Petroleum-based synthetic chemicals. These are on labels as “PEG- followed by a number.”
   Found in cosmetic cream bases, antiperspirant/deodorants, makeup remover, baby wipes, etc.

Sabreen Cosmetics fervently believes that luxury beauty should never sacrifice quality ingredients, exceptional performance, or ethics. Our handcrafted products are meticulously developed based on an uncompromising criterion that abides by the highest safety, efficacy and the purest of ingredients in our formulations. We are disrupting the beauty industry by omitting unnecessary toxic ingredients, so you can focus on putting your best face forward devoid of toxicity. Additionally, we are honored to receive the recognition of  The Good Face Project’s Certified seal of approval, a trusted authority in the clean beauty world. The organization also serves as a powerful resource for uncovering the safety and efficacy of your current cosmetics to empower your choices further.  

3 Tips for Prevention of Breast Cancer

Over the years, the mortality rate for Breast Cancer has significantly improved through the American Cancer Society’s enduring efforts and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Here are three health and prevention tips to significantly lower the risk of Breast Cancer:

1. Purchase non-toxic personal care and beauty products. Start small, replace toxic cosmetics with cleaner options. Take on a little at a time until you have a full collection of clean beauty.
2. Engage in daily exercise. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to obesity, which can be attributed to Cancer within the body.

3. A nutritious diet. Healthy is wealth. Changes in diet can play a significant role in the health of the body’s cells.

Discover our latest luxury clean beauty collections at sabreencosmetics.com to flaunt pure regal femininity and power, without the unnecessary toxic ingredients.