Your Skin

What’s on Your Skin?

Have you checked the ingredients on your cosmetics, skin care products and shampoo?

If you haven’t, what you may not realize is that many of your skin care products, shampoos and cosmetics contain ingredients that are not only harmful to your skin, but also to your long term health. Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) or prescription medications.

How can we avoid these toxins?

Stay away from products that contain WATER, they require preservatives to prevent mold and mildew. Check the labels of your cosmetics, skin care products and shampoos carefully and learn to recognize ingredients that are harmful to your skin and to your health. We strongly encourage you to “google” your skincare product ingredients. When reading your label the ingredient your product contains the most of will be first and the ingredient it contains the least of will be last. Don’t be fooled by the words “natural” or “organic” check those labels too. Many contain one, maybe two, natural or organic ingredients but also contain harmful chemicals. We can’t control everything in our environment; however, we can control what we put on our bodies. Whenever possible choose products that are All Natural.

The following are just some of the chemicals that have been identified by scientific studies to be harmful to our health.

Paraben Preservatives Parabens are widely used in cosmetics, deodorants, skin care and baby products to prolong their shelf life. They are known to be highly toxic and have caused rashes and allergic reactions. Recent scientific studies in the UK found a strong link between the use of parabens and the increasing rate of breast cancer in women. Researchers found a high concentration of parabens in 100% of breast tumors tested.

Mineral Oil or Liquid Petrolatum Both are a by-product from the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. Refined mineral oil is used as transformer oil. Mineral oil is commonly found as a main ingredient of face and body creams and cosmetics. It coats the skin like a plastic film, clogging pores and stopping the skin from eliminating toxins which leads to many skin disorders. Mineral oil should NEVER be given internally to young children, pets, or anyone with a cough. Due to its low density, it is easily aspirated into the lungs, where it cannot be removed by the body and can cause serious complications such as lipoid pneumonia, death of brain cells, permanent paralysis and/or retardation. Baby oil is 100% mineral oil! Other petroleum based ingredients include paraffin wax, paraffin oil and petrolatum.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) Often described as being “derived from coconut” to disguise their toxic nature, these chemicals are commonly used in shampoos, toothpaste, foaming facial and body cleansers and bubble bath. SLS and ALS can cause severe skin irritation, and are easily absorbed into the body, building up in the brain, heart, lungs and liver, leading to potential long term health problems. SLS and ALS may also cause cataracts, and prevent children’s eyes from developing properly.

Propylene Glycol Found in many beauty creams, cosmetics and cleansers, Propylene Glycol can cause skin rashes and contact dermatitis, and has been shown to cause damage to the kidneys and liver.

Isopropyl Alcohol is a colorless, flammable chemical compound that is used as a solvent in many skin care products. It causes skin irritation and strips the skin of its natural acid mantle, promoting the growth of bacteria, molds and viruses. It may also cause premature aging of skin.

DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) and MEA (Monoethanolamine) These substances are harsh solvents and detergents that are used in cosmetics and face and body creams as an emollient. They can cause allergic reactions, and long term use of DEA-based products (such as Cocamide DEA) have been linked to an increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer.

Aluminum A common ingredient in antiperspirants, aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Used as a thickener in skin care products and cosmetics, PEGs interfere with the skin’s natural moisture balance, causing an increase in aging and leaving the skin vulnerable to bacteria.

Talc is a soft mineral used in talcum powders and cosmetic powders. Scientific studies have shown that routine application of talcum powder to the genital area is linked with a three-to-fourfold increase in the development of ovarian cancer. Inhaling cosmetic powders containing talc may also be harmful to long term health.