Natural cosmetic and skin care products are everywhere. But, you have to be careful, because many of them are not all that natural. Read the label carefully. Write down the ingredients listed below and don?t buy anything that contains them.
Natural cosmetic and skin care products are not that well regulated. Since they are not food items, most agencies consider them non-harmful. But the pores are tiny ?holes? that everything passes through. Think about it, if something is porous, it will leak. So anything that you rub on your body will end up in your blood stream.
You probably know that, since you are looking for natural cosmetic and skin care products, but it just explains why companies are allowed to include substances that are known to cause cancer in animals, people or both. They are also allowed to include ingredients that are just not that good for you.
Cancer causing ingredients commonly found in face creams and other cosmetics include the following: Acrylamide, DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine), dioxane, Padimate-O and parabens. Those are the most dangerous. Now let?s continue with some other compounds that you should avoid.
Alcohols
Whether listed as ethanol, ethyl, methanol, benzyl, SD or isopropyl, none of them are good for your skin. They strip away the natural acid mantle that protects you from bacteria, mold and viruses. Studies suggest that applying alcohol promotes brown spots and premature aging.
Fragrances
It is common for natural cosmetic and skin care products to include a fragrance. It could be any one of 4000 different compounds, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. I didn?t include it with the other cancer causing chemicals, because I wanted to mention another problem.
The olfactory system allows us to smell, but it is important to our sense of taste and it is connected to many other systems of the body. That?s why aroma therapy works for some people. The treatment makes use of scents that are known to be relaxing and soothing. But other odors, including many common fragrances, are depressing and irritating. It?s simply not something that you want to put on your face.
Mineral Oil
This is a common ingredient in natural cosmetic and skin care solutions. Similar ingredients include liquid paraffin, paraffin wax and petrolatum. They clog the pores and encourage acne, black heads and other break outs. They can make you more likely to burn in the sun and eventually cause chapping and dryness. Take chap stick, for example, which is basically just paraffin wax. Initially it makes your lips feel better, but if you use it continuously it will dry them out.
Other Oils
Natural cosmetic and skin care products should contain ?cold pressed? oils, a process that preserves their nutrient content and prevents the formation of poisonous acids. Pay attention to the ?use-by? date. If kept beyond that time, they become rancid and will cause rashes or other irritation.
The Good Stuff
I didn?t want to leave you with only the ?bad? substances. So, here?s brief list of some good ones. Brown Algae, Japanese Sea Kelp, Coenzyme Q-10, vitamin E, passion fruit extract, Babassu, grape seed oil, functional keratin and avocado extract are all good choices for natural cosmetic and skin care creams. All are safe and effective. Take the time to look for them.
