How do you take care of your body’s biggest organ ? Let’s think
about this question for a moment. We eat low fat foods for our
heart; lower sodium intake for out blood pressure; dental check
up twice a year; eye exams and physicals yearly. We do all of
these things to make sure we live long healthy lives. But the
biggest organ, our skin, is often neglected, dehydrated, sun
damaged and suffocated by the products we put on our skin.
The first ingredient listed in skin care products is the largest
percent of what that product is made of. What is the first
ingredient in your skin care products? Mineral oil, petrolatum
or lanolin oils are commonly used in skin care products. These
ingredients are considered “skin suicide” because over a period
of time they can actually dehydrated the skin. They also speed
up the aging process because it causes toxic to build up in the
skin. Think about that? You would not want to accelerate the
aging process. We age enough with stress.
What about the “drying” alcohols and the harsh chemicals? SD
alcohol 40 is a drying alcohol that cause the “lipids” of the
skin to flatten out, causing the skin to lose its contour
(similar to a balloon losing air.) A lot of products use
fragrances or artificial FD&C dyes that causes allergic
reactions to the products.
Alcohols such as Isopropl Alcohol, SD Alcohol 40 and Ethyl
Alcohol dissolves the body’s own natural moisturizers and strips
the skin of it’s own protection, leaving it vulnerable to
infection. They destroy the skin’s pH balance and since they
absorb water, speed up wrinkling of the skin.
Waxes such as beeswax, carnauba wax, candela wax or paraffin
waxes are fillers which can clog the pores creating blackheads,
and whiteheads. They smother the skin which over a period of
time can create enlarged pores.
Petrolatum sometimes known as “paraffin jelly” or “petroleum
jelly” is not absorbed by the skin and suffocates the pores. All
petrochemicals pollute our water and destroy marine life.
Avoiding them is essential for the health of humans, animals,
fish, water, land and air.
Did you know that some skin care products use “acetone” in their
products? Tell me, WHY would you use a product on your skin that
takes off fingernail polish? Acetone is used most often used in
astringents, fresheners or clarifying lotions. It is extremely
toxic and will dehydrate the skin, speeding up the aging
process. Ever feel that burning sensation?
Borax (Sodium Borate and Boric Acid) used in baby powders, bath
powders, eye creams, skin fresheners, protective creams and moth
washes as a preservative. It is rapidly absorbed by the kin.
Borax is still widely used despite repeated warnings from the
American Medical Association.
D & C colors are usually synthetic, coal tar colors. They’re
toxic and should be avoided when at all possible.
I find it very interesting to see that many products today claim
to be “natural. When reading the ingredient list on labels you
will find that there are more chemicals in the product than
vitamins, herbs or botanicals. Most of the natural ingredients
are usually at the end of the ingredient list which often means
that the amount contained in the product is minimal and
therefore having ineffective results.
When purchasing your skin products do your research. You don’t
want to speed the aging process or prevent the aging process for
as long as possible?