Just a quick post about the synthetic cosmetic ingredients you should avoid in your skin care products. This means reading lot's of small print on back of your products, as some of the products that call themselves "natural" still contain these chemicals, because the manufacturers get away with this if they have even 1 natural ingredient. Following list is produced by Aubrey Hampton:
METHYL, PROPYL, BUTYL AND ETHYL PARABENS
Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Can cause allergic reactions and skin rash. Some studies have shown that these ingredients are slightly estrogenic and can be absorbed to the body through skin.
DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA) AND TRIETHONALAMINE (TEA)
Often used in cosmetic as emulsifiers and foaming agents. They can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are ammonia compounds and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Toxic when absorbed into the body over a long period of time.
DIAZOLIDINYL UREA AND IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
Widely used preservatives, works best as biocide in combination with parabens. Can cause contact dermatitis and release formaldehyde which can be toxic.
SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE (SLS)
A cheap and nasty detergent used in shampoos for it's cleansing and foam-building properties. Often derived from petroleum, it's sometimes disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the phrase "from coconuts". It causes eye irritation, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, skin rashes and allergic reactions.
PETROLATUM
Also known as petroleum jelly, this mineral oil derivative is used for its emollient properties in cosmetics. It can interfere with skins own moisturising mechanism, causing dry skin - often creating the very conditions it claims to alleviate! It's used widely as it's incredibly cheap.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
This should be a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both natural. In reality it's a synthetic petrochemical mix used as humectant in cosmetics and even in food (retains moisture, makes firmer creams). It can cause allergic reactions, hives and eczema. PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol) are related synthetics, watch out for these on labels!
PVP/VA COPOLYMER
A petroleum-derived chemical used in hair sprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic as inhaled particles can damage the lungs of sensitive persons. So no spraying nasty hair sprays around little children!
STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE
An ammonium compound used in hair conditioners and creams. Developed by fabric industry as a fabric softener, it is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins and herbals,which are beneficial to the hair.Can be toxic.
SYNTHETIC COLOURS
Used to make cosmetic products to look "pretty", these should be avoided completely. Many synthetic colours can be carcinogenic, so if a cosmetic contains them, don't use it!
SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
Some of these fragrances can contain up to 200 different chemicals, which are not listed on products. Some issues caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, skin irritation and even vomiting. If the cosmetics has Fragrance as listed on the label, don't buy it!
The list goes on, but these are the main ones that you should try to avoid. The thumb rule is if you can't pronounce it, avoid it! Do go and have a look now if your shampoo or body lotion contains any of these ingredients. If so, would you still use it? Note that the worst offenders are the most expensive brands - Dior, Clarins, Clinique, Chanel, Lancome etc. There is absolutely nothing good in their products, you only pay for the name. If you want to splash out on your skin care, spend it on natural products (some listed in my previous blog post).
Time for snooze now!
Posts
Blimey, where do I start. I don't think you have got a single thing right here.
ReplyDeleteIts probably easier to direct you to my blog, Colin's Beauty Pages and have a look around there. It will put your mind at rest.
But that's not why I am posting. I am interested in your raw food experiment. I have a theory that a predominantly raw food diet should improve the skin's barrier function. I'd be really interested to know what your experience is of how your new diet affects your skin. I went raw for a couple of weeks and I think I noticed a difference but my skin is pretty okay anyway. I tried the opposite - eating only carbs and sugar for a few days and that didn't have any effect. But I couldn't keep it up because I felt ill.
Anyway I would be really interested in your experiences. Skin aside, I found it was beneficial in a number of ways pretty quickly. But it is really hard work to keep up so best of luck.
Haha, thanks! I just found your blog today so will definitely have a look around there, is it really all wrong? Everything? Must tell off Audrey Hampton then...
ReplyDeleteAs for my raw food experience, it's hard work indeed, but I have noticed some improvement on my skin, it's usually very oily and prone to blemishes and it is slightly better now. But my eating is all over the place at the moment, some day's high raw and other day's not so high. I guess you need to be quite high raw before you notice any major improvements.
I don't know if a raw diet will improve the skin - I am looking for evidence. My thinking is that a raw diet ought to make your blood sugar levels more stable. When your blood sugar is high one of the things the body does to cope with it is to push it out through the sweat glands. I think this is the origin of the widespread observation that eating a Mars bar gives you spots. You are basically serving up lunch to the microbes in your pores. I tried eating a couple of Mars bars and entire box of Celebrations and only eating toast at mealtimes but it made me feel ill after 3 days so I had to give up. I didn't get any spots either.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing the the sugar rush to the skin might do is disrupt the osmotic pressure and so weaken the barrier function. I think it would probably take a few weeks to notice any change.