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| Category: Holistic Skin Care |
Date published: October 13, 2008 |
 I have read numerous articles concerning the correct skin care products that an individual should join to their beauty collection. I begin with the first line and proceed to the next, only to find the sales pitch. I wonder to myself if this was written out of concern to educate the uneducated or simply a means of selling a product. It seems these days that everyone is attempting to sell something doesn't it?
Years ago I found myself using products that would now make me cringe, but back then Noxzema and Sea Breeze were my first choices of facial cleansers. In my foolish mind, the more it burned or tingled the more it worked. I believed they worked because I always had great skin. I was often told that I had skin like a porcelain doll, and I thought it was because of my cleansers. Little did I know every cosmetic product I have ever used was full of toxic chemicals. It is truly amazing what one can learn when they do research.
As I became a parent, and concerned with the products I put on my children's skin the more I researched. I was devastated to find that the one company I trusted the most, Johnson n Johnson's, was in fact one of the worst companies. As I click on their website I read of fables, telling the consumer how they care about the well-being and safety of families. I also see photographs of loving mothers holding their smiling children. I say to myself, "If a mother who looks that loving was aware of the toxic contents of these products they would not dare to be an advocate of this company." But then again I am only one person, and all I can do is write in hopes that others will read.
What is so bad about Johnson n Johnson's you ask? What do their products contain that is so bad? Well, let me count the ways, these products are carcinogens (cancer causing), cause developmental and reproductive toxicity, have restrictions, violations and warnings, cause allergies and immunotoxicity, Other concerns for ingredients used by this company are: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level change.
But this is not necessarily the fault of this company or the numerous other companies who resort to the use of toxic materials. What most do not know is that Cosmetics, or personal care products, are essentially unregulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FFDCA). Unfortunately, out of the 112 pages that make up this Act only one page includes cosmetics. (Just to be clear cosmetics includes: lotions, facial creams, soap, shampoo and conditioner etc.)
Under federal law and regulation, FDA (FDA 1995, 2005):
Cannot require companies to test cosmetic products for safety before marketing.
Does not review or approve cosmetic products and cosmetic ingredients before they are sold to the public.
Cannot regulate cosmetic products until after they are released to the marketplace, and even then the process is extremely cumbersome.
Cannot require product recalls. The agency must to go to court to remove misbranded and adulterated products from the market
Cannot require manufacturers to register their cosmetic establishments, file data on ingredients, or report cosmetic-related injuries. Instead, FDA relies on voluntary reporting of ingredients, injuries and establishments.
I am now cautious as to what I put on my skin and my children's skin. Many studies have confirmed that most baby products contain harmful chemicals called phthalates. Phthalates are used to make plastics flexible and stabilize fragrances, and are found in a number of consumer products including toys, personal care products and medical equipment. These chemicals are also endocrine-disruptors; they mimic estrogen.
Three studies, published in 2003 by the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, measured the effects of phthalate exposure in humans. Their findings were as follows:
The first study found that phthalate exposure in fetuses may contribute to premature birth. Of 84 infants in that study, scientists found 88 percent had phthalates in their blood. The study also cited reports that a particular kind of phthalate, diethylhexyl phthalate or DEHP, can inflame the uterus of expectant mothers. DEHP is the most toxic form of phthalate, and is found in high concentrations in intravenous bags and medical tubing; infants who undergo medical procedures requiring plastic tubing are exposed to high DEHP rates.
The second study shows that adult men are also at risk from phthalate exposure. The study found a correlation between phthalate exposure and damaged DNA in sperm in 168 men studied at the fertility clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The third study, released last November, established that all women who participated in a phthalate study showed traces of the chemical in their urine and that exposure came through inhalation.
A separate study, by the Silent Spring Institute, which sought to find out why breast-cancer rates are higher on Cape Cod than in other parts of Massachusetts, established that phthalates were present in high concentrations in the indoor air of all 120 homes tested.
Because the skin acts as a huge sponge, it has the ability to absorb what ever is put on it, it is very important to be aware of the contents of your everyday products. What happens if you are using highly toxic chemicals on yourself or your children? It passes through your skin, into the blood stream and is distributed throughout the body, if you were to ingest these products at least your digestive system can produce specific enzymes to break down these toxins and excrete them, this is something that does not occur when you absorb them through the skin. So these chemicals are stored in the tissues contributing to many health problems.
The most commonly used products to look out for are:
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum: Petroleum products coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. They also Slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. They are also a suspected cause of cancer and disruptive of hormonal activity.
Parabens: Are widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities -- mimicking estrogen -- and interfere with the body's endocrine system.
Phenol carbolic acid: Is found in many lotions and skin creams. It can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
Propylene glycol: Is used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
Acryl amide: Is found in many hand and face creams, and is linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin's moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a "nitrosamine", a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling "comes from coconut" or "coconut-derived".
Toluene: Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): Contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
Dioxane: It is Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, and ethoxylated alcohols. Dioxane is used in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1, 4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin. Dioxane's cancer links were first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by "vacuum stripping". It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as "comes from coconut".
There are many safe and natural products that may be used in place of the many chemical infested products out there in the market today. So relax, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I remember when I was first introduced to this harsh poisonous realization. I felt like a terrible parent for using these products on my children, but how was I to know? How will anyone know if they do not ask or do research? There are many groups and organizations out there waiting to provide the answers we need. There are also many health food stores that may supply you with natural skin care products or information to steer you in the right direction.
The following are natural promoters of skin and provide many benefits to overall health:
Organic Jojoba oil: Jojoba contains nutrients that get absorbed into the body, such as vitamin E, B-complex, and the minerals silicon, chromium, copper, and zinc. It also contains a lot of iodine. It penetrates deeply, and helps protect, while allowing your skin's natural maintenance and healing system to do its job without having to battle dryness.
Organic Palm Oil: Palm oil is very rich in nutrients and contains many potent antioxidants, including beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, and tocotrienols, which is an extremely potent form of vitamin E. Vitamin E, is the major lipid soluble antioxidant in your skin. Tocotrienols is a potent antioxidant that has even more beneficial actions on your skin. It acts as your first line of defense against free radicals generated by your environment.
Organic Aloe Vera: Aloe contains more than one hundred thirty biologically active compounds and thirty four amino acids, these work together to optimize your health. Minerals found in aloe Vera include calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. It also includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, folic acid and niacin. Your body simply cannot store some of these vitamins. Using aloe Vera contributes to building your immune system.
Organic Cocoa butter: Cocoa butter helps to increase hydration, decrease skin roughness and scaling, and support UV damage control from overexposure to the sun. It also forms a micro-thin barrier that seals in moisture while still allowing your skin to easily breathe.
Organic Shea butter: Unrefined and organic Shea butter contains many vitamins, minerals and proteins. It also restores your skin's own natural elasticity. It enables your skin to absorb moisture from the air to become softer and stay moisturized for longer.
Resources:
http://www.ewg.com
http://www.safecosmetics.org
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/dehp/DEHP__Report_final.pdf
http://www.safecosmetics.org/about/reports.cfm'
http://www.safecosmetics.org/about/reports.cfm
http://www.niehs.nih.gov
http://www.mothersclick.com/qa/did_anyone_get_this_info_today_about_cancer_chemicals_in_johnsons_products
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Disclaimer: The Views and Information expressed on this webpage are that of the Author and do not necessarily reflect the views, data, policies, endorsement or support of HolisticJunction.com's Administration or its standards.
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