As the world is becoming more “green” and health conscience, many of us are beginning to understand the dangers of some of our habits. People are starting to realize that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put into it. Our skin is a living, breathing tissue that covers and protects the body, but it also absorbs substances that come into contact with it.
Just as prescription drugs can be delivered through our skin via a patch – lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products are also absorbed by our skin. If you use products made with chemical preservatives, these chemicals may be absorbed into your body. On the other hand, your body will absorb all natural ingredients when you use organic and natural products. It is important to consider what products we are using, and what is really in those products, as we shop for our makeup, hair care, and skin care products.
Commercial skin care products are often produced with animal byproducts such as lanolin, and also include other chemical detergents and petrochemicals. In many cases these animal byproduct units and petrochemicals are too large to be absorbed by the skin, but they will attract dirt and clog the pores. This can cause problems such as skin irritation and allergies.
Commercially produced skin care products usually include chemical preservatives to extend the shelf life of the products. In contrast, organic and natural products rely on natural ingredients that have self-preservation qualities. Although the shelf life may not be as long, the natural products offer many benefits for the skin and do not contain the harmful preservatives. Some natural preservation ingredients commonly used in natural products are vitamin E, honey, grapefruit seed extract, and Sandalwood essential oil.
Natural skin care products use ingredients formed by nature, not from synthetic chemicals. Ingredients such as flowers, essential oils, herbs, and roots are combined with naturally occurring surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers in organic products. These natural products are carefully manufactured to preserve the quality of the ingredients.
Consumers often assume that organic and natural products are too expensive in comparison to other commercial brands. On the contrary, natural and organic products actually offer a better value than synthetic based skin products. These ingredients are highly penetrative to the skin, and smaller amounts of the natural ingredients are needed to produce the final product.
The following list highlights many of the potentially harmful ingredients often used in commercially produced skin and body care products. It is best to avoid products with these ingredients, as they have potential side effects that include skin irritation, allergic reactions, rashes, and may even be toxic or carcinogenic.
- Artificial fragrances
- Chemical preservatives – formaldehyde, methylisothiazolinones, and DMDM hydantonin
- Ethoxylates – sodium laureth sulfates (SLES) and polysorbates
- Irritant sulfates – sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate
- Nitrosamines – formed from ingredient DEA (diethanoloamine)
- Parabens
- Petrochemicals – propylene glycol, SD alcohol, and benzene
- Phthalates
- Propylene glycol
- Triclosan
Our skin is permeable, and it will absorb the ingredients of the products we apply to it. Using natural and organic skin products is important for our skin. It is a small thing that will have a big impact on your body. Treat your body to natural and organic skin care products today, and your body will thank you tomorrow.
Source:
Amanda Stone
Mother Earth Body Care
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