Note to Self

TRUE STORY from a dear friend of mine. Ladies and wearers of manscara PLEASE READ.

A woman’s body can absorb 5 pounds of chemicals per year from make-up alone!

This fact alone terrifies me. Let’s add to that:

“As much as 60% of topical skin-care products are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream,” says Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D. an Iowa based physician, “They should be consumed with the same prudence that we use to choose our breakfast cereal,” – April 2006 issue of Women’s Health Magazine.

Within 26 seconds of putting something on your skin it can be found in every organ in your body. Makes you think twice about the lotion, make-up and hair care products that you use doesn’t it? There are many toxic chemicals in beauty products that have been clinically proven to cause tumors, cancer, irritation and many different skin disorders.

Let’s look at just three of my least favorite culprits in these product that you should be concerned about:

Parabens: Parabens are a widely-used preservative that have been in use for a long time in skincare, personal care and cosmetic products. The most common parabens that you will see are benzylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that Parabens displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. Since Parabens have hormone-disrupting qualities that mimick estrogen, they can interfere with the body’s endocrine system. The EPA has linked methyl parabens in particular to metabolic, developmental, hormonal, and neurological disorders, as well as various cancers. New research has detected the presence of paraben esters in 99% of breast cancer tissues sampled. 99%!!! This is not something to be taken lightly.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an inexpensive, caustic detergent that is added to personal care products such as shampoos, body washes, cosmetic cleansers, shower gels and toothpastes. Commercially, it’s found in engine degreasers, cement floor cleansers and car wash soaps. Sodium lauryl sulfate is the ingredient that gives all these things their foaming action, and it readily attacks grease. The main side effect of sodium lauryl sulfate is skin irritation. Damaging the outer layer, it causes dry, rough, scaly skin. The skin loses its moisture-retaining ability resulting in water loss. According to a study done by The University of Georgia Medical College, sodium lauryl sulfate showed signs of long term retention in bodily tissues, penetrating into the eyes and various organs throughout the body. It showed potential to cause developmental issues in children as well as cataracts in adults. The penetrating power of sodium lauryl sulfate is so great that it can cause other harmful ingredients in products to be easily absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. More studies need to be done on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, but if you do a google on hair loss you would be amazed at all of the connections between hair loss and SLS. It is amazing how many people have stopped losing their hair once they replaced their shampoos with ones that do not contain SLS.

Fragrance: Fragrance can be anything that smells. Companies can put fragrance on their bottle and you will have no idea where the smell comes from. The National Academy of Sciences reports that 95% of the chemicals used in fragrances today are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including known toxins capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. “Fragrance” scores an 8 out 10 (10 being the most dangerous ingredient) on the EGW’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database because it is usually a chemical cocktail, often containing individual chemicals associated with allergic reactions and hormone disruption. When you use perfume or cologne, remember you are using powerful chemicals regulated solely by the industry that sells them. Just because they don’t affect you now doesn’t mean they won’t affect someone in line next to you (giving them a migraine or asthma attack. Did you know that perfumes rank higher in causing asthma than second-hand tobacco smoke?), or that you will always be immune to their effects.These chemicals go directly into the blood stream when applied to our skin, and are also absorbed into the skin from our clothing. We also inhale these chemical fumes that go straight to our brains where they can cause major harm, and many perfume chemicals have a narcotic effect. There is research that links the use of perfumes to many diseases, such as various cancers, including breast cancer. Many of the chemicals in today’s modern fragrances are listed on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste list. Is that really something you want to put on your skin?

Interested in learning more about products free from harmful ingredients such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and fragrance? Check out www.foodsforyourskin.com.tumblr.com. It has all of your beauty needs from skin care to hair care, bath and body and cosmetics. All products that you can feel good about putting on your skin.

Melissa Jaynes

alex+von Founding Member/Independent Consultant

Natural, Organic, Vegan and Gluten Free Bath & Body, Skin Care & Cosmetics
http://www.FoodsForYourSkin.com

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