Dr. Dingle is an acclaimed environmental and nutritional toxicologist from Australia. He first began writing about toxic chemicals in skincare products in 1999. His book “Dangerous Beauty” sold well, but apparently did not reach enough people. Hopefully, I can reach a few more with this article.

One of Dingle’s most recent articles was published in the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine Journal. According to Dingle’s research, there are 24 toxic sunscreen ingredients, 13 toxic preservatives and 14 other ingredients that … Read Full Article

I looked at the ingredients in the latest products from the top three cosmetic companies in terms of worldwide sales: L’Oreal, Proctor & Gamble and Unilever. The information was garnered directly from the company’s website or from the product label. Here’s what I learned.

L’Oreal

L’Oreal’s recently released Deep Set Wrinkle Repair is supposed to be a new formula. What’s different about it? Nothing, it contains exactly the same ingredients as those that were included in the 2009 formulation. Many of them are on our Blacklist of 101 … Read Full Article

Shea Butter

Shea butter is good for inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. A recent analysis conducted in Japan showed that the nutrients found in Shea butter are natural anti-inflammatories. The researchers also described the nutrients as “anti-tumor promoting compounds”. So, the use of Shea butter on the skin could reduce your risk of skin cancer and help prevent or reverse wrinkles. … Read Full Article

In some cases, they have fought to have products removed from the market, but the government continues to side with the cosmetic industry. The industry has always tried to cover-up what is actually included in their products.

They list the ingredients on the package label, but the list is incomplete. They are not required to reveal the chemicals used to create the fragrances or those used in the manufacturing processes.

Most chemical fragrances are composed of aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known or probable … Read Full Article

Moisturizers and emollients are sometimes thought of as the same things.  Technically, they are a little bit different.

Emollients are substances that actually soften and soothe.  Often emollients have moisturizing effects as well.

Several mechanisms of action are attributed to emollients.  They may work by the process of occlusion; act as a humectant or as a lubricant.

When it comes to the skin’s health and protection, the process of occlusion … Read Full Article

Squinting is a primary cause of eye wrinkling.  You could be squinting in reaction to light or because of a problem with your vision.

In order to prevent wrinkles caused by squinting, you should wear sunglasses.  UV protective sunglasses may also help prevent age-related cataracts.

You should have your eyes examined every two years at least.  If you currently wear a prescription, doctors recommend an annual eye exam.  In many states, the optometric prescription expires in one … Read Full Article

Let’s start with your eyes.  By focusing on your eyes, you can draw attention away from problem areas.  If you have dark circles, you can use three dots of concealer to hide them.  Your concealer should be a shade lighter than your foundation.

You can use your fingertips to blend in the concealer, but you should never rub.  Constant rubbing pulls and damages this thin area of skin.… Read Full Article

Keratin

Keratin is a protein found in the skin’s outer layers.  If properly formulated, it can be picked up and used by the skin’s cells, according to researchers, when it is applied topically.

As it enters the skin’s cells, it pulls moisture along with it.  That is one of the functions of keratin; to absorb moisture and pull it into the cell.

Studies have shown that the … Read Full Article

It seems to me that a lot of the recommendations have to do with the expert’s specialty.  In a recent article, a doctor who specializes in prescribing bio-identical hormones for menopausal women said that the causes of the visible signs of aging are low estrogen levels and environmental factors.

That’s interesting, because dermatologists released a report last year saying that the primary cause was something different.  They found that there are more free radicals in older skin and that fewer … Read Full Article

The benefits of A and E for the skin’s health are not well understood.  The benefits of C are well known.  So, let’s start with that.

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a necessary cofactor for the body to produce strong collagen fibers.  You may have heard of collagen.  It is one of the things responsible for the skin’s elasticity, firmness and color.

As we age, collagen production slows down naturally.  During our youth, our … Read Full Article