Natural Skin Care Lines and the Lack of Skin Care Regulations
Monday, June 28th, 2010While there are some excellent natural skin care lines, there are some companies that capitalize on our desire to protect our health. What they claim to provide and what they actually provide are two different things.
Things are different in some parts of the world. But, in the US, cosmetic manufacturers are largely unregulated. Even though creams, lotions and similar items are actually healthcare products, they are still classified as cosmetics.
The advertising terms used by cosmetic companies currently have no legal definitions. A company might use only naturally occurring ingredients. They might make the safest choices to help you protect your health. But, they might not.
Until things change, the only accurate source of information is the label of ingredients. When internet companies do not publish a full list of ingredients, you have to be suspicious about what the products contain. My personal recommendation is this.
Don’t buy anything unless you can read the label of ingredients and you fully understand the possible side effects of using them. Interestingly, the FDA makes a similar recommendation on their webpage for cosmetic users, because of the risk of allergic and adverse reactions.
One would think that natural skin care lines would not cause allergic or adverse reactions. But, many naturally occurring ingredients are allergens. Concentrated plant fragrances are among the worst.
They call them essential oils, hydrosols or herbal distillates. Sometimes they use the name of the individual fragrance. Examples include limonene and lavender. Regardless of what the companies call them, they are concentrated plant fragrances and there are several concerns accompanying their use.
First, they are toxic to the skin in their undiluted forms. The concentration should be less than 10%. Ideally, they would not be included at all. But, there are only a few natural skin care lines that do not contain plant fragrances.
The second concern has to do with the skin’s absorptive qualities. If used on a daily basis, creams or other skincare products containing essential oils can penetrate through the skin’s protective barrier and enter the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, they will be diverted to the liver, where all toxins end up. The liver is resistant to many toxins and can dispose of them easily. Essential oils can damage the liver, especially if used on a regular basis.
They are included in aromatherapy because of the calming effect that some of the fragrances have. Some are good safe household cleansers. Orange oil is an example. But, they should not be included in natural skin care lines.
Some of the fragrances are known to increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. None of them should be used during pregnancy, because they can have an effect on the body’s production of hormones, which could lead to birth defects.
There are some published cases or pre-pubescent boys developing breast tissue as a result of exposure to lavender or tea tree oil. This is due to the fragrances effect on hormone production.
The final concern has to do with pesticide residues. Unless you were buying a certified organic product, you could be exposing your body to pesticides.
While there are many things that should not be included in natural skin care lines, concentrated plant fragrances are among the most dangerous. The best products are free of added fragrances, because the company’s goal is to make them as safe as possible.
Natural Skin Care Products are Gaining Popularity
Sunday, June 20th, 2010
Natural skin care products are starting to become more popular according to recent surveys. The traditional versions are still outselling them by a huge margin, but at least people are learning more about reading labels and being picky about what they put on the outside of their bodies.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Environmental Working Group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and other consumer groups for letting us know about loopholes that allow US cosmetic manufacturers to put unlimited amounts of chemicals in items that are sold as “health and beauty aids”.
Because there is a lack of federal law concerning the subject, a few states stepped in to help out. Washington State recently banned phthalates from skincare products designed for children. California now requires cosmetic companies to report to the state whenever they include an ingredient that can cause cancer or birth defects.
But that type of legislation is slow-moving. Right now, it is up to the consumer to learn about ingredients, read labels and investigate manufacturers.
A lot of people think that by shopping for only natural skin care products, they don’t have to take the time to read the label of ingredients. That is not the case.
Some naturally occurring ingredients are allergens or irritants. They can cause irritation, redness and itching. Essential oils are an example.
When it comes to anti-aging ingredients, the alpha and beta hydroxy acids are naturally occurring acids found in fruit. Salicylic acid is found in certain kinds of tree bark. It is the compound from which aspirin was created.
While those mild acids are naturally occurring and relatively safe, they burn. Feeling the burn might be a good thing for bodybuilders, but it is not good for the skin’s health.
When natural skin care products or the chemical-filled kinds cause burning, the reaction is due to the body’s inflammatory responses. Inflammation is a function of the immune system designed to protect the body. But, the inflammatory chemicals released during the process will degrade the skin’s collagen fibers.
Collagen fibers are responsible for the skin’s firmness and elasticity. They are replaced on a fairly regular basis until we start to get a little older. As the replacement process slows down, we start to see sagging and wrinkles.
Depending on your age, you might not be too worried about those things. But, the sooner you start trying to make an effort to avoid them, the better off you will be.
Some natural skin care products have gentle anti-aging activity. Instead of causing inflammation, they actually prevent it. They feel good going on and as the days go by, they work to stimulate collagen production, instead of causing the collagen you have to degrade.
One of the compounds to look for is called Functional Keratin. You can find it in deep cleansing masks, soothing eye serums, anti-aging facial creams and body lotions.
Just be sure to fully evaluate the so-called natural skin care products on the market before you buy them. Compounds that burn are not good choices.
Tips on Choosing an Anti Wrinkle Cream that is Safe & Effective
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
From anti wrinkle cream to age spot remover and everything in between, you will find products being sold on the internet that, if the advertising claims are true, will make your skin look younger, brighter, smoother and more radiant than ever before. And, of course, all of this has been proven in clinical studies.
It pays to be skeptical about advertising claims. Not just because you could avoid wasting money, but also because you could avoid a bad reaction. Some of the ingredients that cosmetic companies love to use are so bad that they should actually be called aging anti creams.
Petrolatum and mineral oil are among the best-loved cosmetic ingredients. Yet, dermatologists have said that these petroleum-based oils can cause premature aging of the skin if used on a regular basis. They cannot improve the skin’s moisture content, which is why we buy moisturizing creams in the first. So, I think the title aging anti-creams is appropriate.
There are some good compounds that have been proven effective in clinical studies. The problem is that most companies add the good “active” ingredients to bad cheap fillers like those mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
Unless you have a scientific laboratory, the only way you can evaluate the quality of a product, before you try it, is to read the label of ingredients. It is the only source of true reliable information.
The labels can be difficult to read, because of international law concerning the names used for cosmetic ingredients. They are basically Latin. Some manufacturers make it easier by including a common name. Some of the best manufacturers have a full page on their websites devoted to explaining the details about every ingredient in their products. They want their customers to be informed.
If you’re smart, you won’t buy an anti wrinkle skin care product, until you know exactly what you are buying. Do you really want to rub cow placenta on your face? Do you like the idea of smoothing hormones all over your skin? What about lead, mercury, pesticides, herbicides and other toxic chemicals?
Some manufacturers are very conscientious about where their supplies come from and what toxins they might have been exposed to. They design products for their families. So, they want to be sure they are safe.
The first step is to choose a manufacturer you can trust. Comparing prices is something that we all have to be concerned about. The safest choice here is to avoid the very cheap and the very expensive.
Middle-of-the-road affordable anti wrinkle creams that are not heavily advertised on TV are likely to be safer and more effective than an expensive designer brand. When you buy cheap cosmetics, you must realize that the manufacturers are using the cheapest ingredients. Petroleum-based oils and other synthetic ingredients are the cheapest.
Look for plant-based oils and extracts. Scan the label for nutrients like bioactive keratin and coenzyme Q10. Avoid the parabens and the petroleum based alcohols. That’s good advice to follow whether you are shopping for anti wrinkle cream or any other cosmetic.
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