Health and Fitness

Think picking a natural product off a shelf is as easy as picking an apple off a tree? Think again. Some countries like germany manufacture cosmetics whose raw materials  and processing comply with strict guidelines, but there's littel government oversight in other countries. In essence ,'natural' is a marketing term. Terms like natural and hypoallergenic are liberally used by advertisers and unfortunately there are no legal or scientific definitions of these terms when they are applied to cosmetic products. For the safety precautions we should always examine the ingredient list. Those listed at the top are present at the highest levels. Manufactureers of truely natural skin care products avoid certain ingredients commonly used in mainstream cosmetics because they can be harsh or irritating, come from non-sustainable resources, or are chemical-based. following ingredients should be avoided...

• sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate(SLES):When combined with other chemicals, SLES and ALES can create nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens(CANCER CAUSING). It is frequently disguised in semi-natural cosmetics with the explanation "comes from coconut".There are wide and repeated concerns in the USA and Europe about the contamination of cosmetics products with nitrosamines.
• Methy, propyl, butyl and ethyl parabens:Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Highly toxic.

  From Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):
  EMERGENCY OVERVIEW:
  WARNING! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY CAUSE ALLERGIC SKIN REACTION.

  SKIN CONTACT: CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE REDNESS, ITCHING, AND PAIN. MAY CAUSE ALLERGIC SKIN REACTIONS.

  EYE CONTACT: CAUSES IRRITATION, REDNESS, AND PAIN.

• Propylene glycol:Propylene glycol (PG) is a petroleum derivative. It penetrates the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats! The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn't even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications.

  From Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):
  Health Hazard Acute And Chronic

  INHALATION: May cause respiratory and throat Irritation, central nervous system depression, blood and kidney disorders. May cause Nystagmus, Lymphocytosis.

  SKIN: Irritation and dermatitis, absorption.

  EYES: Irritation and conjunctivitis.

  INGESTION: Pulmonary oedema, brain damage, hypoglycaemia, intravascular hemolysis. Death may occur.

• Mineral oil:Petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!) Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

  Breast cancer and impurities. EWG's assessment of product ingredient labels and data on cancer-causing chemicals identified three common impurities in personal care products that are linked to mammary tumors in animal studies — ethylene oxide, PAHs, and 1,3-butadiene. Since September 2004 the EU has banned the use of petroleum jelly due to the carcinogenic contamination found in products containing petrolatum. The ingredients for which these impurities are of concern are used in one of every four personal care products on the market.

• Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine(TEA):Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says that repeated skin applications . . . of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer.

• FD and C dye

• Synthetic Fragrances:Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to the USA FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, and irritability.

• Imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea: imidazolidinyl urea  is one of the nitrosating agent as described above. Diazolidinyl urea is Established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). Contains formaldehyde, a carcinogenic chemical, is toxic by inhalation, a strong irritant, and causes contact dermatitis.