But because the environmental toxins in the air, soil, water and food are enormous issues they get most of the media attention. The issue of chemicals in personal care products has largely been ignored.
However many of the same toxins that pollute our environment and pose a health risk can be found in skin care and cosmetics, because they allow the manfactureres a long shelf life and are more profitable than natural ingredients. This $160 billion a year global industry is growing rapidly, but how is this rapid growth affecting our health?
Today via the food we eat we consume on average over 10kg of chemical additives per year, but what most people don’t realise is that up to 60% of what you put on your skin can get absorbed into the body. Thus personal care products are a major contributor to our ever increasing toxic burden.
Unfortunately we don’t have much direct control over the toxins in our environment, but we do have immediate and direct control over what we put in our mouth and on our bodies. Good quality natural sources of beauty, cosmetics and skin care products do exist, and by using them you can prevent premature aging, help to keep your body young and healthy and be friendly to the environment at the same time.
We all have a choice to be more pro-active about protecting our health and beauty. For me it’s important that what I eat and put on my body is chemical free and pure, as nature intended. That’s why I have done the research for this article that will give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision for the benefit of you and your family.
Why is Beauty so important for us?
Medieval noblewomen swallowed arsenic and dabbed on bats blood to improve their complexions; 18th century Americans prized the warm urine of young boys to remove their freckles, Victorian ladies removed their ribs to give themselves a slimmer waist.
The desire to be beautiful is as old as civilisation, as is the pain and health problems it can cause if you use the wrong products.
Looking good confers many genetic and social advantages; attractive men and women are judged to be more intelligent and better in bed; they earn more money, and are more likely to marry.
Long lustrous hair has always been a sign of good health, mascara makes the eyes look bigger and younger, blusher and red lipstick mimic the signs of sexual arousal. Beauty is something we recognise immediately because it signals health and fertility. Studies have even shown that young babies will smile longer at a face judged by adults to be attractive.
The beauty industry’s marketing genius’s know all of the above only too well and are very good at playing on the fear of looking ugly just as much as the pleasure of looking beautiful. Manufacturers are making increasingly extravagant marketing claims. So far, we have bought into the illusion, but at what cost?
Who regulates the safety of cosmetic products?
From tubes and bottles and delicate brushes come the tools of beauty and self-preservation know as cosmetics. We as users of these products might assume that somebody is watching to ensure that the ingredients used in the products we put on our bodies are safe. Unfortunately we are wrong, there is currently no independent industry looking after our health interests!
The truth is that products are NOT always safe – and manufacturers don’t have to tell us they are potentially dangerous. Most of the 25,000 ingredients used have not been tested for long term toxic effects and in a typical day you might be exposed to over 200 different chemicals, many of whom have the potential to disrupt your body’s delicate hormone systems or have been linked to disease.
Although the European Union (EU) is looking at bringing in laws to eliminate the use of chemicals that are harmful, how can it be successful when very few of the chemicals have been properly tested if at all for safety? Yes the EU’s action is a step in the right direction but will it go far enough in protecting us? After all the EU is only looking at the regulation and banning of 450 harmful chemicals in personal care products but what about the 1000’s of chemicals that remain untested?
In the US a women’s consumer group the Safe consumers campaign wrote to 250 companies asking them to comply with the EU’s cosmetic directive, only 65 replied and many of these companies including biggies such as Revlon and Estee Lauder said the EU directive “represents an unneccary change in the philosophy of regulation of cosmetic ingredients in the EU” This is a clear sign yet again that many big companies are more interested in their profits than the safety of the products they sell you!
The beauty industry has worked on the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” now its time to turn this on its head and place the burden of proof on the manufacturers to prove the chemicals they use are safe! And if a product has not proved to be safe then by law it should say: “WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined”
Is it too much to ask companies to take responsibility and be accountable for the products they sell? Or should we just change the cosmetic industries “skin deep” slogan from “Because I am worth it” to “because my profits are more important than your health”
Are my personal care products harmful? How do I make healthier choices?
As cosmetic companies still have the privilege of choosing from 1000’s of untested chemicals to use as ingredients in their products. You have to safeguard your own health before you buy a product by reading the labels and looking for any suspect ingredients. If you are unsure of the safety of an ingredient then it would be a good idea to check it on the Environmental Working Groups website www.ewg.org. They have done a great job compiling health and safety information for consumers on personal-care products. The EWG has studied over 10,000 ingredients and estimates that 99% of the cosmetic products on the market contains untested ingredients!
Here are 10 steps to help you choose personal care products safely;
Step 1 – Choose products that are environmentally friendly
Products manufactured without harmful chemicals, trough natural processes, utilizing natural ingredients, are most likely to be environmentally friendly. By choosing not to use synthetic, toxic chemicals in your personal care products, you are not only choosing to protect your health, but also safeguard the environment as well, which our health is ultimately tied to.
Step 2 – The animals’ dont need to suffer
Look for brands that state their products are not tested on animals, as they are more likely to care about the ingredients in their products. If you are using natural ingredients then there is no need to test it on animals as it will be automatically safe for humans. Furthermore scientific evidence shows that animal testing is a very unreliable method to investigate how humans react to a product because there is often little correlation as to how animals and humans react to the same chemical. Despite this fact millions of animals needlessly suffer each year and as Ghandi said: “A nation can be judged by how it treats its animals” the same is true of cosmetic companies!
Step 3 – Surviving in a toxic world
The most common sources of a toxic environment are food (always eat organic), water (get your water tested) air (open your windows even in winter) household products (look for green alternatives) workplace chemicals, and beauty products.
In the western world we are experiencing more and more hormone related health problems as a result of stress, poor diet, increased environmental toxins and too big a reliance on medicine and not enough focus on prevention.
Many of the chemicals in skin care products can interfere with the body’s natural hormonal balance by either blocking a hormones action or by mimicking a hormones action. The net result of this hormonal imbalance can be infertility, mood changes, PMS, thyroid problems, cancers, behavioural problems etc. By choosing healthy personal care and household products you can significantly reduce the toxic load on your body.
Step 4 – Read the ingredients
There is virtually no regulation on the claims the manufacturers make with their products. Many all natural claims are based on a few natural ingredients, but their products still contain many synthetic toxic chemicals.
If a manufacturer uses even a small amount of natural or organic ingredients then it can claim it’s natural or organic on the label. So look at the ingredients, reputable manufacturers such as Green People will tell you what and how much of the ingredients are natural and organic. If a product claims to be natural or organic on the front of the package but on inspection of the ingredients you can see many chemicals, thats a clear sign you should question the integrity of that manufacturer and not use that product.
Step 5 – How to read labels
Determining if a product is healthy for you starts with reading the labels. Ingredients in products are required to be listed on the label in descending order, with the biggest ingredient listed first, the next largest second and so on. So the bottom line is if something on the label doesn’t look natural then it probably isn’t. You can ask the manufacturer, look it up on the internet on www.ewg.org or stick to reputable brands that care about the health of their customers.
So start the detective work now, have a look at the labels of the products in your bath room and rest of the house. How many are safe? How many need to be thrown out and replaced with healthier alternatives?
Step 6 – What ingredients to avoid
Below you will find a short summary of some of the deadliest ingredients. If you want more info then go to www.ewg.org
Coal Tars:
All the synthetic colours used in lipsticks, hair dyes and some shampoos are made from coal tars. These replaced natural colors in the 1900’s. These Chemicals have been linked to headaches, nausea, fatigue, cancer, skin disorders, allergies and behavioural problems. The easiest way to spot coal tars is to look for the synthetic colours on labels such as yellow #10.
Formaldehyde:
This is found in nail polish, soap, shampoos and hair growth formulas. It’s also the chemical they use to preserve dead bodies and the chemical that makes up part of aspartame the deadly sweetener. Formaldehyde has been linked to cancer, fatigue, multiple sclerosis, neurological damage etc.
Aluminium:
Found in many of the deodorants, nail polish, eye shadow, eye liner, glitter, mascara on the market. Aluminium is a known neurotoxin that can also damage the heart and lungs, cause fertility problems and Alzheimer’s.
Sodium Lauryl sulphate:
Found in 90% of all shampoos, skin crèmes and toothpastes, this chemical help the product to lather. This toxic ingredient depletes the natural oils in the skin making it dry. It can also combine with other ingredients to form highly toxic compounds.
Talc:
Found in blushes, eye shadows, face powders, liquid foundations, it can cause cancer.
Synthetic fragrances:
In one product Synthetic fragrances can have as many as 200 different chemical ingredients, that’s why many people are intolerant to them and suffer form, dizziness, skin irritation, rashes etc.
Phthalates
Are found in many leading hair sprays, deodorants, nail polish, perfumes etc. They can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system.
Parabens:
These common preservatives extend the shelf life of products. Look for a more natural preservative such as Aloe Vera on the label.
Poor quality soaps and detergents:
Many contain dangerous ingredients that strip your skins natural moisture shield, harming the body’s immune barrier and leaving the skin malnourished and accelerated aging. Use a quality organic product such as Green People instead!
Step 7 – Do you have a healthy smile?
A healthy smile is a universal sign of beauty and warmth but harmful chemicals in lip products can cause unwanted side effects. Women may ingest 2kg of lipstick in a lifetime. Furthermore lipstick contains more synthetic colors than any other cosmetic product. So always choose a product that contains natural colours, and natural oils to moisturize the lips.
Step 8 – Finding a quality brand – There no miracle products.
Quality products are made by quality manufacturers, so the search for good safe products starts with the manufacturer. Investigate the integrity of the manufacturer; what are the company’s standards, how long have they been in business, what is their philosophy (animal testing, natural organic ingredients etc) and the quality of the ingredients they use? An easy way to do this is by looking at their internet site.
If you look after your body, there is no doubt you can slow down the aging process and look considerably younger than you are. Nevertheless despite all the advertising of “anti aging” products you cant cheat nature forever and we all will age. But again the rate at which you get older is in your hands, by feeding you body correctly, exercising, getting to bed on time and minimising your exposure to chemical toxins you will not only considerably slow the aging process but maintain a fantastic level of energy and health.
With this in mind any manufacturer that sells products promising “quick fixes” or “miraculous” results should be treated with extreme caution and you should really look at its ingredients before you consider buying it. Use your common sense, you can’t wave a magic wand and overnight removed deep wrinkles from years of neglect.
So make it easy for yourself to stay away from any magical potions that promise amazing results yesterday and in doing so you won’t waste your money!
Step 9 – Nutritional factors
The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is involved in detoxification, protects us from bacteria’s, regulates the body’s temperature, helps us interact with the environment, protects us from injury and much more. The skin is truly an amazing organ.
Natural skin care recognizes how important the skin is to our overall health. But you can’t feed your body poorly and expect some miracle potion to keep you young and beautiful, because your skin can never be healthy unless you consider the nourishment the skin receives internally.
Any attempt to focus solely on the external nourishing of the skin is incomplete and only half the story. If you have skin problems or seem to be aging before your time then that’s a very good sign that something is not right internally,
it’s very seldom that a skin problem is an isolated problem. If you have a skin problem and your Doctor or dermatologist says that skin problems have nothing to do with your diet and lifestyle then you know instantly its time to find another Doctor who better understands the body and how to help you.
Maintaining or building beautiful skin is actually quite easy. All you need to do is breath fresh air, eat naturally (diet based on fresh organic meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds washed down with clean water), exercise, go to bed on time and avoid environmental chemicals. If you do all of this consistently then you will be well on your way to a more beautiful younger looking you! However if you eat too much junk packaged fast food, white flour, pasteurized dairy products, trans fats, chemical preservatives, colours and flavours, then you will have a very dirty internal environment that needs to detoxify.
If you have dirty insides then your skins health and appearance will be compromised as it plays a major part in detoxifying your body. Furthermore over 70% of your body is composed of water and dehydration is one of the biggest causes of poor skin quality. So drink at least 2 litres of water per day and minimise your intake of soft drinks, coffee and alcohol.
If you have a skin problem eliminate all foods that are most likely to cause a food allergy, such as wheat, corn, milk and dairy products, Soya, food colourings and preservatives from your diet. If you have dry itchy skin, that is often a sign that you are not eating enough fat in your diet, especially the healthy omega 3 fats, so consider taking a good quality fish oil product.
Follow the simple tips above and you will be surprised at how quickly not only your skin looks younger but how much better you will feel.
Step 10 – Lifestyle factors
One of the worst ways to damage your skin is by too much exposure to the sun, so make sure you never burn and be careful of using the wrong type of sun crème that in too many cases has questionable and unsafe ingredients. Choose a healthier alternative such as Green People whose formula is based on organic ingredients and has come out on top in sun screen reviews on www.proof.co.uk
Furthermore stress is one of the major ways you can speed up the aging process via the action of stress hormones. Most of us have seen how quickly a person can age when they have been through a very stressful event. Although in many cases a certain amount of stress can’t be avoided, we can all be better at learning to deal with stress.
This can be achieved by eating and exercising correctly, going to bed on time because the healthier you are the better you are able your body is to cope with stress. It’s also vital to enjoy life and plan and prioritize activities that you get pleasure from. But the most important factor with stress is to realise its you who decides if you are stressed, you are in control of your thoughts and how you interpret situations and you can decide to be stressed or not. And last but not least smoking is one of the best things you can do if you want to not only get a disease but also look old before your time. Tobacco not only destroys the collagen elastic component of the skin it also decreases the skins ability to heal.
Conclusion
We all want to look and feel our best and age healthily and gracefully. Let your common sense, your beliefs and intuition guide you, live in harmony with nature, learn to harness natures enormous power and you can maximize your potential to be young and beautiful for a life time. Nature is the ultimate chemist; nature has the wisdom to not only keep you looking great but healthy as well. Science can compliment nature but nothing can replace nature’s innate wisdom.
Don’t let the arrogance and enormous advertising budgets of big companies who promise much but deliver little fool you and don’t waste your money on their products which might in the long term actually be detrimental to your health. Your skin is your most important immune defence barrier as well as your largest organ for eliminating waste.
Personal care products with harmful ingredients can clog your pores, making germs more likely to get in and toxins less likely to get out of your body. Many beauty product do more harm than good, they can over clean and strip the hair and skin of natural oils.
Your body can only detoxify a certain amount of chemicals and depending on your unique body and how healthy you are you may be able to tolerate more than some people. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security the body can only tolerate so much pollution, so even if you currently feel fine cutting down or even eliminating these nasty ingredients is one of the best things you can do for your long term health! The good news is that the cosmetic industry via consumer demand is moving with the times.
Hopefully in the future less emphasis will be placed on glamorous packaging, wild unsubstantiated claims and state-of-the-art pharmacology. Beauty needs to move out of the lab and into the rainforest, using ingredients that are not only predominantly organic but environmentally friendly as well!
This article has shown you the fundamental issues you should be aware of with regards to the consumer products industry. Follow this advice, its not rocket scientist its just a case of doing the basic things consistently well, such as eating and drinking correctly, exercising, going to be on time, reducing any contact to environmental toxins, enjoying life and making informed choices with the products you buy. You now have the knowledge to make the right decisions now it’s up to you to put its knowledge to work.
So before you spend your hard earned money on a personal care products look at the ingredients, make an informed decision before you buy something. Why? “Because you are worth it”.
References Paul Cheks Nutrition and lifestyle course level 3 www.ewg.org The safe shoppers bible. David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein.
