Do you know what potential dangers lurk within your skin care products!
Are your skin care products causing you damage? You don’t have to live in a third world country to be subject to cheap cosmetics. Â They are everywhere. In fact sometimes they are not even cheap. Â So before you go shopping for skin care products read this article:
Here’s the article: Learning the hard way about toxic skin lotions
Some of the nasties in skin care products to look out for
- Endocrine disruptors – any substance that could alter your natural hormones
- Phthalates – plasticizing ingredients that have been linked to birth defects and low sperm count in men
- Parabens – substances in personal care products like shampoos, soaps and underarm deodorants that mimic estrogen
Definitions of the nasties found in skin care courtesy of Wikipedia
Types of endocrine disruptors
All people are exposed to chemicals with estrogenic effects in their everyday life, because endocrine disrupting chemicals are found in low doses in thousands of products. Chemicals commonly detected in people include DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), bisphenol A (BPA), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), and a variety of phthalates.[61] There is some dispute in the scientific community surrounding the claim that these chemicals actually disrupt the endocrine system. Many believe that there is little evidence that the degree of exposure in humans is enough to warrant concern,[31][40] while many others believe there is evidence that these chemicals pose some risk to human health.[62][63][64]
Some researchers are investigating the health risks to children of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Bisphenol A has come under a great deal of scrutiny as it is a common component of plastic baby bottles. In March 2007, a class action lawsuit was filed in California charging that manufacturers and retailers of plastic baby bottles failed to warn consumers that their products contained Bisphenol A, a chemical that they allege poses developmental and health risks to infants and children.[65]
Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels,personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup,[1] and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives.
Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, the long history of their use, and the inefficacy of some natural alternatives like grapefruit seed extract(GSE),[2] probably explains why parabens are so commonplace. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, because they have been found in breast cancertumors(an average of 20 nanograms/g of tissue).[3] Parabens have also displayed the ability to slightly mimic estrogen (a hormone known to play a role in the development of breast cancer).[3] No effective direct links between parabens and cancer have been established, however.[4] Another concern is that the estrogen-mimic aspect of parabens may be a factor in the increasing prevalence of early puberty in girls.[5]
Parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, from which the name is derived. Common parabens include methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts. The general chemical structure of a paraben is shown at top right, where R symbolizes an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl.
Coconut Oil will work for all your skin care needs
Whether you are repairing your skin after using toxic and harsh skin products, treating acne or you have always preferred a natural formula for your skin, coconut oil will do the job.
With it’s high levels of MCFAs and its anti viral, anti fungal and anti bacterial properties, coconut oil will restore your skin to its natural glowing condition.
So before that next shopping trip to the cosmetic store – stop and think, are your skin care products causing you damage? What if I tried coconut oil for my skin treatment instead.
