It’s hard not to notice the countless television commercials and magazine ads for skin care products promising a wrinkle free face, cellulite free legs, and a younger-looking appearance. But are these products really all they’re cracked up to be? And if they do help improve your appearance, at what cost to your health?
Last summer, Kimberly wrote about five skin care ingredients that I recommend everyone avoid. These ingredients have been linked to allergic reactions, hormone function disturbances, cancer, and many other scary health problems. In addition to the ingredients Kimberly wrote about in her blog post, I also try to avoid the following:
- Sodium Lauryl (or Laureth) Sulfate, a foaming agent in many shampoos and skin cleansers. (Sodium laureth sulfate is the alcohol form of SLS.) Many sources claim that SLS contains large amounts of nitrates that, when used in conjunction with other chemicals, can form nitrosamines (a kind of carcinogen). But what we do know for certain is that SLS is associated with eye irritation, skin rashes, diarrhea, hair loss, scalp dryness (like dandruff), and allergic reactions. And, according to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, SLS damages your hair follicles, actually causing your hair to fall out!
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Alcohols (Ethyl and Isopropyl) virtually destroy your skins pH balance by stripping the acid mantle. In doing so, they also strip away your skins defensive barrier, leaving your skin and body open to infection. Alcohols also absorb water, while at the same time dissolving your bodys own natural moisturizers. As a result, they can actually contribute to wrinkles and fine lines.
Fortunately, there are many lines of products that contain only natural skin care ingredients, including Aubrey Organics, Dr. Hauschka, Lavera, and Devita. Not only do these products really work, but they also reduce your risk of health problems associated with dangerous ingredients.