List of Harmful Ingredients Found in Skin Moisturizers

According to Dr. Mercola (http://www.mercola.com/)

'if you can’t read or pronounce the ingredient, there is a high likelihood it should not be in your lotion or other skin care product.'

As it is the biggest organ, your skin is a big part of your health. Skin absorbs and excretes nutrients as well as toxins through the pores. Anything that our skin absorbes, enters our bloodstream and becomes integrated into the body tissues. Doesn't it make sense than - that what we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our mouth (eat)?

Shopping at the health food stores is no guarantee that the products are free of potentially dangerous chemicals, sometimes even disguised as being natural.

And here's the list of ingredients, frequently found (because they're cheap and readily available, not to mention how easily deluted!) in moisturizers for men and women - in moisturizers for oily, dry, combination, as well as sensitive skin, in cosmetics and cleaners. This list is not complete, these are but some of the most common chemicals, potential toxins, used "for the sake of beauty":

• Acrylamide - chemical, frequently found in hand creams and facial creams. Laboratory researches linked it to mammary tumors.
  



• Dioxane is a coconut's synthetic derivative, found in the following compounds: ethoxylated alcohols, Laureth, PEG and Polysorbates. Dioxane is a very common ingredient in personal care products, easily absorbed through the skin. Carcinogenic.
  



• Petroleum products: mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum make plastic-like coat over your skin, clogging pores, building-up toxins, slowing cellular development and disrupting hormonal activity. Possible results: dermatological problems, early aging signs, cause of cancer.
  



• Parabens are used as preservatives in (estimated) more than 13,000 cosmetic and skin care products. Because they are mimicking estrogen, they disrupt hormonal processes in body and interfere with endocrine system in the body. According to studies connected to cancer.
  



• Phenol carbolic acid might cause circulatory collapse, convulsions, paralysis, coma and possibly death due to respiratory failure.
  



• Propylene glycol can cause inhibited skin cell growth, dermatitis, skin irritation and kidney/liver abnormalities. Used as carrier in fragrance oils and as moisturizer in cosmetics products.
  



• Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is found in over 90% of personal care blends as well as in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car shampoos. Easily penetrates the skin and helps other ingredients to easily penetrate because it breaks down the moisture barrier of the skin. In combination with other chemicals SLS turns into nitrosamine, a potent carcinogen and a possible cause of hair loss. SLES is sometimes hiding behind the ingredient description "coconut derived" or "comes from coconut".
  



• Toluene (benzoic, benzyl) is a well known poison, harmful or fatal if swallowed, harmful when inhaled or absorbed through the skin and at the same time a common ingredient of most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure might affect a developing fetus, cause anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver/kidney damage. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) also contains toluene.

Check the ingredients of all the beauty/personal care products. They might contain several chemicals from the list above that are possibly dangerous for your health.

Natural personal care products are supposed to enhance our wellbeing and ageless beauty. After all, they are food for our skin.

***

Uses of Pure Soap

One of the most important steps in everyone’s skin and beauty care is regular cleaning of your skin. In gentle cleansing process old, dead cells should be removed together with excess and suspended oil, makeup and environmental add-ons.

However, good quality cleanser should not strip the skin of its natural and nurturing oils, leave it overly dry or “too-tight”. After rinsing, skin-friendly cleanser should not leave any alkaline residue on your skin.

Use of pure soap, made of all-natural, pure oils has many benefits:

• accelerates your skin’s own cellular reproduction process
• leaves your skin soft and smooth
• cleans your skin safely and thoroughly
• is equally beneficial for normal and oily skin
• is great for problem skin of teenagers
• is gentle enough for sensitive baby skin
• creaminess and lubricity make pure soap an ultimate shaving cream for men and women
• some people even use pure soap to wash their hair
• many people use pure soap in place of toothpaste or toothpowder

Disclaimer

Everything described/mentioned on this blog is the result of experiences with my own beauty routine (that works for me) and research I do online and offline. What you do with this information is your choice and your responsibility since I am not a licensed professional to give advice, prescribe or heal.

Care for Decollete and Shoulders

Decollete - the meaning: bare neck and shoulders

It is important to take a good care of decollete area of the skin. Especially in warm climates it is exposed almost as much as the face itself. In many women, decollete shows the signs of aging even earlier than the facial skin does.

Personally, I take care of my decollete exactly the same way as I take care of my face. I use the same products and treatments, even the same circle motions.

And while we're at it, it's good to pay some attention to our shoulders ad well. They are being abused quite a lot by carrying purses and heavy bags, bra straps and exposed to all the environmental factors all summer long while we're wearing sleeveless, strapless and tank top outfits. So, apply some good quality facial cream or lotion to your shoulders and massage. I promise, it does feel good - even if you do it yourself... :)

Glycerin in Toothpaste

Some people wonder about the source of glycerin and others debate or even argue on whether it is an animal or plant product.The reason that this has become a hot topic is that it is important to vegetarians and especially to vegans, as well as to others who express concern for their health and that of the environment.

However, the source of glycerin is not the most important issue concerning this product; there is more to this matter.

Glycerin is a thick and colorless liquid that has a sweet taste, and is a very popular ingredient in beauty products. Beauty product manufacturers claim that glycerin is a good humectant, which means that it attracts moisture to the skin.

Glycerin is especially prevalent in toothpastes; it is used to make paste creamy and it sweetens at the same time. As good as all that may sound, glycerin has an additional characteristic; it is sticky, meaning that when one brushes their teeth with toothpaste containing this product, the glycerin coats itself over the teeth.

With regular application of such a toothpaste, teeth slowly begin rotting underneath because the film-like coating of glycerin prevents minerals from restoring the enamel— the top coat on teeth that keeps them strong.

According to different sources it takes anywhere from twenty to twenty-seven rinses to remove the coating of glycerin from teeth.

Unfortunately, most toothpaste on the market—even the “natural” brands— contain glycerin. Check the ingredients for yourself.

Being Your Own Massage Therapist

Can you imagine the pleasant tingling all over your body after a good massage?

If you have regular appointments with your massage therapist, You know exactly what I'm talking about...

...all the muscles relaxed, blood flowing, skin refreshed and rejuvenated, smile on your face...

It feels good just to think about it, doesn't it?

Picture what it would be like if you could have a massage every day and feel this good almost all the time...

The good news is: YOU CAN!

It's quite simple to massage your whole body all by yourself. All you need to do is to adopt a few basics and you'll be ready to rock & roll! :)

Thousands, maybe millions of people around the world are already using this strategy on a daily basis and enjoying the benefits of healthy, radiant body.

Now, I'd like to help YOU experience all the benefits of massage.

Your free special report about the right way to do your own massage is only a click away.

Put your name and your email address in the form below and your report will be on its way to your email box - in an instant.

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