| The human skin wraps and protects our bodies. It | | | | skin and lungs (Antczak, 2001).- Harmful if swallowed |
| constitutes a living, dynamic tissue system. It has the | | | | and may cause damage to eyes (Antczak, |
| remarkable ability to absorb applied products, partially | | | | 2001).Tallow |
| or completely, into the bloodstream. In fact, up to 60% | | | | - Animal fat.- Not suitable for vegans, and may be a |
| of the products we use on our skin are absorbed and | | | | skin irritant.Toluene |
| deposited into the circulatory system (Fairley, 2001). For | | | | - Found in many nail products and nail polish |
| instance, the average woman absorbs 30 pounds of | | | | removers.- Produced during the process of making |
| the ingredients contained in moisturizers over sixty | | | | gasoline and other fuels from crude oil or coal.- |
| years (Dr.Hauschka).These new understandings of | | | | Evaporates into the air when products containing |
| how the skin functions reveal concerns about the | | | | toluene are opened.- May affect the nervous system, |
| possible long term effects due to the combination of | | | | and/or cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, nausea, |
| chemicals used in cosmetics, often termed the | | | | or loss of appetite.- Symptoms disappear when |
| "chemical cocktail effect". Several chemicals which are | | | | exposure is eliminated (ATSDR, 2003).In Canada, not |
| used in common, popular cosmetics are known irritants | | | | all cosmetics list their ingredients on their labels, but |
| and carcinogens. Concern stems from the knowledge | | | | most have toll free telephone numbers which link you |
| that most of these ingredients are derived synthetically | | | | to their customer service departments, where inquiries |
| or from petroleum. Avoiding these substances serve | | | | about ingredient lists can be made. Reading labels and |
| to decrease overall exposure to harmful or irritating | | | | recognizing problematic ingredients are necessary skills |
| cosmetic ingredients.Ingredients to Avoid | | | | for a consumer who intends to choose products that |
| Forms Found in Cosmetics and Possible Negative | | | | are completely natural. The cost of a cosmetic is not a |
| Side EffectsAluminum | | | | reliable indicator of either its quality or natural |
| - Thought to contribute to Alzheimer's Disease.- Found | | | | characteristics. Most cosmetics, from the lowest |
| in almost all antiperspirants.- Works by blocking pores | | | | priced, to the most costly brands, are composed of |
| so sweat cannot be released by the skin.Artificial | | | | identical base ingredients (Begoun, 1991).Cosmetics do |
| colours | | | | not stay on the surface of the skin without penetrating |
| - FD&C, derived from coal tar.- For example, Azo | | | | to some degree. Lipstick wearers, for example, |
| dyes are a risk to asthmatics, eczema sufferers and | | | | consume 1.5 to 4 tubes in a lifetime (Aveda). If one |
| people sensitive to aspirin.- Causes hyperactivity in | | | | considers the ingredients being internalized by the body, |
| children, severe headaches, blurred vision and itchy | | | | absorbing plant oils and waxes, mineral pigments or |
| watery eyes and nose (Antczak, 2001).Benzoates | | | | essential oils is a healthier alternative than absorbing |
| - Benzoates Benzoic acid, sodium benzoate or | | | | petroleum by-products and synthetic chemicals. The |
| parahydroxy benzoate.- Used as a preservative in | | | | ability to choose the right cosmetics for you depends |
| cosmetics and fizzy drinks.Causes gastric irritation, | | | | on accurate ingredient knowledge, personal needs and |
| numbing of the mouth and aggravates asthma | | | | market choices. Caring for one's whole body includes |
| (Antczak, 2001).Certain essential oils | | | | skin care choices that support and contribute to a |
| - Rosemary is harmful to epileptics.Sage is not | | | | healthy lifestyle.Natural cosmetic products and |
| recommended for pregnant women.DEA, MEA, TEA | | | | make-up are safer, healthier alternatives especially |
| - Causes allergic reactions, irritating to eyes and dries | | | | when these products are composed of all natural |
| out hair and skin (Fairley, 2001).Dibutyl phthalate | | | | ingredients. A natural product is described as one that |
| - Found in all persons tested by the CDC (Center for | | | | contains mostly or completely naturally derived |
| Disease Control, USA) in a 2000 Fall study.- Highest | | | | ingredients (Antczak, 2001). It also indicates that the |
| levels were found in women of reproductive age.- | | | | product is free from, or contains minute amounts of |
| Causes birth defects in animals, and damaging to the | | | | artificial chemical additives. Caution is required when |
| male reproductive system (ABC News, Internet | | | | products claim to be natural. For instance, they may |
| Ventures 2000).- Used in cosmetics to assist the | | | | contain small amounts of plant extracts, but the bulk of |
| absorption of other ingredients.Formaldehydes | | | | the product is petroleum based and loaded with |
| - A preservative.- Causes skin reactions.- Imidazolidinyl | | | | fragrances. Instead, consider switching to completely |
| urea is the second most identified preservative causing | | | | natural products, which perform to the same standard |
| contact dermatitis ( American Academy of | | | | as their non-natural counterparts. The Organic |
| Dermatology: Fairley, 2001).- DMDM hydantoin- | | | | Make-up Company offers a wide range of simple, |
| Quaternium 15- Diazolidinylurea- | | | | affordable and high quality products. Our cosmetic |
| 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1- 3-diolFragrances | | | | products are carefully formulated from plant waxes, |
| - Can contain up to 200 undeclared substances | | | | plant oils, essential oils from flowers, barks and spices, |
| (Fairley, 2001).- Major cause, in addition to artificial | | | | as well as richly coloured mineral pigments.Switching to |
| colours, of skin irritations and allergies (Antczak, 2001).- | | | | all-natural cosmetic products and make-up can help |
| May cause dizziniess, skin irritation and | | | | you to avoid feeding your skin harmful chemicals. |
| hyperpigmentation (Fairley, 2001).Genetically Modified | | | | Many skin problems, such as acne, contact dermatitis, |
| Organisms | | | | irritations and allergies may disappear once petroleum |
| - Soy, Corn- Effects still undetermined.Isopropyl | | | | or synthetic ingredients are removed from your skin |
| Alcohol | | | | care regimen. Using fully natural products can |
| - Drying agent, from petroleum.Keratolytic chemicals | | | | contribute to healthy skin and a healthy body in the |
| - Such as hydroxyl acids, retinoic acid.- Corrosive, | | | | long term.We invite you to give our natural products a |
| used in skin peels.- Dissolves the stratum corneum of | | | | try. They are completely natural, vegan and an |
| the epidermis (outermost layer), making skin more | | | | excellent alternative to conventional cosmetics and |
| sensitive to sun damage.- Accelerates production of | | | | make-up.To view our products, please visit our |
| dead skin cells; the skin thickens to repair its surface | | | | website at Antczak, Dr. Stephen and Gina, (2001). |
| so that vulnerable skin cells underneath are protected | | | | Cosmetics Unmasked, Harper Collins, London.- Begoun, |
| from the effects of skin peeling.(Antczak, | | | | Paula, (1991). Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter |
| 2001).Methylisothiazolinone | | | | Without Me, Beginnings Press, Seattle.- Fairley, |
| - Causes allergic reactions and irritations (Fairley, | | | | Josephine, (2001). Organic Beauty, DK Publishing, |
| 2001).Parabens | | | | London.- ABC News Internet Ventures, 2000.- Agency |
| - Petroleum product.- Triggers skin irritations and may | | | | for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, April |
| be an xerestrogen (Fairley, 2001).May play a role in | | | | 2003.- Stryker has been researching and developing all |
| falling sperm counts and rising breast cancer rates | | | | natural skin care and make-up for the purpose of |
| (Fairley, 2001).Used in 99% of all cosmetics (Fairley, | | | | offering men and women safe, natural cosmetics for |
| 2001), and in many so-called 'natural' products.Parraffin | | | | everyday use. She brings to her research a specialist |
| - Derived from petroleum.- In the form of wax, mineral | | | | in human biology from the University of Toronto, |
| oil or petrolatum.- Comedogenic, i.e.blocks | | | | coupled with a professional home economics degree |
| pores.Propylene Glycol | | | | and an education degree from the University of British |
| - When derived from petroleum.- Increases the | | | | Columbia, fusing chemical and biological knowledge |
| amount of acid in the body, resulting in metabolic | | | | with food, family and textile sciences.You may use this |
| problems.- Large amounts are needed to produce this | | | | article but any modification or publication of this article |
| effect (Agency forToxic Substances and Disease | | | | for fiancial gain must be approved of by the author. |
| Registry or ATSDR, 2003).Sodium laureth sulfate, | | | | The author's name, Lori Stryker and her company's |
| sodium lauryl sulfate | | | | name, The Organic Make-up Company, needs to by |
| - Forms carcinogenic nitrogen compounds when | | | | noted when used. |
| combined with specific ingredients.- Irritating to eyes, | | | | |