Be prepared; when I first heard what I’m about to tell you, I couldn’t believe it. When I realized that the skin is the largest organ in the body, and everything that you put on it is absorbed, I started asking questions.
Are the things I’m putting on my skin really safe? What are all of those ingredients that I can’t pronounce? Could the SPF lotion I put on my skin to prevent cancer actually cause it? I sat down with Lillian Sovulewski, a skin care specialist, to find the answers to my questions. If what I’ve been told is true, then we’ve been lied to by the media and cosmetic companies.
What the companies don’t want you to know
Most products have active and inactive ingredients. Generally the containers sitting on the shelf at your grocery store or Walmart are five to seven percent active. All of them are diluted with water, which kills the active enzymes. You’re getting ripped off. It’s as if they’re selling a glass of water with lemon and calling it lemonade. See for yourself; take any container out of your shower caddy and you’ll see water is typically one of the first ingredients.
In order to be called “organic,” all the product needs to have is 25 percent organic ingredients.
“Eminence is the only product I’ve heard of so far that doesn’t have any water in it,” said Sovulewski.
According to the Eminence Organic Skin Care Company, 60 percent of skin cancers are not caused by the sun.
Dangerous ingredients
Many cosmetics contain toxins and chemicals that are harmful.
“If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not good for you,” said Sovulewski.
One I would like to call to your attention is various types of sulfates. These are the foaming agent found is all products that lather. Sulfates are harmful in that they separate the layers of the skin. Ironically, while everyone is trying to bind up the layers of skin with collagen and elastin, these products are producing the opposite effect. Sulfates can also cause cataracts and blindness. Sulfates found in shampoo will destroy the hair follicles, thus causing baldness.
Tear-free shampoo contains a numbing agent that allows for more harmful product to get into a child’s eyes unannounced.
So what should you do?
Sovulewski advised, “Don’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your stomach.” This includes anything you would think of as a toiletry or cosmetic: deodorant, shampoo, soap, lotion, makeup, etc.
So what’s safe?
“The best bet is to use food on your face,” said Sovulewski. It sounds crazy, but it makes sense.
Face wash:
Jojoba oil and grape seed oil are great cleansers because impurities like dirt and makeup bind to the liposomes in the oil and are easily removed. These oils are also great moisturizers because they are sources of pure vitamin E, which fights free radicals that cause aging.
Makeup:
Bare Minerals has a great SPF bronzer that is safe for your skin. Physicians Formula makes an organic mineral makeup that is true to its claim and very affordable.
Masks:
Use avocado for moisture and egg whites for tightening and clearing. Try blending up veggies like tomato and garlic. Or try blended fruits like pineapple. Try anything you think of.
These will pump antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and other great nutrients into your skin.
Deodorant:
Use aluminum-free deodorant. Aluminum clogs your pores. This is a good feature in that it keeps you from sweating, but it is a major contributor to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. So avoid antiperspirants.
Shampoo:
Find non-sulfate shampoo. Pureology and Aquage-sea Extend have great lines.
I know you’re probably thinking that these suggestions are too extreme and are too much of a hassle, but it’s worth thinking about. We are very ignorant of the potential dangers of these products. It’s important to remember that the health of the consumer is not necessarily a top priority to the providers. Take your health into your own hands. Hopefully this will urge you to do your own research, and you can implement some of these tips into your daily routine. Your skin will thank you in the long run.
