Thursday, December 4, 2008

How Damaging are Your Skin Care Products?

By Jemma Rivera

Of course we all like to think that the skin care products that we use are perfectly safe. In reality though, they may not be as harmless as we think. If your facial cleanser makes you feel clean with those foaming, popping little bubbles, then you should keep reading; you may be surprised at what you learn here.

If your facial cleanser advertises some type of foaming action then chances are high that it contains Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and/or Sodium Laureth Sulphate. These chemicals have been shown to weaken the immune system, cause skin inflammations and are commonly found in abrasive car washes and engine degreasers.

Another commonly seen skin care product ingredient is Propylene Glycol - one of the primary ingredients in antifreeze! Naturally, this is not something you'd like on your face either.

Then there is mineral oil. This oil coats your skin and is waterproof - this means that your skin is prevented from carrying out its normal cellular respiratory function. This causes clogged pores (which leads to acne) and can cause or exacerbate many other skin problems as well. Even so, this is a common ingredient in skin care products.

Personal care products which often contain these chemicals include skin creams, hand lotion and fragrances. The makers of these personal care products will say that the tiny amounts of these chemicals are safe, but why even take the risk?

The side effects of continued exposure to the chemicals listed above include hormonal imbalances, headaches, fatigue and even cancer! Not every skin care product contains these potentially hazardous ingredients of course, which is why it's important to seek out skin care products which do not contain toxic chemicals.

There are however some products that do contain natural ingredients that are actually good for your skin and safe to use. Emu oil is an example of one such chemical.

A neutral, hypoallergenic lipid, emu oil is safe for anyone to use. Products containing emu oil penetrate into the skin and hydrate and strengthen your skin cells.

Pure emu oil containing skin care products nourish and soften your skin naturally. The oil also has anti-inflammatory properties; this skin lotion can smooth and soothe your skin at the same time - it can even help to alleviate the discomfort of arthritis.

Did you know that your skin can receive great benefit from many seaweed components? Most people's minds turn to some green slimy salt-water scented grass. While some of the seaweeds may look unattractive in the ocean, they can help us achieve vibrant, healthy skin.

Botanical based skin care formulas rely on ingredients found in nature. Some of the elements found in seaweed include organic mineral salts, amino acids that can fortify the structure of the skin, several vitamins, and antioxidants which help repair cellular damage. Seaweed has also been found to be one of the best ingredients to promote skin cell regeneration.

Skin care products which are made from natural ingredients and contain vitamins A, C, E and other antioxidants help to nourish, hydrate and detoxify your skin.

Unfortunately, the world is not going to change their habits immediately. But you can take small steps to ensure that you and your family take better care of your skin by using products that contain only top quality, natural ingredients that are derived from nature. - 16083

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