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