Natural Health Articles

Beauty Is As Beauty Does: 
Using Cleaner, Healthier Body Care Products
By Susanne Morrone, CNC

Men and women alike are becoming more savvy about body care products thanks to health-oriented books, the internet, infomercials, and their local health food stores. It stands to reason we should scrutinize what is rubbed, dabbed and sprayed on our skin since it will show up in the rest the body. According to Josephine Fairley, author of Organic Beauty, up to 60 percent of skin products are absorbed into the circulatory system. A study by Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Company in Britain has shown that the human body can absorb up to 30 pounds of moisturizer over 60 years. (Oh, George!, George Magazine - Spring 2005)

This concept was proposed as controversial a few years back on a TV special interviewing several spa owners and two specialists in the medical establishment. The spa owners shared their beauty and therapeutic approaches alluding to the skin throwing off toxins and absorbing their nutrient-rich creams. The doctor experts stated the skin does not absorb nutrients. Funny, we now have trans-dermal patches for weight loss, hormone balance and nicotine withdrawal.

The chemical exposure in everyday living is becoming very obtrusive. Fact is, chemicals are accumulating in our fatty tissues and causing health problems. These chemicals are called PBT chemicals or persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. (Even DDT is showing up in children and adults who were born well after its banning in 1972.) So, take a rough mental inventory of what you've been using everyday for years from shampoos and conditioners, hair coloring products, deodorants, to cosmetics for starters. Do yourself a favor and read the label ingredients. You'll be surprised when it seems like a lesson in chemistry. If the ingredients are herbal sources from nature, you'll usually see a botanical name in the list. For example, it could be Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), Oenothera biennis (evening primrose oil), or Mentha aquatica (mint, lime). On the other hand, if the ingredients are synthetic chemicals or derived from petroleum, you can usually tell because of the longer names such as dipropylene glycol methyl ether, 2-amino6-chloro-4-Nitrophenol, or Disperse Black 9. Do you want to buy products with toxic heavy metals, skin irritants, and ingredients that may cause cancer, developmental/reproductive abnormalities, allergic reactions, nerve damage and other concerns?

Don't be fooled by buzz words on the front of the product like natural, organic, hypoallergenic or cruelty-free. This should not be the only inducement to buy. These products may still contain harmful chemicals, cause allergic reactions in some people and have individual ingredients which have been tested on animals. Many manufacturers have been misleading the public using the term organic while they’ve included synthetic petrochemicals and other potential carcinogens. Always scrutinize the list of ingredients and look for products which list certified "USDA Organic" ingredients from companies known for quality with consumer health as a high priority.

You may still choose to throw caution to the wind thinking that the average product out there is going to be safe or moderately safe. We're talking about a highly-profitable industry-- dominated by a small number of multinational corporations that originated in the early 20th century. The worldwide annual expenditures for cosmetics alone is $18 billion. Manufacturing companies are able to put virtually any ingredient into personal care products, be it highly-toxic or otherwise. Like most industry, they resist government regulation and have lobbied against it throughout the years. Federal law on personal care products, therefore, is riddled with loopholes, and there is no requirement for pre-market safety tests. The burden of proof lies with the consumer.

Common Skin Problems

Acne is commonly addressed with antibiotics in cream and pill forms as well as lotions formulated with many synthetic chemicals. Acne roseacea is becoming a more common concern as well. Rather than getting at the underlying cause, we almost always think medicate to suppress the obvious symptoms. One should take a hard look at diet as a big factor, along with possible hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid resulting in poor digestion), clogged pores and demodex. Demodex are tiny parasitic mites that live in follicles of mammals. There are about 65 known species of Demodex that are among the smallest of arthropods. Two species living on humans have been identified: Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis, both frequently referred to as eyelash mites. Sea Buckthorn oil has shown to be one effective topical for this problem. The ingredients in the products you are using may be clogging your pores making an acne problem worse. The word comodogenic is used to describe ingredients that will produce or aggravate acne. There are many ingredients which have been found to irritate skin and clog pores. Here are just a few:

A high-quality, organic product formulated for your skin type would be a wise choice. Choose between dry, normal, oily, and combination. The cleansing product should be followed by a toner to re-establish the pH, and moisturizer. Again, dirt and impurities can cause breakouts and clog pores. But we can also damage our skin by over-cleansing, harsh scrubbing, and using drying or exfoliating products.

While we are on the subject of high-quality products, don’t forget to check your deodorant! It may have butane, propane (liquified petroleum gas), aluminum and other chemicals. Since aluminum is implicated in a number of health conditions including Alzheimer’s, why risk applying it to your skin?

Seek out suppliers and stores that carry quality alternatives to the mass produced, cheaply formulated lines we’re all familiar with. Don’t let your guard down when at the health food store either as many just order the best sellers in each category without scrutinizing ingredients.

In conclusion, if you care about your skin and your health, no longer purchase products based on familiarity, media advertising and package appeal. Beauty is as beauty does—purchase products as an informed consumer to nourish and beautify.

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