Natural Body Care Products

Natural Body Care Products

According to the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors, 1995, the “FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing.” The majority of cosmetic and other body care product ingredients are not tested for their safety before being used. It is unlikely that individual applications of one product are causing immediate harm, however, most of us use many products per day, such as shampoo, conditioner, make-up, facial cleanser, moisturizers, etc., and all these exposures may add up. Very little is known about the cumulative exposures to personal care products, but that does not mean that it is safe.

Did you know that pharmaceutical companies have investigated putting drugs into shampoos because the scalp is so thin that it readily absorbs substances that are put on it? Many other personal care products are put on our skin and stay there and are absorbed all day long – do you ever wonder about their safety?

According to the Environmental Working Group, in the United States, the FDA has banned or restricted nine (9) ingredients out of 1,175 that are used in personal care products. The European Union, in contrast, has banned 450 ingredients for use in cosmetics. Hmm…

Some further food for thought: Cancer rates are now approaching 1 in 2 American men and 1 in 3 American women – this is up from 1 in 4 Americans in the 1950s despite huge expenditures on the “War on Cancer.” Dr. Samuel Epstein from the University of Illinois says that cancer rates have gone up about 60% from 1950 to 1998. A lot of us think that these rising cancer rates are at least in part due to our increasing exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, often in small amounts that accumulate in our bodies over time. These come from our food, our air and water, household furnishings and building materials, cleaning products and personal care products.



Commonly Used Chemicals in
Personal Care Products


Artificial Fragrances are derived in large part from petrochemicals, not flower essences or other herbal products as many imagine. These petrochemicals release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that often cause headaches, skin irritation, nausea and allergies. Some are carcinogenic, contain or release formaldehyde or are toxic to the nervous system. Many artificial fragrances contain phthalates, which are linked to birth defects in the male reproductive system. Phthalates were found in a 2002 study by a coalition of environmental and public health organizations in deodorants, fragrances, body lotions, and hair gels, mousses and sprays. Artificial fragrances in general are found in many cosmetic and personal care products.

Ingredients like Coal Tar, Benzyl Violet 4B, Formaldehyde, Lead Acetate, Selenium Sulfide and Silica are either known to be carcinogenic or may be carcinogenic.

The family of preservatives known as Parabens, which includes methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparaben, has recently been identified as xenoestrogens which mimic the sex hormone estrogen. They are widely used in shampoos and cosmetics for adults as well as children. However, Dr. S. Oishi of the Department of Toxicology, Tokyo metropolitan Research laboratory of Public Health, Japan, reported that the daily sperm production in lab test of animals was significantly lower in those receiving a dose of parabens that is “similar to the lower level of acceptable daily intake for parabens in the European Community and in Japan.”

Another study by researchers at the Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Korea showed that sperm counts were down in newborns whose mothers were exposed to parabens during pregnancy.

According to an article by Healthy Living, all women of childbearing age or parents of young children should stop using products with parabens.

Diethanolamine (DEA) is often used as a foaming agent and emulsifier in shampoos. However, a federal National Toxicology Program completed a study in 1998 that found an association between cancer in lab animals and the topical application of DEA and other DEA-related ingredients. DEA can also lead to the formation of nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens. In response, many manufacturers switched to cocamide MEA. However, the FDA says that cocomide MEA is one “of the most commonly used ingredients that may contain DEA.” Other ingredients that include other types of MEA or TEA may also contain DEA.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), including PEG-6, PEG-150 and other similar ingredients can be found in shampoos, lotions and other personal care products. However, a report in the International Journal of Toxicology routinely found many impurities in PEG, including ethylene oxide and 1,4-Dioxane. Ethylene oxide increases the risk of uterine, breast and other cancers. 1,4-Dioxane is a suspected human carcinogen. Testing commissioned by the Doctors’ Prescription for Health Living showed that around 50 percent of personal care products with PEG contain significant amounts of 1.4-dioxane. PEG is also found in some “natural” products.


High Quality
Natural Body Care Products


If you are serious about reducing the amount of chemicals you are exposed to on a day to day basis, you need to search out body care products that are free of the above mentioned chemicals. The following company produces many fine products that are free of these and other possibly toxic chemicals:

Soignee

The Soignee skin care line contains MSM with Liposome Binding Action. MSM is a natural sulfur compound that contributes to healthy skin, hair and nails. Soignée MSM Facial Wash, Soignée MSM Facial Crème, Soignée MSM Hand & Body Lotion and Soignée Anti-Wrinkle Crème contain the finest synergistically blended ingredients including pure botanical extracts, antioxidants, liposome bound ingredients and emollients that help rejuvenate the skin. They work well for all skin types, but are especially effective for those with dry skin. All of their products are non-comedogenic and free of chemical preservatives and harsh chemical additives such as sodium laurel sulfate and propylene glycol.

The Soignee line is sold under the brand “Natural Innovations” in many medical offices across the country.

You can purchase Soignee in your natural food stores as well as online at a discount from EcoViva.com