Personal Care Products

Every day we use products that we think are safe; but the truth is that personal care and home care products are not always safe and manufacturers don't always have to tell us so.
In 1938 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted self-regulation to the cosmetic industry. Since then, cosmetics are sold without government approval of ingredients. The cosmetic industry decided that if less than 50 percent of laboratory animals die while testing a new cosmetic ingredient, that ingredient is considered non-toxic. So to this day, if 49 percent of laboratory animals die from a cosmetic ingredient it's labeled it non toxic.
Most of the 25,000 chemicals used today have not been tested for long-term toxic effects. (Not that calling a product non-toxic means anything anyway.) Many people in the United States are exposed to over 200 different chemicals each day, many of which are suspected of causing cancer or juggling hormones. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests conclude that ingredients in personal care products and home care products may be wreaking havoc with hormones that control reproduction and development.
In the same manner that trans-dermal patches work (example, the patch that is placed on the skin to deliver nicotine for people trying to quit smoking), chemicals that come into contact with the skin are absorbed into our bloodstream and brought to our liver for detoxification. These chemicals can build up in the body and can cause ill health.
Alcohol and solvents damage our skin's immune barrier, deplete our skin's moisture, dissolve proteins, encourage bacteria and parasite growth, and accelerate aging. Soaps and detergents strip our skin's precious moisture shield, reduce our body's immune barrier, leave the skin malnourished, and accelerate
aging.
The following is a partial list of ingredients to avoid in personal and home care products.

Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40): A consumer's dictionary of cosmetic ingredients says that it may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, and coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less.
DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine) & TEA (Triethanolamine):
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These chemicals are restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. In the United States they are still used in shampoos, shaving creams, and bubble baths. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says that repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer. The FDA's John Bailey says that these findings are especially important since "the risk equation changes significantly for children".
DMDM Hydantoin and Urea (Imidazolidinyl): Just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects include weakening the immune system and cancer.
FD&C Color Pigments: Synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metals that deposit toxins in the skin causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
Fragrances: Mostly synthetic ingredients, many are toxic or carcinogenic. Can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritations. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
Mineral Oil: Petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100 percent mineral oil).
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): Potentially carcinogenic petroleum that can alter and reduce the skin's natural moisture factor. This could increase the appearance of aging and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria.
Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing, and goggles. The EPA also has specific disposal requirements for PG. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Yet PG is a common ingredient in stick deodorants and a variety of personal care products with no warning label.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, and severe skin irritation. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain SLS for up to five days, during which time it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs, and the brain. SLS is currently used in 90 percent of personal care products that foam, such as toothpaste, shampoos, bubble bath, and soaps. It is also used in engine degreasers and garage floor cleaners.
Triclosan: A synthetic "antibacterial" ingredient with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange. The EPA registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment. It is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tuffs University School of Medicine says that triclosan is capable of forcing the emergence of "super bugs" that it cannot kill. It is currently used in popular antibacterial cleansers, toothpastes, and household products.
I only use toxic-free personal care products (soaps, hair conditioners, toothpaste, lotions, etc.) When using soap, I only apply it to my hands and in those crevices that need cleaning regularly. The only times that I use soaps on other body parts is if they become soiled, because I believe that water alone is enough to rinse most of my body clean.
I encourage you to read the labels on your home and personal care products. And to pay a little bit more for products that will save your health (and life savings in years to come).
The personal care companies that I trust to use on myself are Aubrey Organics (hair care products), Dr. Bronners (soaps), Weleda (toothpaste) available in most health foods stores and Viva ToxicFree products available at www.purecare.vivatoxicfree.com. (There are other toxic-free products out there; these are just the ones that I use.)
Aubrey Organics www.aubrey-organics.com) offers a free book called Natural Ingredients Dictionary that explains more about cosmetic ingredients. Most heath food stores will give it to you if you ask for it.
My suggestion to you is to read labels, and if you are uncertain about an ingredient, consider spending a little more time and finding a product that you can be 100 percent sure of.