Natural Skin Care That's Safe

Your skin acts as a mirror reflecting what is going on inside your body. If your life is imbalanced due to stress, processed food, a lack of exercise, etc. your skin may react with acne, rashes, dullness, dryness or other problems. If you eat well, keep hydrated, exercise regularly, rest adequately and take care of yourself, your skin will reflect this healthy lifestyle.

The skin is porous, allowing us to eliminate toxins and bacteria from the body. The more toxic our internal environment is, the more the skin must eliminate. This is why eating nutritious food and limiting our intake of toxins (from pesticides, caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, salt, trans fats, air pollution, chemical additives and preservatives, etc.) is important. Doing internal body cleansing with the aid of natural herbal detoxification kits is also important to not only a healthy digestive system but also healthy skin.

Since the skin is porous, it absorbs many harmful chemicals from the products that we directly apply directly to the skin. There has been much in the news recently on several of the potentially harmful chemicals found in most cosmetics and skincare products. Many of these chemicals have not been tested for safety. Some scientists argue that these chemicals are in such minute quantities that they cannot possibly do any harm. However, what many alternative care practitioners are concerned about is that regular, daily exposure to these minute quantities can accumulate causing toxic overload. If the body is exposed to more toxins than it can detoxify (through the liver, lymphatics, skin, kidneys, lungs and colon), these toxins get stored in places such as the joints, nervous system, breast tissue, hormonal glands and liver. There they can cause damage and imbalances, possibly even contributing to degenerative diseases like cancer.

It is no secret that we live in a toxic world. Air pollution in major cities is recognized as a cause of the increasing epidemic of allergies and asthma in children and adults everywhere. What most people are unaware of is that the indoor air quality in the average home is more toxic than the outside air. The combined use of chemical cleaners, cosmetics, paints and even chemicals in furniture, carpets and building materials cause toxicity in our homes. Kim Erickson, author of Drop-Dead Gorgeous (McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2002) states that beauty products are loaded with irritants, carcinogens and hormone disruptors. Every day, consumers expose themselves to about 200 chemicals in beauty and personal care products alone. The following harmful chemicals are often found in cleaners common cosmetics such as shampoos, hairsprays, soaps, moisturizers, make-up, deodorant and toothpastes:

Aluminum salts in deodorants, antiperspirants and face powders (prevent sweating by clogging pores), have been associated with a risk of Alzheimer¹s dementia, and may have an effect on DNA.

BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), (a synthetic preservative), is a suspected carcinogen that may cause reproductive damage.

Bismuth oxychloride in eye shadow (often called synthetic pearl), may cause allergic reactions.

Dihydroxyacetone in cosmetics intended solely or in part to give color to the human body. Obtained by the action of bacteria on glycerol; lethal to rats when injected in large doses; can cause contact dermatitis.

Isopropyl alcohol is synthesized from mineral oil, toxic if consumed and drying to the skin.

Parabens (alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid) are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in thousands of cosmetics and personal care products and have been linked to cancer. There are six commonly used forms (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben) English researchers identified parabens in samples of breast tumors. According to the lead researcher of the recent study, Philippa Darbre, an oncology expert at the university of Reading, in Edinburgh, the chemical form of the parabens found in 18 of the 20 tumors tested indicated that they originated from something applied to the skin, the most likely candidates being deodorants, antiperspirants, creams, or body sprays. Parabens and many other chemicals act like estrogen in the body contributing to major hormonal imbalances.

Phthalates, in many cosmetics and personal care products are a group of industrial chemicals associated with birth defects in the male reproductive system.

Propylene glycol, (an emulsifier and carrier), has been known to cause lactic (an accumulation of acid waste in the cells) and may cause birth defects.

Talc (a filler and moisture reducer), was reported to cause tumors in animal subjects by the US National Toxicology Program.

Synthetic fragrances, 95 percent of which are compounds derived from petroleum, may be linked to cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, and allergic reactions.

Triclosan, (a synthetic antibacterial agent) can be converted to dioxin when exposed to sunlight in water.

It is not necessary to expose yourself to such harmful chemicals in order to look great. There are many Natural skin care lines in health food stores which are designed to support and encourage the skin's ability to take care of itself. These therapeutic herbal formulas restore balance and health to the skin and their effectiveness is attributed to the use of high-quality botanical ingredients. Such natural companies use decades of wisdom in botanical, herbal and floral treatments to make modern ingredients and formulations that are not only great for your skin, but also safe to the environment. There are also many natural formulas that you can concoct out of your own kitchen and garden. The following homemade formulas use papaya fruit as a main ingredient:

Acne - Apply a mask using the fleshy side of a green papaya skin. Eating papaya supports the treatment internally by improving digestive health.

Dandruff - Shampoo hair with diluted papaya vinegar mixed with lemon juice and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse. Papaya hair shampoos are also available at health food stores.

Rough skin - Native Americans rub rough skin with the fleshy side of the skin from a ripe papaya.

Sun spots - Apply the fleshy side of the skin from a green papaya to the spots. Papaya vinegar can also be applied.

Wrinkles - Old skin cells make wrinkles deeper. Use a papaya powder face mask to reduce old dead skin cells and make the skin smoother. Apply the fleshy side of the skin from a green papaya.
*Caution: In rare cases and with long-term application, highly concentrated papaya could cause sensitivity and skin irritation.

So now that Spring is in the air and you are likely doing some Spring cleaning, take a good look through your cosmetics and cleaners and decide to do some "cleaning out". Get rid of some of your chemical laden cosmetics and switch to something more natural. Your body will love you for it, and so will our planet!