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6 COMMON SKINCARE INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID

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 A lot of us buy
beauty products especially for skincare and we do not bother to read about the
ingredients contained in the products. Little do we know which ones are best or
bad for our skin and body in general.  However,
today’s post is meant to point out some common skin care ingredients that we
must avoid in our skincare regimen.
SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
TO AVOID
ALCOHOL, ISOPROPYL
(SD-40): This skin care ingredient is used in a wide variety of skincare
products, yet it dries out the skin and can irritate it very easily.  It is a very drying and irritating solvent
and dehydrator that strips your skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier,
making you more venerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from
propylene, a petroleum derivative and is found in many skin and hair products,
fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It may
promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s Dictionary of
Cosmetic Ingredients says it may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental
depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. All alcohol-based
ingredients should be avoided when possible.
PARABENS: Parabens
are preservatives found in most cosmetics and skin care products. They keep the
product from spoiling by preventing harmful bacteria and fungi from growing
inside it. Although these preservatives are FDA approved, they have been found
to mimic estrogen, which can lead to breast cancer. There is no concrete link
between parabens and any dangerous medical conditions but some people may have sensitivity
and become irritated by the additive. It’s better to play it safe and stick to
paraben-free products. To steer clear of these additives, look for the word
“paraben” on ingredients labels (it may appear as a suffix).

FRAGRANCES: Many
skincare products simply list the generic term ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient .
[Fragrance] can be made up of hundreds of synthetic chemicals that you should
be avoiding—they often contain toxins linked to cancer and can result in
hormone disruption. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness,
allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin
irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central
nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to
cope, and other behavioral changes.
PETROLEUM-BASED
INGEREDIENTS/MINERAL OIL: Petroleum can leave a plastic-like film which
prevents nutrients from being soaked in—this can suffocate the skin and leave
it looking dull. Petroleum by-product can also coat the skin like plastic,
clogging the pores. Interferes with 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 such as baby
oil which is 100% mineral oil.
FD&C COLOR PIGMENTS:
Synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit
toxins into the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of
certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Animal
studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
(SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): Detergents and surfactants that pose
serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine
degreasers – and in 90% of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to
SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin
irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to
SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skins immune system
by causing layers to separate and inflame. When combined with other chemicals,
SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your
body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which tie it may enter and
maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain.
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