How Damaging are Your Skin Care Products?

by Jemma Rivera

Your favourite skin care products may not be as safe as you believe. If your favourite skin cleanser is foamy and you love to feel those tiny bubbles popping and cleaning your face, you may not be giving your skin the cleansing and freshening that you think.

If your facial cleanser advertises some type of foaming action then chances are high that it contains Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and/or Sodium Laureth Sulphate. These chemicals have been shown to weaken the immune system, cause skin inflammations and are commonly found in abrasive car washes and engine degreasers.

Another ingredient which is in a lot of personal care products is Propylene Glycol. As you may know, this is one of the important ingredients in antifreeze! Again, not something you want on your face.

Mineral oil is another skin care ingredient that may seem harmless when first considered. Mineral oil coats your body like a waterproof outer layer of skin. This keeps the skin from emitting toxins and prevents it from breathing and performing necessary cellular respiration. This clogs pores, worsening acne and causing other skin conditions. Despite all this however, it is still one of the most used ingredients in many skin care lines.

Personal care products which often contain these chemicals include skin creams, hand lotion and fragrances. The makers of these personal care products will say that the tiny amounts of these chemicals are safe, but why even take the risk?

The side effects of continued exposure to the chemicals listed above include hormonal imbalances, headaches, fatigue and even cancer! Not every skin care product contains these potentially hazardous ingredients of course, which is why it's important to seek out skin care products which do not contain toxic chemicals.

There are however some products that do contain natural ingredients that are actually good for your skin and safe to use. Emu oil is an example of one such chemical.

A neutral, hypoallergenic lipid, emu oil is safe for anyone to use. Products containing emu oil penetrate into the skin and hydrate and strengthen your skin cells.

Products that contain pure emu oil are able to naturally soften and nourish skin. Other benefits of emu oil include its anti-inflammatory properties. It's a bonus when applying skin lotion also helps relieve pain from minor aches and even arthritic discomfort.

Seaweed is another natural ingredient which is great for your skin. Seaweed may not look so appetizing in the wild, but in skin care products, it can help you to achieve healthy, youthful looking skin.

Botanical skin care formulas are made from natural, plant based ingredients like seaweed. Some of the skin nourishing elements in seaweed include mineral salts, vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants. Seaweed is one of the best possible ingredients to promote cell regeneration.

When you use skin care products that have ingredients that are organic and contain antioxidants, as well as essential Vitamins like A, C and E, your skin is being hydrated, nourished, and detoxified naturally.

Unfortunately, the world is not going to change their habits immediately. But you can take small steps to ensure that you and your family take better care of your skin by using products that contain only top quality, natural ingredients that are derived from nature.

About the Author:

Author: Jemma Rivera reveals further details on the positive effects of organic cosmetics on her website where you can also investigate the wide range of natural skin care alternatives available at miessence.