Chemicals in the skin care products, poisonous chemicals in skin care product

Here are some of the chemicals in the skin care products, you should stay away from:
• Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis.
• Methyl/Propyl/Butyl/Ethyl Paraben Used as inhibitors of microbial growth, they extend the shelf ife of products. Unfortunately they are widely used even though they are known to be toxic.They cause allergic reactions and skin rashes.
• Petrolatum You will see this ingredient in lip products (balms, chaps, jellies). Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil causes a lot of problems when used on the skin such as photosensitivity (susceptibility to sun damage) and it tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturising mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. Ironically, it creates the very conditions it is supposed to alleviate!
• Propylene Glycol In its natural form it is a vegetable glycerine mixed with grain alcohol. But it is largely available as a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant (substance that attracts and holds moisture from the environment, thus acting as a moisturiser). It has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions.
• PVP/VA Copolymer: A petroleumderived chemical used in hairsprays, gels and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic, since particles may cause congestion in people with sensitive lungs.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritation, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf (similar to dandruff), and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation that it 'comes from coconut'.
• Stearalkonium Chloride A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams, it causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair- conditioning formulae than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health.
• Synthetic Colours The synthetic colours (not colour cosmetics) used to make you cosmetically 'pretty' should be avoided at all costs, along with hair dyes. They will be labelled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a colour and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6/D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colours are believed to be cancer-causing agents.
• Synthetic Fragrances The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply describe it as 'Fragrance'. Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper-pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation.
• Triethanolamine Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed by the body over a long period of time.
It is equally important to understand what the label says. Most beauty products use some common terms in their ingredients' list that tells you about the chemical nature of the product and the kind of effect it will have on your skin or hair. Always look out for them before making the purchase. So, get gorgeous girls. Remember, beauty doesn't always have to come at a high price. Certainly not, at the price of good health!

source: prevention.com

What you should look for in a skin care product

• Retinol is a type of Vitamin A that penetrates deep into the skin where collagen and elastin reside; there it causes more collagen production and makes skin repair and renew itself at a much faster rate.
• CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is known to quicken the skin's cell renewal process.
• AHA works as an effective exfoliator. It shows instant results by loosening the bonds that hold dead skin cells together on the skin's surface. AHA also hydrates and lightens the skin.
• Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant quite effective against cell damage and pigmentation that is due to ultra-violet (UV) rays of the sun.
• Allantoin promotes regeneration and skin recovery, while controlling inflammatory pigmentation that leads to uneven skin tone and dark spots. It is an effective ingredient to control skin dryness.
• Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) actively tightens and locks melanin below the skin's surface. It is usually found in skin-lightening products.
• Essential Oils such as jojoba that moisturizes skin, camomile, which is an effective calming agent and tea tree oil, which has strong anti-bacterial properties. Add a few drops of these essentials oils to your bath, or foot bath.
• Honey is a great emollient. It can also clean and get rid of bacteria.
• Green Tea Extract is a powerful antioxidant that also soothes the skin. Green tea helps prevent free radical damage caused by sunexposure and pollution.
• Aloe Leaf soothes irritated or sunburnt skin.