Do you know that most of our commonly used skin care products are contain harmful chemicals and might increase our chance of getting cancer with long term usage. We are buying those chemicals, apply each morning and night, which supposed to make us look better and healthier.There are nearly 11,000 ingredients banned in cosmetics by the European Union. And while it’s good to know that the FDA is protecting us from mercury compounds and chloroform but what about the long list of other problem
ingredients that are prohibited elsewhere but allowed in beauty products? And do you know that most of the cosmetics company need not to register with FDA? So, in order for us to avoid those harmful chemicals, here a list of top 15 harmful chemicals in your skin care .

1. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES, often contain phthalates (pronounced THAY-lates), synthetic chemicals commonly used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic more pliable. These endocrine disrupters mimic hormones and may alter genital development. Avoid products that list fragrance as an ingredient unless the label states that it’s derived from essentials oils, or look for a phthalate-free label on the packaging. There are over 200 synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics. Best to avoid them since they provide no skin benefits.

2. PARABENS, ubiquitous in skincare, used as preservatives and extend a product’s shelf life–but these antimicrobial chemicals also have hormone-disrupting effects. Methyl paraben may degrade releasing methanol, a potentially toxic chemical. However, the amounts of methanol that might be released from methyl paraben in skin care products are too small for any known systemic effects. Most people don’t have an obvious skin reaction to parabens. However, more research is needed to determine whether they are truly nontoxic or may cause low level skin damage in the long term.

3. UREAS, formally known as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, are preservatives that have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Ureas often used as preservatives to prevent bacterial growth although ineffective against fungi.

4. 1,4-DIOXANE, a chemical carcinogen, is created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.

5. PETROCHEMICALS,are derived from crude oil. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin (derived from nonrenewable sources). Is moderately comedogenic. Mineral oil may also interfere with normal perspiration and other skin functions by form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow it to breathe and can clog pores.

6. MEA/DEA/TEA, are “amines” (ammonia compounds) and can form harmful nitrosamines when they come in contact with air/ oxygen. Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, they can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin.

7. SULFATES, such as sodium lauryl and sodium laureth, are harsh detergents that give cleansers, soaps, and shampoos their lather ability.Often derived from petroleum, sulfates can also come from coconut and other vegetable oils that can be contaminated with pesticides. Sulfates can cause eye irritation and skin rashes.

8. CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS, such as oxybenzone and octylmethoxycinnamate, have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives.

9. QUATS, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, and cetrimonium chloride, give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, but we have allowed only the mildest quats in our Beauty With a Conscience standard: guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hydroxypropyltrimonium oligosaccharide, and SugaQuats.

10. ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUNDS, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin, do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance.

11. SYNTHETIC POLYMERS, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer, come from petroleum and give viscosity to skincare products. They are highly processed and their manufacture creates toxic by-products.

12. SYNTHETIC COLORS, are made from coal tar. They contain heavy metal salts that may deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number.

13. CHELATORS, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials. They do not readily biodegrade in the environment.

14. NANOS, are a new technology with inconclusive but potentially hazardous study results. Research suggests that when tiny nano particles penetrate the skin, they may cause cell damage.

15. ANIMAL TESTING: A grim history of cruelty to animals lies behind many cosmetic ingredients. But scientists are developing new technologies to test cosmetics before a European Union ban on animal testing begins in March 2009.

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All sunblocks have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating. The SPF rating indicates how long a sunscreen remains effective on the skin. A user can determine how long their sunblock will be effective by multiplying the SPF factor by the length of time it takes for him or her to suffer a burn without sunscreen.
The American Association of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that a “broad spectrum” sunblock with an SPF of at least 15 that is applied daily to all sun exposed areas, then reapplied every two hours. However, in some recent clinical trials, sunblocks with SPF 30 provided significantly better protection than sunblocks with SPF15.

However, SPF is only a measurement for Ultraviolet B (UVB) sun protection. SPF gives no protection from UVA rays.

So, a good sun block should have also PA++ label, PA is a rating used in sun products for defense against UVA radiation. UVA is longer, aging rays of the sun. PA is the measure of the change (darkening) in skin pigmentation after exposure of sun, UVA more exact. The indicator for measuring protection offered in a product ranges on scale from + indicating light protection, to ++ for moderate protection and +++ for maximum protection.

So, do pay attention to this SPS and PA ++ label when choosing your sun cream/ sun block.

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Vitamin E is a powerful biological antioxidant that acts to protect our cells against the free radicals. Free radicals are highly unstable compounds that can cause damage to our cells and also can lead to premature aging and other chronic disease. Antioxidant will protect our cells damage from free radicals and enable our cells to communicate effectively. Studies show that vitamin E is able to play a role in immune function, repair the DNA and also assist in other metabolic processes. Besides that, vitamin E also able to protect our skin from ultra violet lights.

Preliminary research has led to widely held believe that vitamin E may help prevent or delay coronary heart disease. Oxidative changes to LDL (bad cholesterol) promotes blockages in coronary arteries that may lead to heart problems. Vitamin E may help prevent or delay coronary heart diesease by limiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Excellent sources of Vitamin E include palm oil, almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds and turnip greens.

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