FEEDING your skin (Part 2)- Ingredients in natural products...

[Guest guest]

I would like to share with you all some of the ingredients we " feed "

our body through our skin with products considered " Natural " ... tell

me what your reaction is!

FIRST UP: 's Bedtime Bath™

" Releases NaturalCalm™ Essences "

0% Natural

(more products to be posted!)

PEG-80 Sorbitan te

An ethoxylated sorbitol monoester of lauric acid (A) with an average

of 80 moles of ethylene oxide. *http://en.mimi.hu/beauty/peg-

80_sorbitan_laurate.html

(A)Lauric acid, although slightly irritating to mucous membranes, has

a very low toxicity and so is used in many soaps and shampoos. Sodium

lauryl sulfate ( is the most common lauric-acid derived compound

used for this purpose. Because lauric acid has a non-polar

hydrocarbon tail and a polar carboxylic acid head, it can interact

with polar solvents (the most important being water) as well as fats,

allowing water to dissolve fats.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauric_acid

(B)Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: These chemicals can alter the immune

system and cause damage to the eyes, digestive system, nervous

system, lungs, and skin. They are commonly found in foaming personal

care products. And may be listed as ingredients on semi-natural

products that claim to come from coconut oil. *Skin Care Product

Lables- Natural vs. Toxic Chemicals by Kathleen

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Surfactant derived from coconut oil salt. Creates a creamy foam in

shampoos, is also a thickener. It is antistatic and a cleanser.

http://en.mimi.hu/beauty/cocamidopropyl_betaine.html

Thank you for not using cocamidopropyl betaine in your shampoo. I

started buying your shampoo 5 years ago after being diagnosed with

cocamidopropyl betaine allergy. This surfactant causes mucous

membrane itch, hair loss, funguses and rosacea. Few dermatologist are

aware of the connection. Get the word out. Prevent others from

suffering like I once did. Lanny *http://www.aubrey-

organics.com/contact/testimonials2.cfm

Cocamidopropyl betaine is derived from coconut using petrochemicals

(both of these ingredients can be found in some `pseudo natural'

products). Whilst on the subject of Cocamidopropyl Betaine, there

have been studies which have shown that this ingredient can be

contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant

health problems (see the EWG.org website for more information). *

http://www.pureskincare.co.uk/acatalog/Ingredients_to_Avoid.html

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

When combined with other ingredients, they create nitrosating agents

and are carcinogenic. *Skin Care Product Lables- Natural vs. Toxic

Chemicals by Kathleen

Unfortunately, both sodium laureth sulfate and its cousin are also

very dangerous, highly irritating chemicals. Far from giving " healthy

shining hair " and " beautiful skin " , soaps and shampoos containing

sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair

follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even

liver toxicity.

Although sodium laureth sulfate is somewhat less irritating than SLS,

it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore

much longer-lasting. This not only means it stays in the body tissues

for longer, but much more precious energy is used getting rid of it.

*http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-laureth-

sulfate.html

sodium lauroamphoacetate

0005] Alkylamphoacetates, such as sodium lauroamphoacetate, are

typically used in personal cleansing compositions for improved

product mildness and lather, and to improve structure and stability

of the compositions. However, alkylamphoacetates can have impurities

or unintended reaction products, such as alkylamphodiacetate. It is

believed that maintaining acceptable stability, structure, lather and

rheology in multiphase, personal care compositions has been a

challenge due to the presence of impurities in alkylamphoaetates.

*http://www.freshpatents.com/Stable-multiphase-composition-comprising-

alkylamphoacetate-dt20071025ptan20070248562.php

Polysorbate 20

Polysorbate 20 / 80: Skin or sense organ toxicant. Known to cause

cancer in animals.

http://www.wingedwolf.citymax.com/page/page/1303049.htm

PEG-150 Distearate

According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology by

the cosmetic industry's own Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

committee, impurities found in various PEG compounds include ethylene

oxide; 1,4-dioxane; polycyclic aromatic compounds; and heavy metals

such as lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic. PEG

compounds also appear to be highly toxic to persons with damaged

skin. In spite of these concerns, the CIR concludes that many PEG

compounds " are safe for use " in cosmetics but adds that such PEG

compounds should " not be used on damaged skin. " In spite of these

known contaminants, PEG compounds remain commonly used in cosmetics

and personal care products. * http://www.aubrey-

organics.com/about/articles/peg.cfm

Sodium Benzoate

Now, an

expert in ageing at Sheffield University, who has been working on

sodium benzoate since publishing a research paper in 1999, has

decided to speak out about another danger. Professor Piper, a

professor of molecular biology and biotechnology, tested the impact

of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in his laboratory. What he

found alarmed him: the benzoate was damaging an important area of DNA

in the " power station " of cells known as the mitochondria.

He told The Independent on Sunday: " These chemicals have the ability

to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that

they totally inactivate it: they knock it out altogether.

" The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you

damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell

starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of

diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson's

and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the

whole process of ageing. " *

http://www.lifetechnology.org/blog/2007/05/dangers-associated-with-

soft-drinks.html

" May Also Contain Citric Acid " …

There have been some health concerns about the combination of sodium

benzoate and ascorbic acid or vitamin C. When the two are mixed, they

can form the chemical benzene, which is carcinogenic.

*http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sodium-benzoate.htm

Benzene Related Diseases – Leukemia

There have been documented dangers of benzene for well over a century

now. Even though benzene exposure often leads to leukemia, there are

also many non-cancerous diseases that have been shown when exposed to

elevated levels of benzene. Some of these other diseases include:

Myelodysplastic syndromes: also called `pre-leukemia', this is a

collection of diseases resulting in diminished blood production and

can weaken the immune system. This can result in leukemia.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: this is a disease affecting the lymphatic

systems and shares many similarities with leukemia. It can eventually

affect the bone marrow in addition to other organs.

Aplastic Anemia: this is a condition where the marrow in the bone

stops producing enough blood cells to replace lost ones.

Even though these diseases are not leukemia, they have strikingly

similar resemblances. The victims who suffer from them many times

can't tell the difference. Even with proper care and treatment,

victims of these diseases face an uphill battle exposed to pain and

suffering. *http://ezinearticles.com/?Benzene-Related-

Diseases & id=40303

Fragrance

It used to be that perfumes were made from natural ingredients like

flowers and herbs. However, " Perfume formulations changed sometime

around the late 70s and early 80s. Today, they are approximately 95-

100% synthetic (man-made). " (2) Using crude oil or turpentine oil as

the base material, synthetics are usually derived from chemical

reactions.(3)

These synthetic compounds are chemicals that can be dangerous to many

when inhaled or applied to the skin. Author Connie Pitts

explained, " Perfumes, colognes, and many other scented products

contain an abundance of harmful chemicals, many of which are listed

on the EPA's Hazardous Waste List. They also include numerous

carcinogenic chemicals, neurotoxins, respiratory irritants, solvents,

aldehydes, hundreds of untested and unregulated petrochemicals,

phthalates (which can act as hormone disrupters), narcotics, and much

more. " (4) http://www.myida.org/stinks.htm