|
|
|
Before I learnt about the effect that chemical ingredients could be having on my health it was not uncommon to find me wandering the department store beauty counters looking for the latest revolutionary product guaranteed to remove my dark circles and keep the wrinkles at bay! I admit that I have been easily swayed with great packaging, high hopes and glamorous endorsements only to be left with a product that didn’t live up to its claims. It seems that i’m not the only one because it's said that most of us use on average 12 skin care products a day - easy when you consider your shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturiser, hair styling products and cosmetics - and that can just be before leaving the house. However, when you consider that your body can absorb up to 60% of what you apply to your skin it's worth spending a few minutes learning more about the ingredients that are contained in your daily products and learn why some of them could be a danger to your health. Here are a few of the most commonly found ingredients that have been the subject of many studies - please use this information simply as a starting point for your own research. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): A quick look around and you’ll find that opinions of this ingredient vary greatly and whilst some believe it is safe when used in controlled amounts many believe that it should be avoided. Its primary use is as a foaming agent and so you’ll find it in products that create foam when used - this includes shower gel, shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath. This ingredient has such harsh degreasing properties that it is also a common ingredient of engine degreaser and car wash - though obviously used in much higher quantities. Its ability to penetrate the skin has raised major concerns over its long-term safety and the health problems that could be suffered as a result of regular exposure to it. Parabens Thanks to media attention, this is one ingredient that many of you will have heard about. Parabens are a family of powerful preservatives and extremely effective against bacteria growth - take a quick look through your products, you’ll find them towards the bottom of the ingredients listing as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. UK research caused wide spread concern about the safety of parabens after discovering them present in samples of breast tumors. Although a conclusive link between parabens and breast cancer has not yet been found, an increasing number of people are choosing to avoid exposure to them. Synthetic Fragrances: Although artificial fragrance seems to be a fairly innocent ingredient in everyday products it can be a major cause of irritation; reactions can include irritated skin, headaches, sneezing and watery eyes. With a fragrance often being made up of over 100 different components it can be almost impossible to work out exactly which part has caused a reaction so that you can avoid it in the future. Having changed my past habits to exclude my then "must have" products, I know it can be a challenge to make changes in your skincare routine and follow a more natural path. My advice is to learn more about the ingredients that your products contain, discover your own comfort level and replace any products that you feel could be putting you at risk. When creating Pure Thoughts products I felt it necessary to exclude controversial ingredients from my recipes - I would never consider making a product that I would not use on my own skin. By experimenting with natural ingredients like rich butters, organic clay, fruit powders and pure essential oils I have discovered ways to create effective natural products that are a pleasure to use. I hope that you have time to take a look around; you’ll find our indulgent natural products with complete ingredients listings (in English) as well as lots of hints and tips that I’ve discovered along the way. |
|
Other articles: Our ingredients Read more about the natural oils and butters we use in our products... Chemical free facial products Pure Thoughts facial treatments are created a little differently - they’re made from 100% |
Delivery | Contact Us | Sitemap | Terms | Privacy Policy | Links
