Saturday, January 24, 2009

Skincare Dangers: Stay Away from These Chemical

By Marilyn Etzel

There are so many skincare products on the market that it is hard to choose which ones to use. They all claim that they will beautify our skin but only using them will show us if they are right for us, right? Before you try every skincare product on the market, here is a list of chemicals that you should try to avoid in your skincare products.

1. Alcohol"Alcohols have a drying effect on the skin. When you blow on them, they disappear but they also take some moisture with them. shampoos containing alcohols dry the scalp and weaken the hair over time. Any listed ingredient that ends in the suffix, -ols is a dead giveaway.

2. Parabens"In the ingredients, you may see methylparaben listed. They are preservatives used in skincare products. They decrease the amount of bacterial growth in lotions and other skincare products. Some people may have an allergy to parabens. Its hard to know if this is the source of your skin irritation with so many other chemicals in some skincare products, so avoiding parabens altogether is a wise choice.

3. Scents"Those labels that say Spring fresh or Rain showers entice us to buy that skincare product, but beware. A fragrance is nothing more than a combination of chemicals, any one of which can cause skin irritations in the user. You could end up irritating the skin on your entire body.

4. Phthalates"Look at the ingredient list on your lotions and soaps the next time you are in the store. If you see the word phthalate (pronounced thal-ate), put it back. These chemicals have a poor reputation and if they are harmful to animals.

5. Dyes"Dyes give skincare products their color. Even if it is a beige color, you can bet that there was a dye added to your product. People with sensitive skin develop dryness and itching from various dyes. Try natural products that are dye free.

Reading labels is important. The more that you know about what you are buying, the less likely you are to purchase a skincare product containing one of these chemicals. Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesnt regulate skincare products, it is up to us to police them.

Even skin care products that claim to be all-natural are not always what they appear to be. One regulation that skincare manufacturers do have to follow is listing their product ingredients in order on the label according to the percentage of each in the formulation. All natural products that list their natural ingredients at the end are a dead giveaway that they are more chemical than natural. - 16036

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