Have you ever examined the ingredients listed on the labels of your cosmetics or other skin care products? Do you know what those ingredients are?

What you may not realize is that many of the skin care products and cosmetics you are buying contain ingredients that are not only harmful to your skin, but also to your long term health. Many of these ingredients are known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and are used by the cosmetic industry simply because they are cheap!

Harmful Ingredients Commonly Found in Skin Care Products and Cosmetics
The following are just some of the synthetic chemicals that have been identified by scientific studies to be harmful to our health.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)
Often described as being “derived from coconut” to disguise their toxic nature, these chemicals are commonly used in shampoos, toothpaste, foaming facial and body cleansers and bubble bath. SLS and ALS can cause severe skin irritation, and are easily absorbed into the body, building up in the brain, heart, lungs and liver, leading to potential long term health problems. SLS and ALS may also cause cataracts, and prevent children’s eyes from developing properly.

Paraben Preservatives
Parabens are widely used in cosmetics, deodorants, skin care and baby products to prolong their shelf life. They are known to be highly toxic and have caused rashes and allergic reactions. Recent scientific studies in the UK found a strong link between the use of parabens and the increasing rate of breast cancer in women. Researchers found a high concentration of parabens in 90% of breast tumors tested.

Propylene Glycol
Found in many beauty creams, cosmetics and cleansers, Propylene Glycol can cause skin rashes and contact dermatitis, and has been shown to cause damage to the kidneys and liver.

Isopropyl Alcohol
Alcohol is used as a solvent in many skin care products. It causes skin irritation and strips the skin of its natural acid mantle, promoting the growth of bacteria, moulds and viruses. It may also cause premature ageing of skin.

DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) and MEA (Monoethanolamine)
These substances are harsh solvents and detergents that are used in cosmetics and face and body creams as an emollient. They can cause allergic reactions, and long term use of DEA-based products (such as Cocamide DEA) have been linked to an increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer.

Aluminum
A common ingredient in antiperspirants, aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Mineral Oil
Derived from petroleum (crude oil), mineral oil is commonly found as a main ingredient of face and body creams and cosmetics. Baby oil is 100% mineral oil! It coats the skin like a plastic film, clogging pores and stopping the skin from eliminating toxins, which can lead to acne and other skin disorders. Other petroleum based ingredients include paraffin wax, paraffin oil and petrolatum.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Used as a thickener in skin care products and cosmetics, PEGs interfere with the skin’s natural moisture balance, causing an increase in ageing and leaving the skin vulnerable to bacteria.

Talc
Talc is a soft mineral used in talcum powders and cosmetic powders. Scientific studies have shown that routine application of talcum powder to the genital area is linked with a three-to-fourfold increase in the development of ovarian cancer. Inhaling cosmetic powders containing talc may also be harmful to long term health.

How To Avoid These Toxins
Examine the labels of your cosmetics and skin care products carefully, and learn to recognize ingredients that are harmful to your skin and to your health. Many web sites have lists of potentially harmful ingredients in addition to those shown above (e.g. Environmental Working Group).

Don’t be fooled by the words ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ on the front of the label. Many products contain at least one or two natural or organic ingredients, but they may also contain harmful synthetic chemicals as well.

Whenever possible, choose products with 100% natural ingredients such as essential oils and herbs. Your skin will love you for it!

Collagen injections are frequently thought of as an alternative to cosmetic surgery, but there are other types of injections that play an increasing role in enhancing the skin and facial features.

Collagen injections are mostly used to improve the appearance of mild to moderate facial wrinkles. Some people can be allergic to it, so a test is essential. The results may last from 3 months to a year, depending on the person. While collagen injections can make lips appear fuller and smooth out mild wrinkles, it is not suitable for the vertical wrinkles that often appear between the nose and lips.

Another cosmetic wrinkle filler is a gel made from non-animal based hyaluronic acid, under the trade names Restylane and Hylaform. FDA approved in 2003/2004, it is integrated into the skin where it attracts and holds moisture to plump out moderate to severe wrinkles. It mostly lasts six months or longer, but is eventually degraded by the body’s own mechanism, leaving no trace.

A similar procedure is called Lipo-suction. While this is based on injection, the product injected is the patient’s own fat. Fat is taken from an area that is naturally dense in fat such as the thigh or buttocks, moisture is squeezed out and then it is injected into the area in need of treatment. An allergic reaction is impossible since the product is from the patient’s own body.

Lipo-suction can be used to re-contour the face, providing definition to the nose and chin, but it’s not suitable for those areas that move frequently. Nor can it be used to enhance the breasts because it makes the diagnoses of cancerous growths difficult. Lipo-suction is performed in an outpatients setting as local anaesthetic only is needed. It is possible to have the fat for this procedure harvested during another operation such as a tummy tuck, and frozen for later use.

A procedure called Thermalift is even less invasive. It is used to tighten aging skin or clear acne with no injections or incisions. A form of radio frequency is used to heat the deep layers of the skin, which in turn shrinks the oil glands, improving the appearance of the skin and clearing acne. Cooling sprays are used at the same time to prevent the skin burning.

Botox is a popular treatment these days. It is a series of injections made that actually weaken the small muscles of the face, thus eliminating wrinkles. The effects last from four to six months.