Skin Care Product Ingredients to Avoid

MINERAL OIL - A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum, mineral oil can attract dirt and causes blackheads and eruptions. It can accelerate free radical damage, thus speeding up the aging process, because it causes toxins to build up in the skin. This ingredient will also cause "milia" to form on your skin. Milia are tiny white bumps similar to blackheads, that get trapped under the skin. This congestion is very hard to get out and can cause a very uneven skin texture.

All waxes such as PARAFFIN, BEESWAX, CANDELLIA WAX, CARNUBA WAX - Waxes are widely used in cleansing creams, eye creams and moisturizers. Waxes clog pores creating blackheads and whiteheads. They also smother the skin, which over a period of time, creates an enlarged pore problem.

LANOLIN - A yellow, semi-solid, fatty secretion from sheep's wool is widely used in skin and beauty care products. It can cause an allergic reaction in some people, as well as enlarged pores.

PETROLATUM - This familiar semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons is derived from petroleum. Literally, "paraffin jelly" or "petroleum jelly" - it is not absorbed by the skin and suffocates pores. All petrochemicals pollute our water and destroy marine life - avoiding them is essential for humans, animals, fish, water, land and air. Do you really want to make your skin suffer like that?!

ACETONE - Used in nail polish and nail polish removers, this colorless, volatile liquid is often used in astringents, fresheners or clarifying lotions. It is extremely toxic and will dehydrate the skin while speeding up the aging process. Not only is this ingredient very drying, but why would you want to break down any support your skin has to protect itself.

BORAX (Sodium Borate Boric Acid) - Used in baby powders, eye creams, skin fresheners, and protective creams as a preservative- it is rapidly absorbed by the skin. And it is still widely used, despite repeated warnings from the American Medical Association. Borax, can be used to kill ants outside your home...I do not believe this is a great ingredient to use on your precious skin.

ALCOHOLS SUCH AS ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, SD ALCOHOL 40, ETHYL ALCOHOL- Alcohols dissolves the body's own natural moisturizers and strips the skin of its own protection, leaving it vulnerable to infection. Alcohols destroy the skin ph balance and since they absorb water they speed up wrinkling of the skin. I know alot of people with acne will use this to help "dry out" the breakouts, however, drying out your skin with these type of alcohols will not only cause your skin to break out more in the long run from dehydration, you will be causing the skin to break down and age more quickly. So you see, it is a vicious cycle.

FD&C - When this abbreviation precedes the name of a color, it means that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has certified it as safe for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food. D&C colors are usually synthetic, coal tar colors; they're toxic and should be avoided when at all possible. Also note a lot of people tend to have allergies to some ingredients that prove to be unhealthy for the skin.

Keep in mind when purchasing skin care products, the more organic and natural the better. All skin types can benefit from the absence of pesticides, toxic metals and perfumes as well as perservatives. So put your best face forward and keep your eyes on those ingredient lists!