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The skin is the largest organ of the body and one of its main functions
is to eliminate a portion of the body’s toxins, much like the role
of the kidneys and liver, but through sweating. If the body has more
toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skin
can often times take over. But as these toxins escape through the
skin, the skin’s healthy integrity is disrupted, causing many skin
disorders, like acne.
And much to the dismay of the skin, many skin care products contain petroleum
and other synthetic ingredients – toxic, chemical laden ingredients
such as solvents, heavy metals, and PCB’s. So as our skin is
trying to eliminate excess toxins, we may be adding more right to the
surface. When the body is constantly busy detoxifying chemicals and solvents,
your overall health will suffer and the immune system can become weakened.
But the way to healthier
skin and a healthier you is easier than you may think. Instead
of petrochemicals and other questionable or toxic ingredients, look for
natural products that use herbs, essential oils, plant oils, and other
vegetable-based ingredients that are beneficial to your skin. The
mineral oils and petroleum jellies in most synthetic skin care products
actually create a barrier over the skin that prevents moisture from entering
it; so although it appears to be smoothing and moisturizing your skin,
it is in fact doing more harm than good. The barrier often clogs
pores which leads to skin irritation and acne.
Look for lotions and face creams that contain almond, apricot, olive,
jojoba, and grapeseed oils,
all contain antioxidants that nourish and protect the skin from toxins. These
oils are readily absorbed by the skin, where they help to prevent free
radical damage caused by our everyday exposure to pollution and ultraviolet
rays. And don’t be fooled by the front label of your skin care
bottle; always read the ingredients to make sure you know what your body
is directly absorbing through the skin. The higher on the list the
ingredient appears, the higher the concentration of the product. If
an herb or essential oil appears at the bottom of the ingredient list,
the quantity is probably too small to provide any noticeable benefit.
So the next time you are in the market for a skin
care product, read the label and...
Instead of Mineral Oil, Petroleum Jelly, and Petrolatum:
Look for Vegetable oils
Instead of Fragrance (usually synthetic):
Look for Essential oils
Instead of Cocoamide DEA and Lauryl Sulfate:
Look for Cocoamide MEA, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, and Cocoamidopropyl
Betaine
References:
Gardner, Katie. (2003, November). What’s in Your body care? Taste
For Life, 14-16.
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription
for Nutritional Healing,125. Acne.
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