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Skin Care Going Green?

07/18/2008

Going green is all the rage, and with good reason: Chemical overload is killing the planet, and many of the people on it. A green skin care regimen will help your skin, your overall health, and the health of your neighbors around the world. But you really should include other personal care products in your efforts. Find out which chemicals are the most important to avoid, and which products contain them.

Among the worst offenders are phthalates – a group of chemicals used to soften plastic, to moisturize, and to enhance penetration of other ingredients. Lab tests in animals show phthalates cause serious reproductive and developmental problems. They’ve also been linked to premature development in young girls, productive development in male fetuses, and hormone imbalances. Studies also indicate phthalates may cause allergic diseases such as asthma. Although most commonly found in hair spray, nail polish and perfume, phthalates are also in many products unrelated to personal or skin care products. Look on the ingredients list for anything ending in ‘phthalate’.

Nail polish and polish removers are generally loaded with chemicals you want to avoid: ethyl acetate, acetone (also found in perfumes), formaldehyde (also found in deodorants, shampoo, hair dye and shaving gel), xylene, and toluene. They have several different names – do a little research online so you know what to look for.

Triclosan - an antibacterial agent used in deodorants, toothpaste, vaginal washes, liquid soaps and mouthwashes – is linked to cancer. This is primarily because dioxins are formed when Triclosan is manufactured or incinerated. Check labels for 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-phenol, but be aware that it may not be listed on the label.

Parabens, very common in skin care and personal care products, are also a big problem as they can penetrate the skin and mimic estrogen. Although the cumulative effects of using low-levels of parabens daily is unknown, many natural skin care manufacturers no longer use them in their products. They are found in a wide variety of toiletries, moisturizers and other skin care products.

According to the Women’s Environmental Network, 400 million metric tons of synthetic chemicals are manufactured every year worldwide. About 5,000 to 10,000 chemicals are considered hazardous, 150 to 200 of which are thought to cause cancer, and about 300 have been detected in human body tissues and secretions.

Chemical-laden toiletries, skin care and personal care products affect our health, the health of those around us and the environment. Every time someone washes their face or body or hair, these products go down the drain. And they wind up in our water supply and our fish, in the earth where our fruit, vegetables and grains are grown, and in the grass and feed eaten by the cows, chickens, pigs and other animals that wind up on our dining tables.

For toxic substances you can’t avoid - like airborne chemicals and pollutants - use a shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a protective layer that keeps out chemicals. It’s the best skin care treatment available for this purpose (and is also excellent for dry skin). However, to really protect yourself, and everyone else, it’s best to stop using products containing the chemicals listed above as much as possible.

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