Sunday, October 5, 2008

Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

Skin Care Ingredient to Avoid 
It seems incredible, but many skin care products are loaded with ingredients that can actually harm your skin and your overall health over time. 
 
Remember that your skin is the largest organ of he body. Anything you put on it can be easily absorbed through the pores.  

Here are a highlight of some of the top skin care ingredient offenders!!!!!

1. Mineral Oil
This oil also may be listed as liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, and petrolatum.  This oil is used pervasively throughout the skin care industry.  The one reason is because it is cheap! Mineral oil prevents the skin from beathing, clogs pores, and stops the natural ability of the skin to eliminate toxins.  It actually fuels acne.  It also leads to premature aging of the skin because if used for any extended period of time, the skin can become dependent on it, causing chapping and dryness.

2. Dioxane
This ingredient is a synthetic derivative of coconut and contains high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, a chemical known to cause cancer. This substance is readily absorbed by the skin. 

3. Synthetic Fragrance
It is ok to smell nice.  Generally we only use a little perfume, cologne, or bodyspray.  For the most part, your skin care products should not contain synthetic fragrances.  Many synthetic fragrances are produced from ingredients that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.  

Why is it fine to use perfume or cologne as a fragrance, but not skin care products?

We recommend this because when you use skin care products, they are usually applied all over your face, neck, and body.  This covers a lot more body surface area, and therefore, a great deal more of chemical absorption occurs. 

At Siena Soap Company we use essential oils to scent our products instead of synthetic fragrances.  Why would we go to the trouble of carefully selecting soothing all natural vegetable oils and butters in our products, and then go ahead and add synthetic fragrance? Essential oils are all natural plant derived oils that not only contain wonderful aromatherapy, in many cases they also provide a therapeutic component.

4. Parabens
Often labeled as methyl, propbl, butyl, or ethyl paraben.  Many skin care products including moisturizers will use parabens as a preservative providing their products with a longer shelf life. Studies show, however, that parabens may cause cancer.  They also interfere with the bodies endrocrine system, and often cause allergic reactions and skin rashes.

5. Alcohols
Often called by the following names: Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and SD alcohol.  When found in skin care products alcohol is very drying and irritating for the skin.  Alcohols strip away the skin's natural acid mantle that acts as a protective barrier. This makes you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds, and viruses.


Thankfully there are skin care products available that you can use with confidence.  Take a peak at our full line of all natural skin care products at: 



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