Why use natural products?

Toxic Ingredients are found in almost all mainstream personal care products, and can cause everything from allergies and eczema to cancer. Here are just a few to avoid:

SLS – Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or Sodium Laureth Sulphate is found in shampoo, soap, detergent, liquid cleansers, body washes, mouthwash and toothpaste. SLS can cause skin inflammation and drying, hair loss, dermatitis and eczema. It has been linked to immune system damage, and is a potential carcinogen. SLS can be stored in the liver, heart, lungs and brain.

Propylene Glycol is an antifreeze solvent, commonly found in brake and hydraulic fluid, paint, floor wax, pet food and tobacco. It is found in almost every mainstream moisturiser, deodorant, shaving gel, conditioner, shampoo, toothpaste, baby wipes and cosmetics. Propylene glycol causes dermatitis, kidney and liver damage and inhibits skin cell growth. It can be absorbed by the skin and is stored throughout the body.

DEA – Diethanolamine is an ingredient in hundreds of skin and personal care products including soaps, shampoos, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, and laundry detergent. DEA has been shown to cause tumours in the liver and kidneys of test animals, as well as being associated with nerve damage. It is also suspected to cause carcinogenic activity.

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in skincare products. They are a common cause of allergic reactions and rashes, especially in children and anyone prone to develop eczema. They also mimic oestrogen, which is a major breast cancer risk, and are linked with reduced fertility in men, and may affect a developing foetus when absorbed though a pregnant woman’s skin.

Mineral Oils are made from crude petrol and form the base of most baby oils and Sorbelene creams. They suffocate the skin by creating an oil film that stops the skin taking in oxygen. They are thought to be carcinogenic.

Talc is used in talcum & baby powders and many cosmetics. Latest medical research has linked talc with ovarian cancer and lung disease.

Did you know that Lemon Oil vapour will neutralise the Meningitis Virus and kill the Typhus bacteria in under one hour! Eucalyptus is also brilliant for killing bacteria and viruses. Essential oils have very powerful healing properties, anti-bacterial, anti-viral.

NOTE: Essential oils should not be used at all in the first trimester of pregnancy, and only a few are safe to use for the remainder of pregnancy.

Why Use Natural Perfumes?
Most perfumes contains hundreds of chemicals which have been proven to disrupt hormones, cause allergic reactions and are linked to cancer. For example, Tonalide (a synthetic musk found in the majority of perfumes) has been shown to increase the proliferation of estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells.(1) Natural perfumes made from 100% plant oils are a fantastic alternative.

(1) http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=222