Are Chemical Based Skin Care Products Good for Our Skin or a Marketing Smoke and Mirrors Trick?
There are mountains of information about what we should put in our bodies, both good and the bad and what the quantities of each should be.
Many of us have taken steps to address this in our own way by eating more fruit and vegetables; fewer takeaways; walking a little more; less fat and sugar; less alcohol.
However, what we don't hear much about is the effect of what we use on our bodies.
We have all seen the marketing information, all the glossy images but very little about the chemical cocktails of ingredients used in many of the products currently sold and have been sold for many years.
Toothpaste; Shampoo and conditioner; Aftershave lotion and balms; Bubble bath; Soaps; Hand cream and lotion; Makeup: to name just a few.
Thankfully, this situation is changing and there is a growing groundswell to bring this matter into the mainstream public debate.
Regulatory bodies have to act more proactively in their evaluation of product formulas, and the ingredients used.
These organisations are now demanding more scientific research data on ingredients before they are approved for use in skin care and beauty products.
This is a great step forward for our health and well-being.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and certain substances we put on it can find its way into our bloodstream.
Chemicals consumed orally absorb through the digestive system and are taken to the liver and kidneys where enzymes often break them down and detoxify.
Chemicals absorbed through the skin go through no such process.
While we still don't know exactly what % of chemical ingredients used in cosmetic, skin care and beauty products are absorbed from the bloodstream just the fact that it does happen should be enough motivation to be more careful and discerning.
The question I have been asking is: do we look closely at the ingredient label on the products to see what is in them? Or do we just look at the glossy front label? To achieve a better health outcome, we need to read the product Ingredient label and importantly understand the skin benefits or otherwise of the ingredients listed.
Further, there needs to be more detail on the product ingredient label so all ingredients used must be identified not just the top-line ones.
It is in the "general description" of ingredients such as "fragrance" where the cosmetic wolf is hiding.
Research in the medical and health fields is an ongoing and evolving, continual process.
More discoveries are being made, and new conclusions are also being reached about processes, which have been in use over many years.
Research now into many chemical ingredients used in skin care products would indicate there is growing doubt, growing concern over their potential to cause long-term health problems.
There is no denying the great strides in medicine and pharmaceuticals that have managed to eliminate or control many of the diseases that were prevalent years ago.
We are living longer, and the quality of life appears to be superior.
There is a feeling that our general well-being is much better.
However, there is a flip side to this statement.
When you look more closely, allergies are on the rise; cancer rates are increasing and affecting people at younger ages; obesity levels are increasing; heart disease; stress and depression are increasing; our situation is not as rosy as first thought.
Ingredient doses which were and were at present, considered effective are being questioned more rigorously.
Tobacco ingredients were considered safe for use in a cigarette.
As research unfolded and became more advanced previous conclusions were found to be incorrect.
I'm sure we would all agree prevention is better than a cure.
Understanding skin care ingredients and knowing fully "what's in the jar" will give us all a more informed platform to make our choice of what we use on ourselves and our families.
Beware of the cosmetic wolf.
It may be hiding in the skin care products you are using now! Avoid chemical based skin care and cosmetic products because the ingredients are potentially doing more harm than good.
This is one area we can take charge of our own future and improve our health.
Many of us have taken steps to address this in our own way by eating more fruit and vegetables; fewer takeaways; walking a little more; less fat and sugar; less alcohol.
However, what we don't hear much about is the effect of what we use on our bodies.
We have all seen the marketing information, all the glossy images but very little about the chemical cocktails of ingredients used in many of the products currently sold and have been sold for many years.
Toothpaste; Shampoo and conditioner; Aftershave lotion and balms; Bubble bath; Soaps; Hand cream and lotion; Makeup: to name just a few.
Thankfully, this situation is changing and there is a growing groundswell to bring this matter into the mainstream public debate.
Regulatory bodies have to act more proactively in their evaluation of product formulas, and the ingredients used.
These organisations are now demanding more scientific research data on ingredients before they are approved for use in skin care and beauty products.
This is a great step forward for our health and well-being.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and certain substances we put on it can find its way into our bloodstream.
Chemicals consumed orally absorb through the digestive system and are taken to the liver and kidneys where enzymes often break them down and detoxify.
Chemicals absorbed through the skin go through no such process.
While we still don't know exactly what % of chemical ingredients used in cosmetic, skin care and beauty products are absorbed from the bloodstream just the fact that it does happen should be enough motivation to be more careful and discerning.
The question I have been asking is: do we look closely at the ingredient label on the products to see what is in them? Or do we just look at the glossy front label? To achieve a better health outcome, we need to read the product Ingredient label and importantly understand the skin benefits or otherwise of the ingredients listed.
Further, there needs to be more detail on the product ingredient label so all ingredients used must be identified not just the top-line ones.
It is in the "general description" of ingredients such as "fragrance" where the cosmetic wolf is hiding.
Research in the medical and health fields is an ongoing and evolving, continual process.
More discoveries are being made, and new conclusions are also being reached about processes, which have been in use over many years.
Research now into many chemical ingredients used in skin care products would indicate there is growing doubt, growing concern over their potential to cause long-term health problems.
There is no denying the great strides in medicine and pharmaceuticals that have managed to eliminate or control many of the diseases that were prevalent years ago.
We are living longer, and the quality of life appears to be superior.
There is a feeling that our general well-being is much better.
However, there is a flip side to this statement.
When you look more closely, allergies are on the rise; cancer rates are increasing and affecting people at younger ages; obesity levels are increasing; heart disease; stress and depression are increasing; our situation is not as rosy as first thought.
Ingredient doses which were and were at present, considered effective are being questioned more rigorously.
Tobacco ingredients were considered safe for use in a cigarette.
As research unfolded and became more advanced previous conclusions were found to be incorrect.
I'm sure we would all agree prevention is better than a cure.
Understanding skin care ingredients and knowing fully "what's in the jar" will give us all a more informed platform to make our choice of what we use on ourselves and our families.
Beware of the cosmetic wolf.
It may be hiding in the skin care products you are using now! Avoid chemical based skin care and cosmetic products because the ingredients are potentially doing more harm than good.
This is one area we can take charge of our own future and improve our health.
