Web Extra Article - Beauty

Using products not harmful to you or the environment

by Louise Schutte

Many of the personal care products we use on a daily basis contain chemicals that are linked to cancer and reproductive and developmental toxicity.

Among them these chemicals are parabens that are an estrogen mimic and phthalates are hormone disrupters. Talc is carcinogenic if inhaled and sodium laureth sulphate, originally designed as a garage floor cleaner, is also believed to produce carcinogens. Personal care product chemicals aren’t kind to the environment either. For example, the plastic exfoliants found in several store brand sugar and salt scrubs are killing marine life.

But there are alternatives to mainstream cosmetics and care products that include toxic ingredients. These include "greener" commercial products and preparations you can make at home from common ingredients.

People are increasingly seeking products that are friendlier to the environment and themselves, according to aromatherapist Paul Ennis.

"I most definitely see the 'green shift' towards natural and holistic personal care products," says Ennis. "My customers need to be certain they are making informed choices for their family. The objective is for a chemical free household environment."

He adds, "I believe, as do many naturopaths, that the increase in childhood asthma and eczema is partially due to the harsh chemical ingredients in soaps, shampoos, creams and laundry detergents."

Large corporations sometimes confuse and overwhelm people with information that can perpetuate the notion that science takes better care of the skin, says Tanya Zurock, president of Wild Prairie Soap Company Inc., who challenges that notion.

"We believe that nature does a much better job!" Zurock says. "In terms of changing perceptions of skin care in the eyes of the consumer, I believe that companies like Wild Prairie Soap Company help educate people about the simplicity of taking care of yourself. Many large conglomerates are trying to follow suit with their own brand of ‘natural.’"

When searching for green beauty products, the consumer should look for: natural ingredients, biodegradable products, environmentally safe manufacturing processes, recycling program, and that they are not tested on animals. "We probably put more effort into finding the right car or even digital camera," Zurock says. "Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated."

Health Canada has not made ingredient listings mandatory on cosmetics labels.

"This does not [instill] much confidence with those concerned," Ennis notes.

Nevertheless, it is possible to ensure that a product does not contain toxic ingredients. Contact the manufacturer to get a breakdown of what is in it.

The other option is to simply use pure, natural substances rather than commercial preparations.

"A most effective treatment to moisturize your face naturally is using jojoba oil, a fine wax from the seed," says Ennis. "When we get fine lines and wrinkles it is mainly due to the diminishing of our natural skin oil sebum. Only one product in nature produces oils very similar to sebum and that is the bean of the jojoba plant."

There are recipes available online, including this one from the All Natural Beauty Website, www.anbportal.com/homemade_beauty_recipes.htm.

Pumpkin Scrub

1 tablespoon canned or fresh pureed pumpkin
1 tablespoon cut oats
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon cornmeal

In a small bowl, mix oats with warm (not hot) water. Let soak for a minute or so. Mix in the pumpkin puree, blending well. Add the cornmeal and stir well.

Apply a small amount at a time to clean face while scrubbing in circular movements gently. After scrubbing the entire face, leave on for about 5 minutes longer or just until it is almost dry, but not entirely. Gently remove with a warm wash cloth. Moisturize like usual. This amount is enough for the face, neck, chest area and shoulders. Leaves skin silky soft!

Resources and Product Information

Health Canada list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/info-ind-prof/_hot-list-critique/hotlist-liste-eng.php

Toxic ingredient directory:
http://traceye.mionegroup.com/en/toxic
www.safecosmetics.org

Recipes for home spa treatments:
www.spaindex.com/HomeSpa/HomeSpa.htm

Eco labels:
www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/productArea.cfm?ProductCategoryID=179

List of paraben-free cosmetic companies:
www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/ParabenFree.html

List of phthalate free cosmetic companies:
www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/PhthalateFree.html

Jojoba oil moisturizer

Take one tablespoon of jojoba oil and set aside. Put on dishwashing gloves and wring out a facecloth as hot as possible. Apply the jojoba to the steaming facecloth and as quickly as possible up to the face, covering your forehead to chin. Pat the cloth firmly against your face. Your pores will open drinking in the jojoba oil.

Within five seconds, the cloth will cool down and your face pores will close. Give your face a gentle wipe with the facecloth to finish. Add one drop of jojoba to your hand and use your finger to apply to your eye and mouth areas. Jojoba also contains mysteric acid, a natural anti-inflammatory that helps keep eye puffiness to a minimum. Apply three times per week and do not follow up with any creams or moisturizers.