Lately I’ve been reading a lot of labels on the backs of my soap, lotion and cosmetics…pure chemicals. Maybe these chemicals are harmful and we should be avoiding them; maybe they’re in such low concentrations, they are perfectly safe. Either way, I crave simplicity and feel an urge to get back to the basics, which is why I’m loving using the homemade soaps my aunt makes and have also had fun making my own salt and sugar body scrubs. These homemade wonders work great and contain earth-friendly, ingredients that don’t harm your skin.
There are tons of additives that many people try to avoid, such as propylene glycol, parabens, perfumes and dyes, alcohol…the list goes on and on.
One chemical that is particularly prevalent is sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate. SLS is a surfactant, used to make bubbles, suds and foam. It’s in almost all liquid dish soap, hand soap, toothpaste, detergent, shampoo and shaving cream.
The reason to try to use less of it: It’s a skin and eye irritant, and it is currently debated that it is causing sensitive skin after prolonged use (Dr. Oz also included it on his list of “top agers” since it is harsh and strips the skin of natural oils…thanks Shannon). My husband can speak from personal experience that after switching to an SLS-free toothpaste, he gets fewer canker sores. And another big reason…it’s usually derived from palm oil.
As far as soap goes, another chemical that we are bombarded with is Triclosan. This anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent is found in numerous products such as, anti-bacterial soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, and even plastics.
The reason to try to use less of it: Triclosan is also an irritant, and can cause sensitivity and allergies. It has been established that it enters the blood stream and can accumulate in fatty tissue, and studies are currently being done to see how this anti-bacterial affects endocrine function (so far, thyroid levels have been impacted by triclosan in bullfrogs and rats). It has been found that washing your hands (washing well, for at least 20 seconds) with regular soap is just as effective in eliminating bacteria as using soap with triclosan. So not only is triclosan unnecessary for daily use, it may also be a factor in bacterial resistance, which can cause bacterial strains that are stronger and harder to treat, and may also increase allergies and asthma by having an environment that is “too clean.”
Here are some links for more information:
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/Triclosan%20cited.pdf (this site also has a list of products that contain triclosan)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/levy.htm
So that’s just two of the many chemicals that we put on our skin every day. Personally, after I began reading labels on my soap and cosmetics, I just wanted the product with the fewest ingredients. So if the list of words you can’t pronounce on the back of your daily hygiene products is starting to freak you out, some alternative brands that I’ve tried so far and love are, Burt’s Bees, Alba, LUSH, Tom’s of Maine, and Trader Joes’ (a bonus to purchasing a more natural product is that usually these companies are more committed to the environment and will have sustainable business practices).
You can even venture into making your own soap (I’m hoping to try this some time). Making your own sugar or salt scrubs is cheap and easy. I’ve had luck mixing grapeseed oil with Turbinado sugar or kosher salt and adding essential oils, and even ingredients from my pantry, like pumpkin, lemon peel, and oatmeal. There are a billion recipes online. I’ll write a separate post in the future after I’ve tried and perfected a few recipes.
Weather you make your own or not, there are a growing number of natural choices for skin care. If we just put our blinders on to weed out the “big brand” products that we see every day, they are easy to find. A local health-food market is a great place to start.
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