'We look good, we smell good, but we have just exposed ourselves to 200 different chemicals a day through personal care products.'
U.S. News and World Report
Inside your own personal space are hundreds of harmful chemicals housed in your hair care, skin care and cosmetics.
Millions of dollars are spent every year on products designed to adorn the outside of our bodies. Many of these products make us look and smell good, but at what price?
Closer examination helps us discover that most of these products are filled with chemicals - chemicals that if handled by themselves, according to the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) would require the handler to wear rubber gloves, boots and safety glasses.
These chemicals are hazardous and many are being linked to fatal diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and sterility! They are hazardous and yet we continue to put them on our body day after day after day. Have you ever wondered why?
Maybe it's because the cosmetic industry is self regulated meaning that they set the guidelines, control their tests, and determine what health requirements are necessary before a product can be sold. Most cosmetic companies are more interested in making money than preserving your good health. Maybe it's because we don't really believe the studies. Maybe it's because we just don't know what to do. No matter what the reason, the problem still exists and unless we do something about it, we will end up suffering the consequences of our ignorance.
If the manufacturer has a vested interest in the product, the decision will be weighted towards the manufacturers' benefit and their recommendation may not necessarily be for the best good of the consumer.
What can we do?
The simple answer is to buy only Toxic Free products () that do not contain harmful chemicals or cause further damage to the skin. Look for products that contain the toxic truth seal.
Unlike the cosmetic industry, those products that contain the toxic free seal must meet the standards dictated by the Toxic Free Organization. This organization requires that every step of the process - that means the planting, growing, harvesting, processing and manufacturing of a product must be accomplished under circumstances that are absolutely toxic free.
The agency reviews every aspect of every ingredient from seed to finished product. If the ingredients have met these stringent requirements, that is, if they have been handled in a truly toxic free environment, they can bear the ToxicFree seal of approval.
POPULAR BUZZ WORDS
Although there are many popular buzz words in the market place today, we are only going to be talking about three. Here they are.
1.Pure
2.Natural
3.Non-Toxic
The very name makes these words sound like the product should be healthy for you, right? That's the deception.
Although some products may really contain mostly pure or natural ingredients, that doesn't mean that they will be healthy for your skin.
For example, strychnine is natural, but when taken internally it is deadly. In fact, it could even be pure, but that still doesn't fix the problem - it only exacerbates it. Let's discuss the three words mentioned above one at a time.
Pure:
The dictionary's definition of Pure is 'unmixed or unpolluted'. 'Absolute'.
The Cosmetic Industry's definition of Pure is: Any product containing any ingredient or portion thereof that could be traced back to a pure or original origin. In other words, if there is a 'trace' of something original in there, you can call the whole product pure. I hardly think this makes the product 'unpolluted' or 'absolute'.
Natural:
The dictionary's definition of Natural is: 'Pertaining to, in accordance with, or determined by, nature; Being or found in its native state'. 'Not artificial'.
According to the Cosmetic Industry, you can proudly display the 'natural' label if at least 5% of the ingredients are derived from a natural source. This means that you could have one ingredient that has a minimum of 5% of that ingredient that has come from a natural source and that is enough to meet the labeling requirements to call the entire product 'Natural'. That means your product could be 5% natural and 95% artificial and still be called 'natural'.
Non Toxic:
Webster's Dictionary defines Non Toxic as: 'not producing or resulting from poison'.
The cosmetic industry gives this definition: 'If no more than 49% of all laboratory animals that the product is tested on die, then you can call the product Non Toxic.' That means that the product could be 48.9% likely to kill you. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to take those odds. That is a rather risky gamble with your health.
To further complicate the issue, we have no real hope for relief from the manufacturers'. Here is the reason why. The cosmetic/personal care industry is self regulating. That means, the only ones that are looking out for the consumer is the manufacturer of the product. Let me explain it this way.
If I was manufacturing a new product and I wanted to put the label Non Toxic on it, I could begin a test on my laboratory animals. Let's say that I had planned on running the test for 10 days. On day one, a few animals were dead. On day two, a few more had died. On day three, 42% of all of the animals were dead and over 50% of the ones that were still alive looked really sick. I could at that time abort the test and claim the name of Non Toxic on my label since less than 49% of the animals tested on died before the conclusion of the test. Now, I could go out the next day and discover that 75% of all of the animals tested on had died, but because that many had not died before the end of the test, I could still claim the title of Non Toxic.
Seven Arrows Color Connection has spent years developing Toxic Free products. To learn how you can replace the toxins hiding in your bathroom with a better Toxic Free solution, visit our site at a You will also see a complete listing of our Toxic Free products and the ingredients in our products. If you do not notice a substantial difference in the look and feel of your skin and if you are not completely satisfied with our products in the first 30 days, we will refund your money 100% ... no questions asked.
The first in a series of 3 articles provided by Seven Arrows Color Connection and The Toxic Truth Website ( ).
Free Skin Virtual Dj
REVIEW FROM OUR LAST ARTICLE
In our last article we discussed how our skin works as a protective barrier and how it functions to absorb the ingredients that we put on it. We discussed the harms of synthetic products on the skin and touched on a few ingredients commonly found in skin care that are damaging to our skin and health. Seven Arrows Color Connection and the Toxic Truth Website will now conclude their series of ?Discover what is hiding in your bathroom? articles by addressing specific ingredients found in most bathrooms and the damaging effects that they have on our bodies.
WHICH INGREDIENTS ARE HARMFUL?
There are thousands of ingredients that could be labeled as ?harmful? if they are not used in the right way and for the right purposes. For example, the three main ingredients in anti-freeze are: Water, ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. Now, used in the cooling system of your car these ingredients are fantastic and keep your car running in tip, top shape. However, have you ever taken the time to read the warning labels on the back of an anti freeze jug? Here's one of them (the particular jug that I looked at had a total of four (4) warning or pre-cautionary labels on the back of it).
Here are warnings that can be found on some of these products: ?WARNING: Do not drink antifreeze or solution. Do not inhale mist or hot vapors. Avoid prolonged exposure. Avoid skin and eye contact?. Another warning says: ?Wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after use?. These are just a couple of the warnings found on the back label.
Why would we mention anti freeze. After all, we don't put anti freeze on your skin. Everyone knows we put anti freeze in a car. Two of the three ingredients in antifreeze are glycol based. Glycol and its derivatives are everywhere in skin care and personal care products. If you don't believe it, just grab a bottle of shampoo, cleanser, or lotion. Many of them have glycol in them, particularly the cleansers. You see, that's what Propylene Glycol is ? a garage floor cleaner!
Here is a more scientific explanation of Propylene Glycol (PG). PG along with Butylene Glycol (BG), Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), and Ethylene Glycol (EG) are petroleum derivatives that act as solvents, surfactants, and setting agents. They can easily penetrate the skin, and can weaken protein and cellular structure. In fact, PG penetrates the skin so quickly that the EPA warns factory workers to avoid skin contact, to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. PG is present in many stick deodorants, often in heavier concentrations than in most industrial applications. 50 And Propylene Glycol is what is used to carry the ?active? ingredients in those trans dermal patches INTO YOUR BODY. (?Toxicological Profile for Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol (UPDATE).? Agency for Toxic Substances and disease Registry (ATSDR). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1996).
Some of the worst offenders in our personal care products are: Ethyl Paraben (linked to hormone disruption, possible birth defects), DEA, MEA, TEA. These are emulsifiers and deep foaming agents in soaps, shampoos, etc. that have been linked to (memory gaps, foggy thinking and cancer). Sodium Laureth Sulfate, possible dioxin contamination. A 1992 FDA survey found 54 ethoxylated raw materials used in cosmetics were tested; all 54 contained 1,4 dioxane. Also, the highly toxic 1,4 dioxane was in 27 out of 30 children's bubble bath and shampoo products. ?Nontoxic, Natural & Earthwise?, Debra Lynn Dadd, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, 1990.
You will never see the ingredient dioxane listed on an ingredient label because it is a by product of many of the other ingredients. Dioxins are a class of chlorine-containing chemicals widely recognized as some of the most toxic chemicals ever made by humans. A 1992 FDA survey found the highly toxic 1,4 dioxane in 27 out of 30 children's bubble bath and shampoo products. In addition, 54 ethoxylated raw materials used in cosmetics were tested; all 54 contained 1,4 dioxane. (Toxic Alarm? Guide, Linda Chae and ?A Healthe House?).
Some of the other worst offenders you will find on most labels are:
?SLS,
?BHA & BHT (linked to behavior problems),
?Parabens (linked as hormone disrupters)
?PABA and PABA esters (linked to playing a role in genetic damage),
?Phthalates (linked to causing birth defects in animals, and are present in a high percentage of pregnant and child-bearing-aged women). Phthalates have been banned in Europe.
Let's not forget Fluoride. Have you ever read the warning label on the back of a tube of toothpaste? Here's one: ?Warnings Keep out of reach of children under 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control
Center right away.?
Are you scared yet? We should be, but don't take my word for it. Look for yourselves. That's the purpose of this article. Look at the labels. Become educated. Take a stand and do something about it. Until we do, we will continue to be at the mercy of these ingredients and these manufacturers.
I've listed a few of the ?side affects? of some of these ingredients. Here are a few more ?alarming? facts.
?Premature Birth,
?Depression and Moodiness,
?Male Genital Defects,
?Emotional Disturbances,
?Brain Development,
?Obesity,
?Learning Disorders,
?Low Sperm Count,
?Reduces I.Q. and Memory,
?Cancer,
?Sexual Identity Confusion
?Early Puberty (breast development in girls and boys). ?ToxicAlarm? Guide?. Linda Chae.
This is a partial list of some of the ?prices? we pay, particularly our children, for the things we put on our skin to make us look and smell good.
WHERE IS THE HOPE?
There is hope and it comes from within. The first shred of hope comes from individuals such as you who are ready to take a stand. Hope comes from education. Hope comes from information. Hope comes when all of us take that first step.
LOOK FOR THE SEAL.
There are several companies out there that are moving in the direction of good health. It shouldn't make us sick to look healthy. We should look and feel good on the inside and the outside. Now you can.
The ToxicFree? Foundation has put together a stringent guideline to ensure that anyone using their seal has met all of the requirements for Toxic Free products. If it doesn't carry the seal, it has not been certified as Toxic Free.
Seven Arrows Color Connection has taken a stand. We have created a complete line of body friendly Toxic Free skin care products that will take care of all of your skin care needs. We have exceptional cleansers, gentle but effective exfoliators, ph balancing toners and astringents, and ceremide nourishing moisturizers. To learn how you can replace the toxins hiding in your bathroom with a better Toxic Free solution, visit our web site. You will also see a complete listing of our Toxic Free products and the ingredients in our products. If you do not notice a substantial difference in the look and feel of your skin and if you are not completely satisfied with our products in the first 30 days, we will refund your money 100% ? no questions asked.
The last in a series of 3 articles provided by Seven Arrows Color Connection and The Toxic Truth Website.
Susan Stucki has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Care, Types of Cancer and Skin Care. Susan StuckiCo-Founder of several companies dedicated to increasing the health, confidence and image of women. Visit
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