Originally published in Society 805 by Sharyn Yonkman

 “Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.”  ~Author Unknown

As time passes, it is not only the force of gravity that works against us, but also the accumulation of toxins in our bodies. As the birthdays pile up, so does our toxic body load.

 Our environment has changed drastically over the last 50 years: everything is much more toxic now. Our bodies cannot process all these toxins and because of this nearly everyone has toxic buildup in their bodies These toxins assault us by what we eat, what we breathe in, and what we put on our skin. Since the skin is the largest organ of the body is it vital that we are aware of what we apply to our skin. Our skin absorbs everything we come into contact with (it can absorb up to 60% of chemicals) and very quickly at that.  

How many personal care products are you using daily? Do you really know what you are putting on that largest organ, your skin?

If you are like most Americans, you use an average of nine products, containing about 126 unique ingredients every day. Theses products contain a dizzying array of chemicals and fragrances, most of them synthetic petrochemicals –with purposefully unrecognizable names - and many of them are potentially toxic.
*Nearly 400 products sold in the US contain chemicals that are prohibited for use in cosmetics in other countries.
*More than 400 products contain ingredients that the cosmetic industry’s own safety panels have found unsafe when used as directed on product labels

Please take a moment to watch the video by Annie Leonard at www.safecosmetics.org.

When it comes to beauty products, the effects of the ingredients they contain can be more than just skin deep. The cosmetics industry uses thousands of synthetic chemicals in its products, in everything from lipstick and lotion to shampoo and shaving cream .Many of these same substances are also used in industrial manufacturing processes to clean industrial equipment, stabilize pesticides and grease gears. And we can all agree that an ingredient that effectively scours a garage floor may not be the best choice for a facial cleanser.

Following are just some of the chemicals commonly found in cosmetics and what they do to us.  (For a list of the “Dirty Dozen” please contact me)

Phthalates
Phthalates are a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are found in cosmetics like nail polish and in synthetic fragrance—both perfumes and fragrance ingredients in other cosmetic products. Phthalate exposure has been linked to early puberty in girls, a risk factor for later-life breast cancer. Some phthalates also act as weak estrogens in cell culture systems.

1,4-dioxane
1,4-dioxane is not listed on ingredient labels. It is a petroleum-derived contaminant formed in the manufacture of shampoos, body wash, children’s bath products and other sudsing cosmetics. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has ranked it as a possible carcinogen, and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has identified it as a reasonably anticipated carcinogen.

Parabens
Parabens are a group of compounds widely used as an antifungal agent, preservative and antimicrobial in creams, lotions, ointments and other cosmetics, including underarm deodorants. They are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumors.

Ethylene Oxide
Ethylene oxide is found in fragrances and is commonly used to manufacture popular brands of shampoo. It is classified as a known human carcinogen and is one of the 48 chemicals that the National Toxicology Program (NTP) identifies as mammary carcinogens in animals.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil and gasoline. One of the more common PAHs is naphthalene. Some cosmetics and shampoos are made with coal tar and therefore may contain PAHs. They have been shown to increase risk for breast cancer.

Lead
Lead may be a contaminant in over 650 cosmetic products, including sunscreens, foundation, nail colors, lipsticks and whitening toothpaste. Lead is a proven neurotoxin, linked to learning, language and behavioral problems. It has also been linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility in men and women, and delays in puberty onset in girls.

Sunscreen
Many sunscreens contain chemicals that exert significant estrogenic activity, as measured by the increase in proliferation rates of human breast cancer cells in vitro. Studies show these chemicals are accumulating in wildlife and humans.

Source:

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/big-picture-solutions/campaign-for-safe-cosmetics.html

How can you reduce your exposure? By becoming an informed consumer and educating yourself. Start by doing yourself a huge favor and check to see if the skin care and beauty items you currently use are listed with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.  If they are not, don’t despair, for there are some companies out there that are getting it right. And so can you.

This month’s Free and Easy Beauty Tip

People who laugh and smile are very appealing to those around them. Happy people are beautiful, and it doesn’t hurt that optimism boosts your immune system and helps eliminate the toxic effect of stress. So SMILE!

Questions, comments, concerns?  Would you like to take a quiz that tells what your total body  toxic load is? Just want more info?  Feel free to email me  at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

 Till next time….Cheers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As an independent consultant for Apriori Beauty (www.Aprioribeauty.com/ic/sharynyonkman) I have the opportunity to become aware of and share with others the latest advances in anti-aging skin care as well as having had my eyes opened to the dangers from hidden toxins that lie in wait in our skin care/beauty products. I am passionate about educating others regarding these dangers and feel privileged to be in a position to do so. As a self professed “Spa-Junkie” I am now better equipped to make intelligent decisions about what products are used on my skin and eager to share.