Conscious Lifestyles Radio

When Skin Care Products Can Hurt You

It seems no matter how careful you are, even when shopping at natural health stores or Whole Foods, the skin and hair care products that are marketed as “All Natural” and even “Organic” are filled with toxic, very dangerous ingredients that are known carcinogens. Here are several separate product names I was shocked to find have harmful ingredients covertly tucked into them [after using them myself thinking that they were safe and totally toxin free]:

1.) Juice Beauty- Uses a preservative called Sodium Benzoate that is highly, HIGHLY toxic once it enters the skin and into the blood stream. When combined with Vitamin C, it turns into Benzene, which is even more hazardous to your health. To boot, Sodium Benzoate CAUSES AGING of the skin!!!!! Even more problematic for Juice Beauty products is that they use Vitamin C fruit juices in their products, and when combined with Sodium Benzoate, it turns into the toxic soup of Benzene. This is not “Organic” nor remotely healthy for you and your skin. It is a travesty that the “Organic” label has been reduced to what it is today. When the USDA took over the so-called standards of the Organic labeling, they both corrupted its very meaning and bent over backwards for the chemical lobby to allow such toxic ingredients to be slipped into both food and body care products.

2.) Evan Healey- Very, very shocking and surprising here. I was a HUGE fan of all things Evan Healey! Even her packaging was recycled and eco-friendly and I just adored everything about this line of skin care. But, to my horror, as I quickly re-read the label on the packaging for her Tea Tree facial wash before re-purchasing her products at the Whole Body store within Whole Foods, I was absolutely horrified to discover “Sodium Benzoate” tucked into the ingredients. I could not believe it. I was stunned just thinking about how I would slather this product on my skin thinking I was using a superior, wonderful, and carefully made product. I am so angry I will actually write this once-pure ingredient company a letter, but I will never buy this product ever again after seeing something on the label that any honest, well-run, natural company would know better to not sneak into their product line.

3.) Dr. Hauschka- Where do I begin with this one? This is clearly now a mass produced and toxic product that I just don’t even bother with, and have not touched for many years now. Their makeup line is using Talcum in their eyeshadow products and powders. This is so toxic it has been linked to ovarian cancer and other serious immune damage. It should never be used in anything for either human or animal products, but it is so cheap [much cheaper than food-grade clays, for instance], that the ‘bottom line’ is what takes precedence for even these advertised ‘natural products.’ It is even more horrifying that baby powder has been sold for use on innocent babies whose immature immune system simply cannot handle such daily assaults that enter the blood stream. There are numerous toxic poisons that are legally used as fillers and preservatives in this makeup and skin care line that I think they should be banned from Whole Foods all together.

4.) Jason’s products- From their shampoo line to their skin care to their toothpaste. Uh, NO! Everything un-natural is in this highly advertised line of “Natural” products. Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Laurel Sulphate, Propylene Glycol, all the “parabens” like Methyl paraben, and the list goes on [including highly dangerous FLUORIDE in many of their toothpastes]. No way. I just don’t even touch the stuff. Again, WHY is this sold in Health Food Stores, Whole Foods, and even online “Natural” Retailers? They should just go ahead and take their place next to Colgate-Palmolive, Clorox, Proctor and Gamble, SC Johnson, Unilever, Kellogg’s, and the dirty-dozen list of toxic chemical companies that both damage the Earth by polluting our water and air with their poisons; test on terrified animals [horrifying undercover videos abound], and damage the immune systems of their unsuspecting customers….  None of this is acceptable, but strangely, it is all legal.

5.) Jane Iredale Cosmetics- Again, totally horrifying. They sneak in very skin-damaging and immune compromising ingredients like Dimethicone, which is a plasticizer. This is a terrible ingredient because it literally suffocates your skin, and your hair. It is used to give an instant smooth appearance, but it is a very harmful chemical. Dimethicone is put into their “Amazing Base” mineral makeup and other products like their liquid makeup, and it is something that explains why I used to have these painful break-outs on my skin that had never had any such problems in the past prior to using some mineral make-ups like this brand that freely put toxic chemicals and skin damaging products into their makeup. PVP- also snuck into their mascara. This is a Vinyl product that is highly carcinogenic and should never be put next to the delicate eye nor anywhere on the body. This is used in many commercial mascaras and hair care for its ability to create an even coating and keeps emulsions from separating. It is, once again, just fine by the FDA, USDA and other corrupted agencies to use in many foods like Beer, Wine, Vinegar, commercially produced juices and even on fruits.   Our skin is hermetically sealed and has to filter out enough daily pollution as it is… please give it a break when choosing skincare, body care, household cleaning products and even food.

*Acure Products- Although these products have mostly but not entirely clean labels, they are promoting the WRONG people to find cures to the cancers, and other autoimmune dis-eases that are caused from chemicals in skin care, hair care, body care, toothpastes/mouth wash, household cleaning products, commercially produced food products, lawn products, animal-care products, baby products, paints, nail polish, carpets, etc. They claim to give money to “research” but the problem with this is that the very same people [chemical and pharmaceutical companies] that collect money for what is wrongfully termed “research” are also the ones responsible for the onslaught of dangerous chemicals that are brought to the marketplace every year and processed into consumer products. And by the way, the “research” labs and organizations have NO interest in finding a cure to anything. They would put themselves out of their lucrative, albeit disreputable business. The organizations that use the methods of the Nazi-invented Propaganda techniques to promote their contrived platform of “finding a cure” and other such empty promises are the very ones who are benefitting from the donations, marathons, women’s walks, and other fundraising that only lines the coffers of the most evil empire on this planet: The chemical/pharmaceutical industry.

Other toxic brands that masquerade as “Natural” are Burt’s Bees, Toms of Maine, Mrs. Meyer’s, and several other brands. They are owned by large, multi-national corporations that both pollute the Earth, use toxic chemicals, then test more toxic chemicals on terrified live animals [and then legally throw out and destroy any evidence that would prevent them from bringing a new chemical to market anyway]. I have just named a few bad apples here, but many more abound as the chemical corporations/skin care conglomerates vie for a larger share of the Natural, Organic lines of body care and food.

Don’t buy it. Read Labels. Understand the matrix behind the marketing propaganda techniques.

Want some good companies to start your new, eco-conscious, healing lifestyle?

1.) Dr. Bronner’s- Excellent soaps. Pure, clean, and always in my house.

2.) Aubrey- Hair care that is the most pure you will find in a Whole Foods or Health Food Store. They also make pure skin care.

3.) Bragg’s- Wonderful Food products like Apple Cider Vinegar, Coconut Oil and Olive Oil that are both, by the way, excellent for your skin.

4.) Miracle Soap- Another excellent soap but must be bought online.

5.) Egyptian Magic- a pot of bee pollen, honey, and olive oil mixed together that when you cream in your palms, is amazing for fragile skin on face and elsewhere.

6.) DeVita makeup- pure, clean and a good line of makeup that makes beautiful products that can compete with the toxic brands in longevity, easy to use, etc.

7.) Aura Acacia Organic Oils- Jojoba, Sweet Almond and a few other beauty oils that are pure for your skin and gorgeous to use with a therapeutic grade Essential Oil.

8.) Alaffia- the only product from this line I recommend is the “Africa’s Secret” balm made with Shea butter, Coconut oil, Baobab Oil, African Honey, Neem Oil, Bee Pollen & Propolis.

9.) Honey Girl Organics- Excellent skin care from Hawaii. Simple and pure.

10.) Solar Recovery skin spray– An Essential Oils spray to soothe skin after a day in the sun. I like to use it as a “pick me up” spray and to lightly spray over makeup to set.

11.) Livpurely- just pure, organic Coconut Oil.

12.) Alteya Organics- Skin care and sprays that are pure. I love their sprays.

13.) Bee Magic- Great Balm for everyday or mixing with Essential Oils, Jojoba oil, etc.  for your own beautiful skin care.

14.) 1000 Likes Carrot Oil- I always have this on hand for mixing with with anything I desire for a more beautiful morning.

There are several other smaller, hand-crafted brands that I can only get online and/or directly from the maker, and I will have another blog on this….

Namaste.