17/03/13

My natural product of the week is.....  LOTION.


Why should you switch to a natural lotion?

Because the one you may be using now, could be harming your health.  Most people, when trying to read the ingredients of a certain product, cannot really understand what is written.  This is because companies use the chemical names for many ingredients.

Parabens  

They are preservatives.  The word is starting to become a popular issue with the public.  We are noticing that they are maybe not the best things to be eating or putting on our body.  Well sorry to tell you, but SO many beauty and cosmetic products are filled with them.  Parabens are cheap and easy to make causing it to be widely available.

What does the chemical name looks like?
A carbon molecule name + Paraben     example :  Methylparaben, butylparaben ect.

Problems associated with its use?
There's been a lot of research done with parabens and its effects are still widely debated.  Some of the side-effects that have been found with experimentation to include an increase of oestrogen.  This can make people more susceptible to UV rays which in turn have been linked to skin cancers.  Some research has also stated that they may link to breast cancer.  We are not sure if these are really carcinogenic products, however, it is best to avoid using them altogether.


Resources

Mullens, Anne. Parabens: What are they, Are they really that bad? Best Health Mag. 2008. Web. March 17, 2013.

My natural product of the week is ..... Deodorant!

By Sarah Bee

Why switch deodorants and skin lotions?

 Because antiperspirants can contain many unwanted and unknown ingredients that we are better off not having on our bodies!  After some research, this is some basic information about specific ingredients that are often in deodorants. Check out the links for some extra information.  Make sure to always check the ingredients before you buy a product, and learn about what you are really buying! This research has really opened my eyes and scared me to pieces.

I have a pharmacy brand skin cream and deodorant. I will be comparing their contents with these common unwanted and sometimes dangerous ingredients.

Aluminium
Generally safe in small amounts. Works as the "antiperspirant" by clogging pores. Allergic reactions may occur.

Pharmacy Deodorant

Diazolidinyl urea
Recognize the word urea? Well you should, seems close to urine? well thats what it is.  It mostly comes from animal urine.  It is often found in skin creams and deodorants.  This should be completely avoided.

DANGER? It can release the compound Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is carcinogenic (causes cancer) and extremely dangerous for everyones health.

Pharmacy Skin Cream

Parabens
This is something I have been trying to avoid for a long time now; preservatives.  Parabens have minimal side-effects, but they can increase the risk of sunburns. (I'm young and I want to keep it that way, avoid UV rays is important for everyone).  It is unnecessary to use parabens in all products. Considering the frequency that I use creams, I do not need to make it last for years on end.

Pharmacy Skin Cream and Deodorant

Propylene glycol
Considered a food additive by the FDA.  In small amounts it is considered mostly safe.  It may cause some irritation if used often on skin.  Again, it does not have to be included in deodorants.

Pharmacy Skin Cream

Petroleum
Should be avoided, professionals have found that it has been linked to problems.

The products that I have been LOVING are..

Green beaver, natural deodorant in Citrus 
This is a great alternative for an antiperspirant or regular deodorants. It is free from parabens, aluminium and propylene glycol.  It contains sodium (salt); which is used to absorb the excess sweat. natural fruits and flowers.  It is gluten free, vegan and not tested on animals.

Live clean body lotion
This is a great body lotion, it is paraben free.