Is Your Skin Care Regimen Toxic?

• Dimethicone or paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil): linked to organ system toxicity.
• Tochepherol acetate (linked to tumors)
• Parabens (estrogenic and can lead to hormonal disruptions).

The Environmental Working Group, a consumer oriented group that researches the chemical constituents of cosmetics, has created a database of all the chemicals commonly found in lotions, make up, and other skin care products and rates the toxicity of each based on their impact on internal bodily systems. You can easily type in your skin care product names and get quick and visual information about the toxicity rating.

Also, you can research ingredients in your favorite make up lines by visiting the Truth in Aging website and enter ingredients in their search box.

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What Symptoms Might Arise When Exposed Regularly to Toxins in Skin Care Products?

• Skin irritation especially around thinner or more fragile skin such as around the eyes, lips, neck or inner wrists.
• Fatigue.
• Mood swings.
• Menstrual irregularities.
• Increase of hot flashes if you are menopausal.
• Body aches.
• Digestive upset.
• Increase of allergies.
• Sleep disruptions.

Of course, these symptoms can also be indicative of other health issues, so it is best to visit with a physician to rule out other concern, but also you might want to switch to skin care products that do not contain toxins to see if symptoms improve.

What Products are Safer to Use?

That question led me to create my own line of skin care botanicals that I use on my clients during the energy bliss facials which include distilled water, vitamin E, organic vegetable glycerin, and organic essential oils (litsea, palmarosa, peppermint, rosemary, lavendar and vanilla)--and nothing else. They are hand blended and made in small quantities to insure freshness.

I also use a few of the commercially produced skin serums from Naturopathica during my session work and on my own face such as the plant stem serum and neroli serum from Naturopathica.

Notice that I said a "few" of the commercially produced skin serums, as even the natural lines may contain petroleum products like dimethicone. Read labels carefully.

Also some mineral make up imay be free of the more toxic ingredients, but recently there has been concern that inhaling the small particles of mineral dust may cause bronchial irritation or create a carcinogenic effect within the lungs.

A safer alternative is to find a lotion that is free of chemicals and add the mineral make up powder to it (while wearing a dust mask) to create a cream to use each day, so that you're not inhaling these small particles of mineral dust.

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With a little bit of research and mindfulness, you can create a beauty regimen that is free of toxins so that your inner health and light can shine through unobstructed and create a deeper beauty that lasts a life time!