Buyer beware!

Starting last summer, I began having a strange rash on my chin, which progressed around my mouth. It took a while, but I finally diagnosed it as perioral dermatitis, a very common dermatitis that affects mostly women, between the ages of 25 and 50. Ok, so what causes this? If you know me, you know that I love digging and finding out what is what. The cause is mostly unknown. The treatments, conventional that is, are ineffective and usually cause it to worsen. Now, remember that I said the cause is ‘mostly’ unknown? Well, turns out that some sort of allergen causes most dermatitis. Ok, I get that, and as far as I knew, I was free of any chemicals in my soaps and I make my own lotions from pure oils. At least I thought I was free of any chemicals. I double-checked my shampoos to make sure, and found the culprit. I purchased it and didn’t fully read the ingredients; of course they claimed it was all natural and organic. Hummmm, does that include industrial fabric softener? Three different types of parabens? NO. So, down the toilet the shampoo went. My skin is slowly improving, but my sense of being duped is stronger than ever.

I have been chemical free and either making my own soaps or only purchasing pure castile soaps and pure shampoos since 1988. Yup, that long. I recognized at an early age that what I put on my skin, my largest organ, profoundly affects my entire body. Every now and then I get duped and make a mistake and purchase something full of crap. I pay for it too. I am extremely sensitive and the tainted products either brings on some sort of rash or makes my hair fall out. When I see all the ads for hair replacement I want to scream, “just stop using those common drugstore shampoos and conditioners and you will be just fine!”

No surprise then, when watching a clip on an infomercial on TV the other day my radar pinged. This product, which was being indorsed by a big, young, popular celeb claimed to be the answer to every woman’s hair problems, no matter the type of hair. It is a shampoo free shampoo that will revolutionize your hair. So, I went on-line and looked it up and thankfully, they have a list of ingredients for the product.
And, guess what? I wouldn’t wash my dog with it. It’s full of parabens, and commercial grade fabric softeners along with a few essential oils. Great, with the power of TV, how many of us will be scammed and buy this crap? Buyer beware?

Thankfully, the Internet has a wealth of info regarding the toxic, cancer causing ingredients found in common soaps and cosmetics. Take time and search products out before you buy. For your safety and peace of mind, I have included what I call a ‘hot list’ of substances you should avoid in your soaps, make-up and skin care.
At the bottom of this blog.

And, one final note – do not despair. If you have taken a gander in your bathroom and realize it should be dumped in a toxic landfill, so be it. Take one type of product at a time and replace it with a good alternative. Here is my best pick list for good, non-toxic products (most can be found at Vitaglo.com or Vitacost.com or in your local health food store – though the web-sites listed are cheaper).

Body & Face Soap: Dr. Brunner liquid castile soap or bar soap or Meyer’s bar soap
Shampoos & Conditioner: Aubrey Organics
Lotions: Aubrey Organics or just pure oil such as apricot kernel oil or almond oil.
Apricot kernel oil is also great on your face!
Healing ointments: Castor oil will heal just about anything, as will pure honey.
Essential oils are a must; visit newdirectionsaromatics.com for the purest on the market.
Make-up – NOTHING from the drugstore! Go to your healthful store and see what they have and read the ingredients to make sure it’s pure.


Good luck and happy, healthy new year.
Caroline


Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate bubbly surfactant cleanser allows 40% MORE toxins to enter the LAURETH SULFATE (SLS/SLES) body through the skin! Harsh irritant, contributes to yeast infections. May cause hair thinning; Builds up in the heart, liver, lungs, brain. Contributes to cataracts & improper eye development in children under 6.
*Laureth's and ceteareths and Pegs
May be contaminated with the volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and dioxane; estrogen mimic & endocrine disruptor contributes to cancer, prostate, fertility and reproductive problems. Affects fetus & sex organs
*DEA/ TEA (Triethanolamine)
Interacts with nitrites in the formula to form the potent carcinogen nitrosamine. Caused liver & kidney cancer in animal studies.
Propylene glycol
Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney & liver abnormalities In animal studies. May inhibit skin cell growth and be irritating to the skin
*Caution: There are 100’s of synonyms & trademarked names used in store products to hide these & other toxic ingredients. Note: Hormone/estrogen mimics/disruptors increase female problems, cancer, and reproductive problems in fetus.
*Phthalates
Hormone mimic; teratogen (causes fetal damage); Fragrance fixative; ingredient plasticizer, used to make plastics soft; Dibutyl phthalate is one of several different common phthalates that are routinely NOT listed on labels because they are part of proprietary fragrances. Neways products are certified phthalate-free.
Talc (talcum powder)
Acute or chronic lung disease (Talcosis), contributes to ovarian cancers.
Mineral Oil / Petrolatum
Dissolves skin’s own natural oils & causes dehydration & dry skin. Blocks pores & holds-in toxins. Made from crude oil known to contain carcinogens and reproductive disruptors.
Glycerin
Unless air humidity is over 65%, glycerin pulls moisture from deeper skin layers to the surface, drying basal layers so cells don’t mature properly & age faster.

Fragrance (undefined mixtures)
Usually contain allergens & hormone disrupting phthalates; excito-toxins and neuro-toxins causing brain damage and behavioral issues. Neways products are essentially fragrance-free except for some natural, aromas and flavors used to mask certain herbal odors. Neways scents comply with new stringent E.U. 7th Directive standards: approved as non-allergenic
Benzoic Acid or Benzyl
Contains benzene rings & toluene, potential cancer causing agents, endocrine disrupters, and may also cause birth defects. Neways is guaranteed benzene-free.
FD&C Red 40
Questionable carcinogen & excito-toxin. (FD&C’s are all synthetic)
Sodium Fluoride
Potent carcinogen, cause teeth mottling, bone problems, irritates tissues
Parabens (preservative)
Powerful in tiny amounts; new concerns they are hormone mimics (see Laureth’s, PEG’s) unless vacuum stripped. Neways, for 20 years, is one of few companies in the world to vacuum strip away impurities- which can also occur in organic products-- without adding harmful solvents. Never should be in 1st half of formula
These common alternatives to parabens release carcinogenic Formaldehyde:
• quaternium 15
• diazolidinyl urea
• imidazolidinyl urea\
• dmdm hydantoin
• sodium hydroxy methyl glycinate
• benzyl alcohol
• 2-bromo-2-nitropane-1, 3-diol