October 29, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
You might be surprised at the ingredients found in your everyday concealer. I was certainly blown away and disappointed because I used concealer every day for years before making the switch to natural mineral powder. I felt betrayed that Ive spent thousands of dollars that have gone to companies that care nothing about the health and wellness of their consumers. Ive only chosen four chemicals randomly from the list of ingredients found in concealer. Check it out.
1. Colorants
2. Parabens
3. Urea (Imidazolidinyl) and Diazolidinyl Urea
4. Propylene Glycol
Colorants are obviously used to change the products natural color to the desired color. Of course colorants are not naturally derived from berries or fruits but are made from a variety of chemicals. Artificial colorants are cheaper, brighter and more uniform and have a longer shelf life. One example of a group of makeup colorants approved by the FDA is aluminum colorants. It is difficult to imagine that any use of aluminum colorants can be deemed safe.
These colorants contribute to infertility, cancer in reproductive organs, cognitive delays, birth defects and organ toxicity in the stomach or respiratory system. This is one example of a colorant and there are many others like it, not to mention the ones used that do not require approval from the FDA.
Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives. They are estrogenic, have been linked to breast cancer and can disrupt the endocrine system. Deodorant contains parabens and studies have found a link between parabens and breast cancer.
Urea (Imidazolidinyl) and Diazolidinyl Urea are preservatives. Remember when you were young and you had to dissect a frog in your biology class? Can you recall that lovely smell when they placed the frog on your desk? That was formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve bodies. Urea produces formaldehyde.
Urea may cause heart palpitations as the result of respiratory irritation. It can also cause the following: depression, insomnia, headache, joint pain, chest pain, chronic fatigue, immune system depression and possibly cancer (According to the Mayo Clinic).
The use of propylene glycol (solvent) just baffles me because it can be found in our makeup as well as in any other cosmetic product we use on our hair, skin and nails. It can also be found in many essentials like deodorant, soap, toothpaste and food. This ingredient makes your makeup slippery just as it does with antifreeze. This nasty chemical is toxic but is still considered safe in small doses according to the FDA. Perhaps the small doses just kill us more slowly and make the source of any resulting complication less apparent.
Your skin absorbs propylene glycol quickly and easily. This chemical solvent causes kidney and liver damage, gastro-intestinal complications and brain abnormalities. The EPA requires workers handing the material to wear protective goggles and keep their skin covered with rubber gloves but they are allowed to wear it on their face when they put on their makeup in the morning. Your average deodorant contains an unusually high amount of this chemical.
To everyone like me who cannot leave the house without makeup, lets make a change for the better and seek out natural alternatives! Companies who sell these products will be forced to change their ingredients to stay in business and we will be happier and healthier once weve made the right choice! You may think that you alone cannot make a difference, but just like everything else, it has to start somewhere!
By: Francis David
October 22, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Use of Hyaluronan Acid in cosmetics
Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient used in many high quality products and has been linked to a role in tissue hydration and dehydration, lubrication, and other aspects of cellular function, along with other vitamins and nutrients in the body. Hyaluronic Acid has a half life in the body, in cartilage of two to three weeks, but only one day in the skin. When synthesis in the body declines people experience discomfort of the joints, wrinkles and many people report more frequent illness, leading many to believe that a constant supply of Hyaluronic Acid is beneficial. Some scientists believe that it creates a cushion effect between joints of the body and provides more elasticity in the skin, and a softer feel. Some scientists also believe that it raises the while blood cell count, helping to ward off infection.
Hyaluronic Acid was described as the goo muscle until the late 1970’s, and was simply believed to be a carbohydrate polymer until that time. It was later discovered that it is one of the main lubricating components of synovial fluid in the body, abundant in extra cellular matrices, and that it contributes to the hydrodynamics of tissue, cell proliferation and movement. Naturally found in many body tissues, Hyaluronan Acid is often used in medical applications such as eye surgery – corneal transplants, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, and retinal detachment repair. It is also used to treat osteoarthritis in areas such as the knee. In addition to lubrication and cushioning of joints it has an analgesic effect, and positive effects of cartilage. In cancer treatment it is used as a tumor marker; particularly in breast cancer and prostate cancer. Use of Hyaluronan Acid in cosmetics is a relatively new use of this substance, but it has been approved by the FDA since 2003 and is becoming increasingly popular.
An interesting side note is the study of a village in Japan, featured on an episode of the ABC newsmagazine 20/20. People in this village tend to live to be much older than average, and ten percent of the villagers are 85 years of age or older. The diet of the village people is primarily sticky stanches like sweet potatoes, and it is believed by many people that these foods promote Hyaluronic Acid, which contributes to youthfulness due to the lubricating effects on joints, skin, and the eyes. While these studies have not been proven, many people find them of interest and research continues.
For more information visit: http://www.lifecellskin.com/pages/s1/?ref=40fdf584
October 12, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
You might disagree, but hear me out on this. I have read numerous face cream reviews and have even written a few, myself. It is important to share information with fellow consumers. It’s obvious that we can’t rely on manufacturers to provide honest information. Sure, some manufacturers do come clean with the facts. But, most just hide behind glossy advertisements and celebrity endorsements.
A new internet database, created by the Environmental Working Group, a public safety watchdog, of sorts, provides consumers with a little extra help. The database lists the ingredients in thousands of different skincare products and the EWG ranks those ingredients in terms of safety.
They also allow consumers to upload face cream reviews or make comments about the products. Some consumers are unhappy with the EWG evaluation, but the base their evaluations solely on the facts.
Cosmetic companies commonly use known allergens, irritants and toxins in their products. The reason behind this is money. There is no other explanation. As hard as the EPA and the FDA fights to get better regulations for skincare products manufactured in the US, the more lobbyists cosmetic companies send to Washington.
The hope of the EWG is simply to inform the consumer, so that they can make their own choices. It took years of hard work to get this information to the public and I, for one, am appreciative of all of the work that they have done.
If you read enough face cream reviews, you will see that some people “love” a product, while others “hate” it. That’s not really surprising when you have a little more information.
According to surveys conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, 25% of all cosmetic users have had an adverse reaction to one of the skincare products that they have used. So, if you read 10 face cream reviews for the same product, two or three are likely to be negative.
It is a known fact that sensitivity to some allergens develops over time. So, an ingredient that may have been non-irritating in a person’s youth can cause a reaction, as they get older.
It is also known that there are lower levels of hyaluronic acid in older skin. Hyaluronic acid is one of the things that prevent toxins and irritants from penetrating deeply. The deeper it penetrates, the more likely it is to cause irritation. That is probably the reason that you see some many negative comments about wrinkle creams and anti-aging face cream reviews.
Cosmetic companies never seem to consider how a harsh compound could affect an older person. They spend a lot of time figuring out their ad campaigns and marketing techniques. But, they spend very little time on researching or developing truly effective products.
Put this to the test right away! There is a new entry into the skincare product category. It is a company that makes some of the best anti-aging supplements on the market. You won’t read many face cream reviews for their products, unless you find their website. They allow their customers to leave comments on their blog. So far, there hasn’t been a single negative one.
October 1, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Cosmetics have been used for many years and decades by men and women to enhance their beauty, to hide imperfections and the signs of aging, to attract lovers and as fashion statements.
While history teaches us of the natural products our ancestors used, we have still failed to learn from the horror stories from when women painted whitened their faces with toxic mercury and lead.
Even today with our knowledge and experience our personal care products and cosmetics still contain toxic ingredients and known carcinogens. Cosmetics make you attractive, but some of the ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products may be killing you or seriously damaging your health. Unlike our food, personal care products and cosmetics are not to be as accurate with listing ingredients, which is quite alarming. Once recent food scare involving the Sudan red food dye resulted in large numbers of food products being removed from supermarket shelves as there was reportedly a small risk that this colouring could cause cancer. Our body has a natural way to filter these products and harmful ingredients, unlike carcinogens in creams and lotions which are absorbed through the skin and can enter straight into the blood stream.
What you may not realize is that many of the skin care products and cosmetics you are buying contain ingredients that are not only harmful to your skin, but also to your long term health. Many chemicals found in cosmetics don’t cause immediate visible signs of toxicity, but affect our health negatively over time through repeated use. Every day we are surrounded by thousands of chemicals which we rub onto our skin, spray into the air, and soak ourselves in. There is growing research to prove the potential harm of the chemical cocktail effect; the unknown interactions which occur between chemicals used together in every-day products.
In the US, the FFDCA (Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act) does not require premarket safety tests, reviews or approvals for cosmetics. Enforcement action is only pursued after the product enters into the consumer market and there are complaints.
There are also additional difficulties in removing products that are unsafe, as the rules and regulations are not straight forward. An example of this would be a nail polish remover that contains an ingredient that when ingested, turns to cyanide, which is a serious poison. But because this product is not meant to be consumed internally the FDA would be unable to remove this product from the market place.
According to information in The Safe Shoppers Bible, in 1990 there were 38,000 cosmetic related injuries that needed medical treatment but this figure doesnt include all of the people who suffer from allergic reactions, irritations and photosensitization from using cosmetics, who just accept the symptoms as the normal cost of grooming.
One of the most contact reactions to personal care products and cosmetics is contact dermatitis. The symptoms usually experienced are reddening of the area, itching, swelling and inflammation. This is caused by the skin being irritated or an allergic reaction. Irritation can occur on first contact with something or after repeated contact and usually subsides when contact is stopped. An allergic reaction is when the immune system is affected typically the symptoms can appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure and can increase in severity over the following days.
September 24, 2016 / como / 0 Comments
Cosmetics are all about good looks. And that goes for their packaging too. The packagings of cosmetic products are of utmost significance as it is one of the factors that influences a customers decision to buy a product. Of course, it not only keeps the product protected, but also plays a major role in marketing the product to the customer. In the cosmetics industry, it is essential to keep up with current trends to maintain a competitive edge in the cosmetic industry. Many cosmetic product packaging trends are straying from the high-tech, futuristic look of past years and moving more toward a simple, natural and approachable sensibility.
As packaging trends usually evolve with consumers wants and needs, they can become a fundamental aspect in deciding whether or not your packaging will succeed. Its hard to assess the importance of each individual aspect, but it is critical to manage them for your overall packaging success.
a)Scrutiny from Regulatory Agencies – Increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies like the FDA and others will specify what can or cannot be mentioned on the packages, what materials it should be made of, etc. If the packages dont comply with the set standards, there can be fines or stern warnings imposed.
b)Green Packaging Options – Many companies are seeking a greener packaging alternative, and new products and new ideas are surfacing everyday. Manufacturers have now embraced the idea of providing eco friendly options and using eco friendly products like paper, bamboo, wood, plastic composite,airless pump bottles and more for packaging.
c)Opting for Recyclable Plastic Containers Consumers have become environmentally conscious, thus making it crucial for manufacturers to always provide customization and options for their customers. As an alternative to non-degradable plastic containers, manufacturers have started using recyclable products to reduce environmental waste. It is simpler to design a concept around eco-friendly products when the packaging can all be made of bio-degradable material.
d)Intelligent Packaging – With so much competition, companies are looking for unique ways to engage customers. This revolves around interactive packaging and social media that engages consumers through secondary actions. Smart and intelligent packages help them make an informed decision and generally point them in the right direction. The mobile consumer is the target of much of these packaging innovations. Statistics show that this type of package marketing is the wave of the future and is limited only by the marketers imaginations.
It is extremely important to understand the external influences that keep a customer from buying in this fiercely competitive environment and why every element of product packing counts. Cosmetic packaging plays a decisive role in the products finding their way from the shelves of a store to the customer.