Would You Put Gasoline On Your Skin?

Did you know that it takes 26 seconds for whatever you put on your skin to enter your system? Your personal care products…substances like hair care products, facial products, bath and body washes and lotions may contain chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment.

Many of the ingredients on this list disrupt the endocrine system. There are also some known carcinogens. The problem is that there is almost no oversight of this industry in the USA like there is in Europe and other countries.

So many of the harmful ingredients found in American skincare and other personal care products are not permissible in the European Union. As we become label readers and educated consumers, we are holding manufacturers accountable for the ingredients they put into their products. But they still have a long way to go.

Ten Toxic Ingredients to Avoid Putting On Your Skin *

Parabens

These preservatives prevent mold growth. Parabens mimic estrogen in the body and are endocrine disruptors and have also been linked to breast cancer.

Artificial Color and Fragrance

These can trigger allergies, headache, ADHD and asthma, among other things. They cause skin irritation and reproductive problems. The European Union, where oversight in the cosmetic industry is much tighter, has banned many of these ingredients.

Phthalates

These chemicals increase pliability in plastic.   The main phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products are dibutyl phthalate in nail polish, diethyl phthalate in perfumes and lotions, and dimethyl phthalate in hair spray. They disrupt the endocrine system. Phthalates have been also linked to breast cancer and can cause reproductive issues in women.

Triclosan

This is an anti-microbial chemical found in anti-bacterial hand cleaners and other personal care products. There is little to no evidence that using anti-bacterial sanitizing products is any better than washing with regular soap and water, but there is a concern that the use of this chemical is contributing to the increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria. This chemical is also an endocrine disruptor, specifically harmful to the thyroid and reproductive hormones.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)

These are in many body washes and shampoos. They irritate eyes and skin and cause breathing problems. A major concern with these chemicals is their interaction with other chemicals to become carcinogenic.

Formaldehyde

This is a main ingredient in embalming fluid! This preservative has been linked to nasal and nasopharyngeal cancers. It can be a skin irritant and negatively impact the immune system.

Toluene

This is a petroleum by-product and it appears on labels as benzene, toluol, phenylmethane, and methylbenzene.  As a solvent, it’s used  in paint thinners. Toluene is in nail products and hair color/bleaching products.  It can cause skin irritation and nausea.  Pregnant women should stay away from toluene because it can cause fetal damage.

Propylene glycol

This is classified as a skin irritant and penetrator. It can cause dermatitis and hives in humans in very small concentrations. It is in moisturizers, sunscreen, makeup products, conditioners, shampoo and hair sprays.

Mineral oil

This is a petroleum distillate. Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product and considered a hazardous material. It’s cheaper for the oil companies to sell it to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries than it is to pay the disposal fees. Those companies sanitize and use it in their products. Mineral oil is occlusive and blocks the absorption of any beneficial ingredients that may be in your skincare. It’s like putting plastic wrap on your skin before applying your skincare products.

The older I get the more important self-care has become. We have one body in this lifetime and it’s imperative that we take care of it.

I teach people how to care for their bodies from the inside out. Treat your body like a temple…not a tent.

* adapted from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dangerous-beauty-products_b_4168587

My Story

Since June 2019, I decided to hold myself accountable for walking my talk.

Several years ago, I was able to take off 135 pounds and essentially save my own life. I regained some of that weight in the last couple of years and I’m working my way back down. I’ve lost over 40 pounds since I began in June and have exercised nearly every day since August.

If you choose to join me on this journey, I’ll provide some nutritional and lifestyle wisdom. Even though I may have gone off the rails temporarily I can still share some of my first hand experience as well as my acquired knowledge and training to help you make the right changes to live your best life.

Do You Want Help?

Would you like to have more energy, lose weight, sleep better, and balance your hormones? I am launching another  5 week Sugar Detox Program beginning soon.

This program is open to anyone who:

• would like to get control of their sugar cravings
• feel better
• have an abundance of energy
• and an overall increase in well-being.

Aren’t you tired of feeling bloated and lethargic?

If you continue to follow the path you’re on, where will it lead you in six months? a year? Isn’t it time to take a different approach?

What you have done in the past hasn’t worked or at least has not stuck. I can help you change that. Click here for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your challenges and your goals for the coming year and see if we’re a good fit. You have nothing to lose except those nasty cravings.

My clients are mostly women who are facing serious health challenges like heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes or who have been diagnosed as having a precursor to a serious health issue such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar. I help them make food and lifestyle changes so they can get healthy, live longer and enjoy a fuller, happier, more energetic life.

If you would like to have a free consultation about the health challenges you have and the improvements you would like to see in your health, click here to schedule a no strings attached call.