Synthetic Fragrance Deception
Did you know that every year, the average person lathers on over 4lbs of potentially toxic chemicals on their body? The typical North American woman uses 12 personal care products per day, resulting in exposure to over 100 chemicals, many of which are likely linked to cancer, birth defects, asthma, allergies and other health problems. More than 1 in 5 of all personal care products contain potentially toxic substances that may be linked to certain type of cancers*.
In particular, one of the worst and most deceptive ingredients found on an ingredient label is referred to as fragrance. The ingredient fragrance can be found everywhere from perfumes and musks, to colognes, body sprays, lotions, hair products, and make-up. According to U.S. law, the term fragrance is defined as a combination of chemicals that gives each perfume or cologne its distinct scent.
So what’s really in fragrance? The crazy thing about fragrance is it is a trade secret, so cosmetic and personal care product companies are under no legal obligation to disclose its chemical components. But the reality is that often times the word fragrance translates to dozens of potentially toxic and untested chemicals. In particular, certain high risk sneaky sub-sets of fragrance can be classified under the following categories:
Artificial musk – A 2009 study showed that those that used the most perfumes containing synthetic musks were also the ones with the highest level of galaxolide and tonalide in their blood. Galaxolide and tonalide are polycyclic musks, and a near cousin of the nitro-musk family, developed shortly after World War II, right around the time the extremely toxic insecticide DDT was discovered. Luckily similar to DDT, nitro-musks were quickly eliminated in their original form due to their high instability and toxic potential.
The apple does not fall far from the tree however because polycyclic musks such as galaxolide and tonalide have been detected in blood and breast milk by frequent musk users. Yum. Talk about getting an early start on a crappy diet. Studies show that exposure to polycyclic musks may break down the body’s defenses against other toxic exposures, and these chemicals are linked to the increased risk of breast cancer and hormone disruption. Yay, all we need is more hormonal imbalance in the world.
Neurotoxins – It has been nearly thirty years since scientists discovered fragrance ingredients that fall under the category of neurotoxins, or toxins that are potentially harmful to our brain. Doh! It was recommended by the U.S. Academy of Natural Science that these ingredients be investigated further as they could be potentially harmful to human health. Do you know what the FDA did with that information? Nothing. Next category.
Phthalates – Linked to hormone disruption, this category of chemicals are slowly being phased out of consumer products in American due to strong consumer pressure. But do not be fooled, as some types of phthalates still exist, though manufacturers do not have to legally list them on the labels. And this is despite the fact that all phthalates have been banned in Europe. In fact in 20o3, The EU banned from personal care products more than 1100 known carcinogens, mutagens, and toxins that were known to interfere with reproduction. Since then the US has only restricted about a dozen harmful substances, thanks in part to our generous free enterprise system.
And our collection would not be complete without Sensitizers and Allergens – Ahh yes, we call these the immune system infiltrators because out of every 100 people, statistically there is a handful that will suffer an allergic reaction to synthetic fragrances which contain the aforementioned. In fact fragrances are considered a top allergen, leading to nausea, vomiting, and asthma. Product tests conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, show that each fragrance tested contains no less than ten sensitizers.
Now that we have surprised and probably scared you with this not so pleasant information, you are probably wondering what you can do to avoid, or at least lessen the risks of encountering such foul ingredients in your products. So what can you do?
1. Support companies that fully disclose all their product ingredients. Authenta Skin Care is a great example. Not only does the company use all natural ingredients, they also go further as to list all those ingredients, quantities and all on their website and label.
2. Look for products that contain all natural, and not synthetic fragrances. There are plenty of natural alternatives for fragrances. Some popular ones include rose geranium, bergamot orange, pink grapefruit, apricot, lavendar, and many more. Usually these natural fragrances are derived from the constituents of essential oils and other plant materials using mild steam and fractional distillation. They are 100% free of any synthetics, including phthalates, parabens,
sulfates, solvents and petrochemicals.
3. If you are using several products that contain synthetic fragrances consider eliminating them slowly but surely until you eventually cut-down to about 25%. Using 2 of these products is much better than using ten and it will be easier to adjust.
4. Choose products with no added fragrance: Use the Skin Deep advanced search to find products that do not include fragrance. Read ingredient labels, because even products marketed as fragrance-free could actually contain an unscented scent…yes this is 100% true we are not completely crazy.
5. Support your local health organizations. They are not-for-profit and they are doing us a huge favour by pushing multi-national cosmetic companies in North America to ban products that could be extremely harmful to us.
*Source: The campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Ten Tips to Avoid Winter Dry Skin
It’s that time of the year again…winter. And in many parts of North America, especially the ones with more severe climates, that means dry skin…bleh. Of course there are different types of complexions that range from oily to extremely dry.
For those with an oilier complexion, cold winter days will probably not be the bearer of dry, flakiness…Unlike our desiccated counterparts that have to work extra hard to maintain moisture in their mug.
So if you are the latter, and feeling the effects of mother nature’s dry-spell, here are some tips that are sure to help stay moist and prevent premature lines are wrinkles due to a dry epidermis:
1. Do not use hot water – As much as we love our hot-tub and a 20 minute calorific shower in the mornings, hot water removes the natural oils in your skin leaving it susceptible to dryness. Always bathe in warmer water to avoid drying out.
2. Use a humidifier - Heating your home in the winter can lead to the reduction of moisture in the air within your house, and a humidifier can help restore that moisture by adding it back into the air. Some humidifiers come with air filters to collect dust, germs, smoke and other airborne debris, reducing the amount of pollutants and allergens in the home. The added moisture in the air can also help prevent sore throats and runny noses caused by dryness, and help reduce skin and respiratory problems.
3. Use a gentle cleanser. Soaps can strip oils from the skin. Stop using deodorant bars, antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care products containing alcohol. Look fo mild, fragrance-free soap like Dove for your body. To wash your face try Authenta’s Cleansing Milk, which is fragrance free and contains all natural ingredients like green tea extract and other anti-oxidants, to cleanse powerfully while neutralizing the effects of hard water.
4. Limit your bath-time - A 5- to 10-minute bath or shower adds moisture to the skin. More time than that leaves your skin less hydrated than before you started. Also limit bathing to once a day unless necessary.
5. Moisturize right after you bathe – To lock in moisture from a bath or shower, apply a moisturizer while the skin is still damp. For extra dry skin use a heavier moisturizer with added shea butter, avocado or coconut oil.
6. Change your razor blades – If you continually reuse your razors, your skin will not be happy and may get itchy and irritated. Make sure you change your razor after about ten uses. Also be sure to lather up well when shaving to avoid razor burn, and shave in the direction that the skin grows.
7. Cover your face and hands in the winter - Chapped lips and hands can be awfully irritating, and getting your hands back to softness, can be troublesome, especially if you do household chores and dishes. Wear gloves and a scarf to cover your hands and face when outdoors to prevent the ill effects of exposure to cold and wind.
8. Beware when cleansing your face – Wash your face with product once a day only, and in the evening use plain water to just rinse. If you are going to use make-up removers or toners make sure they are alcohol free. Authenta’s Face Toner provides your skin with a natural deep clean by removing all traces of cleanser. Combining winning ingredients like aloe vera and cucumber extracts, it tones and tightens your skin for a youthful glow that your friends will admire.
9. Supplement orally with omega-3′s – Studies show omega-3 oils can improve skin conditions when taken orally. Omega-3 essential fatty acids come from sardines and anchovies, salmon, flax, nuts and to an extend green leafy vegetables. You can also find them in supplement form (softgels typically absorb best). Visit your local health food store for an omega-3 supplement right for you.
10. Drink plenty of water throughout the day – Moisturizing from within is just as important as moisturizing topically. Drink 8 glasses of water per day, herbal caffeine free teas are a great substitute especially served hot on cold winter days with a cookie!
Cigarettes, Carbs & Cabernet – Three Cs of Aging
So you’re concerned about aging huh? Most of us are, and eventually we will all age, in fact the aging process starts precisely at birth. The fact that we will age is inevitable but what we can control is the rate at which we age. And there are certain factors that greatly accelerate the speed at which the aging process can and will occur, especially in relation to our skin.
Scientists estimate that your lifestyle influences your health and physical appearance by up to 50% or more. And how you live in your twenties and thirties starts to be reflected in your skin once you hit your forties. Smoking, eating too much refined sugar, and excessive drinking can lead to premature stress on your skin and accelerate the aging process more than any other bad habit.
So what happens when you smoke? For starters you will develop larger than normal quantities of deeper wrinkles. Smoking makes wrinkles more profound because it damages the collagen and elastin in the skin, which is what gives skin that healthy toned look. Smoking also strips the oxygen from your skin creating more pronounced skin sagging, and the reduced circulation due to the lack of oxygen causes dark circles to appear under the eyes. Besides wrinkles on your face and even your neck, smoking can wreck havoc in your mouth greatly damaging and staining your teeth…not the best habit to have if you want a bright sparkling smile.
Remedies to prevent damage if you are a smoker include increasing your consumption of anti-oxidants which help in the reproduction of collagen. Also daily excercise can improve your complexion by promoting circulation. These are great options to combat ageing from smoking but we cannot emphasize more that the only way to prevent further damage is simply to QUIT. From Nicorette, hypnosis, to smoking cessation coaches there are plenty of options out there that can help.
If brownies, cupcakes, and Starbuck’s pastries are your favourite snacks, your skin will suffer! A high glycemic index diet made up of pastas, rice, baked goods, and refined sugars can lead to glycation in the skin. Glycation occurs when sugar molecules attach to collagen fibres and cause them to lose elasticity, weakening them in the process. Once this happens the skin becomes less elastic and more prone to wrinkles. A diet rich in sugars can weaken your immune system, decay your teeth and trigger acne. In terms of skin health, refined sugars are not great options either. Excessive consumption can lead to thinning and greying skin. Too much sugar can also lead to skin bloating and create a puffy, marshmallow look. This is a result of anti-inflammatory responses due to carbohydrate digestion in the body causing pre-mature aging, especially on the face.
Since protein cannot be stored in your body, eating a balanced diet with some protein at every meal can counter grey, thinning skin, acne, and the marshmallow effect described above. Lean chicken breast, lean beef, legumes, eggs, nuts, and quinoa are all great options.
Now we all know that one daily glass of wine, beer, or our favourite spirit is good for us, but its no secret either that over consumption of alcohol can lead to permanent liver damage. It can also lead to the enlargement of blood vessels, skin flushing, and an unpleasant skin disorder called rosacea. Occasional flushing from drinking is not horrible for us, our blood vessels usually return to their normal state, but prolonged, continious consumption of alcohol can cause our blood vessels to loose their tone, leaving us with permanent redness and thread veins, a symptom we often see in alcoholics. Heavy drinkers are also deficient in vitamin A, which is important in collagen and elastin formation. And finally because drinking causes us to be dehydrated, our skin will also suffer. Dehydrated skin is prone to wrinkling, sagginess, and dryness.
Occasional social drinking is okay as long as we remember to not exceed 7-10 drinks per week (depending on our body weight), and not to exceed 3-4 drinks per night. One trick is to alternate a glass of water in between our alcoholic beverages to keep a steady pace throughout the night. If you are a social drink, and need booze to relax, try the amino acid L-theanine extracted from green tea.
Cigarettes, carbohydrates and alcohol can all be terrible for your skin if consumed in excessive quantities. So if you smoke quit, eat carbs in reasonable quantities based on your weight, sticking to whole, unrefined carbohydrates, and drink in moderation. And for healthy skin, anti-oxidants like alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E, A, hyaluronic acid, and green tee extract can be supplemented both topically and orally. An article by Authenta Skin Care.
