Save Your Skin - What You Need To Know About The Dangers of Preservatives in Skin Care Products

Staying Young: You've heard a lot about anti-aging and skin care. What can you really do?

The skin is the largest organ of your body. It breathes in and out, taking in nutrients and releasing toxins. You may have noticed a trend in the pharmaceutical industry in which more and more prescriptions are being offered in 'patch' or gel form. This is because research shows that introducing substances through the skin is an effective and steady way to get needed medicines directly into the bloodstream.

That's great news when it comes to medicine, but what does that mean to us about skin care? It means that we have to ask two important questions about the products we choose to use to enhance our skin; what's in it? And is it helpful or harmful?

Over 10,000 chemicals are used as ingredients in skin care products throughout the industry. The National Institute of Occupational Safety has determined that 900 of those are unsafe and other have yet to be tested for safety. In Europe, more than 400 have been banned for use but many of those can still be found in products on our grocery, drug and health food store shelves. While some skin care companies claims products are "all natural", or "anti-aging" they may still contain ingredients that are potentially harmful and promote breakdown of the skin, like some natural and synthetic preservatives, suspected carcinogens, drying alcohols, synthetic fragrances and dyes.

While beauty may not be "skin deep", keep in mind that your skin care product go deep beyond the skin and can affect your long-term health and appearance. Being an educated skin care shopper will ensure that you get the best possible products to enhance your skin and protect your health.

Remember, no matter how much good stuff you have in a skin product...if there are parabens present, they inhibit the cells from absorbing and benefitting from nourishing ingredients in the products.

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WHAT ARE PARABENS?

Parabens are esters of p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid. They are Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben. They are used as effective preservatives in cosmetic, food and drug formulations and protect against yeast, moulds and bacteria. Preservatives are used to maintain the integrity of formulations and are often formulated with "broad spectrum" preservative systems to protect against oxidation as well as contamination.

In a recently published scientific study Methylparaben was found to increase damage to skin cells caused by UV light2. This research suggests that parabens may increase the "aging" effect on the skin from sun and other UV exposure. This new development could have dramatic implications for the skin care industry.

Although preservatives used by reputable manufacturers are usually extensively tested for safety under conditions of normal use, new research is discovering that some commonly used preservatives may have such unintended effects as irritation, inflammation and accelerated aging of the skin. This makes sense in light of the fact that preservatives can have negative effects on living cells.

This is why is would be advantageous to have a preservative-free skin care system.

2Toxicology 227 (2006):72-72

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Chemicals & Health Campaign by Woman's Institute & WWF

When we think of the Women's Institute we usually think of cake sales, flower arranging or even the movie Calendar Girls. How things change.. the WI are avid campaigners for safe chemicals in our everyday products.

They have linked up the WWF to campaign against harmful chemicals being used in cosmetics, toiletries and cleaning products. The WI believe that harmful chemicals are widely used in skincare and cleaning products and many of them contain chemicals which are known to have direct links to allergies, cancers, birth defects and other illnesses.

Is it too much to ask that harmful chemicals should be removed from all skincare and cleaning products? We don't think so! We believe that information is key. Most consumers are unaware what ingredients are in their products and do not feel confident enough to read cosmetic labels. Chemical Safe Skincare have put together a simple screening list of ingredients that have been identified as potential skin irritants and can be easily avoided. Too many people search for natural, organic and sensitive skincare products and believe they are better for their skin and bodies. In some cases they are. But many make claims that aren't supported so read ingredient lists carefully.

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This is just an extract on my report.

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