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Don'ts |
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Artificial Colors |
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Most are coal-tar derivatives. Although approved,
some have been found to be carcinogenic, e.g. D & C Red No.19, FD & C Red
No.2. Many are still doubtful as to their safety. Synthetic colors can cause
allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Elements like heavy metals
(arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, etc) are difficult to remove completely
during the manufacturing process. |
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Petroleum Products |
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Ingredients like paraffin, mineral oils,
petroleum jelly, PVP, PEG and propylene glycol may clog pores and cause
allergic reactions. |
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Animal Derivatives |
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Ingredients such as collagen (a substance
found in bone, cartilage, and connective tissue), placenta, animal proteins,
keratin, lactose, lanolin, animal fatty acids, and fish scales (labeled
as 'quanine' or 'pearl essence') may be by-products of slaughterhouses and
battery farms. Moreover, such ingredients may be contaminated by pesticides
like DDT. |
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Talc |
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Similar to asbestos, it causes lung problems. |
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Harsh Surfactants |
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Surfactants are wetting agents which produce
foams in cleansing products. These surfactants may remove some of the skin's
or hair's natural oils. Such ingredients contain the word 'lauryl' or 'laureth'
in their names. Lauryl compounds are more aggressive cleansers that make
skin become too dry. Commonly used are diethanolamine (DEA) lauryl sulfate,
monoethanolamine lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and triethanolamine
(TEA) lauryl sulfate. |
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Artificial Preservatives |
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Not only the most common skin irritant, but
are also carcinogens as they contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde 'donors',
e.g. quaternium 15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea. Some artificial
preservatives are acceptable, e.g. methylparaben, propylparaben, as they
are considered safe. |
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Artificial Fragrances |
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They cause allergic reactions ranging from
sneezing, stinging eyes, reddened skin to severe contact dermatitis. |
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Source: Green Living in Hong Kong by Safe Alternatives
for Food and Environment, 1996. |
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Dos |
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Herbal Essences |
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They are excellent for their healing properties:
soothe, relax and purify, e.g. angelica, arnica, calendula, chamomile, comfrey,
elderflower, ginger, ginseng root, hops, honeysuckle, horse tail, juniper,
lavender, lemon balm, nettle, peppermint, rosemary, sage, St. Johnswort,
witch hazel, yarrow. |
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Essential Oils |
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They have the amazing ability to penetrate
deeply into the generation tissues of our skin and together with them carry
small amounts of other ingredients with them, so that the skin is fully
nourished. |
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Alpha Hydroxy Acids,
AHAs |
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They penetrate deeply into skin, accelerating
natural skin renewal cycle, removing dead cells, and stimulating collagen
production. It helps cleanse pores, reduce wrinkles, whiten pigments, and
remove blemishes. |
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Ceramides |
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From sunflowers or yeast cells, ceramides
are human-identical. They strengthen skin cells' capacity to retain vitalizing
moisture so that skin is smoother and suppler. They also stimulate cell
renewal, resulting in finer skin texture and a plumping out of the fine
line and wrinkles. |
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Hyaluronic Acid |
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Derived from yeast cells, hyaluronic acid
is a non-oily moisturizer that increases skin's moisture-holding capacity
with its amazing ability to hold water of 500-1000 times its own weight.
It binds water in the interstitial spaces between skin cells, forming a
gel-like substance that holds cells together. |
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Antioxidants |
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Natural antioxidants like vitamins A, C and
E enhance the elasticity of the skin and combat free radicals. |
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Natural Preservatives |
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Include grapefruit seed extract, vitamin
C, E, and sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate. |
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for natural products with the Dos but not the Don'ts. |
