Hop into Health Wed 13th March – Skin Products Making you Sick
Today we talked about skin products: ingredients safe and not safe, alternatives and acne in adults.
Debbie Majella-Nolan from Door of Youth came into the studio to talk with me about products, industry regulation and more importantly how you can become aware what is safe and what is not.
Our skin is our largest organ and plays a role as a detoxification organ, absorption organ, protection and many things are synthesized (manufactured) on the surface of the skin. To nourish your skin requires internal foods but also external attention.
Q: What are some of the toxic items to look out for in skin products?
A: Sodium Lareth Sulphates, petrolium, phytates, heavy metals (lead), products linked with disease such as aluminium.
Q: What are some natural key ingredients to look for in skin care and body products?
A: Aloe Vera (helps cells rejevenate), Grapefruit extract (anti bacterial), lemon extract (anti bacterial) , lavender (calming and healing), Vitamin A (from macademia nut of another nut), Vit E (from Jojoba or macademia oil)
Q: Are ingredients listed in order of amount?
A: Yes just like foods, skin and body care products have to list ingredients from most used product to least. However with off shore products there are many mis-labelling incidences.
Q: What do you recommend for Acne treatments?
A: Aside from treating the persons internal dynamic (hormones, food, stress, gut health) it is important to look after the surface of the skin. A product like glycolic acid derived from sugar cane is is high in natural exfoliants (AHA) and helps take the dead layers of cells away from the skin. This helps reduce new acne formations. It is important to moisturize your skin even if you have oily skin too!
We talked about roacutane and for more info this is a comprehensive blog on it.
The other big tip I took home from Debbie’s interview was that just because a natural product doesn’t foam up doesn’t mean it isnt working. This applies to all body products. Commercial products use SLS to get a foam but it isn’t necessary and absence of foaming in any product doesn’t mean it’s not working.
If you are over whelmed with where to start with converting your bathroom to a less toxic one, start with your shampoo and conditioner. Each time you use these they wash your body anyway. Then over time replace new face care products with natural ones. Debbie has her own range here.
Next week (wed 20th March) I will be interviewing Jack Hammond on Hop into Health on male hormones and steroid use and abuse! Tune in at 10am and spread the word via face book or pinterest.
Sam
