FOOD MATTERS SKIN CARE BUYING GUIDE FOR 2014

Everyone should be careful about what chemicals enter their bodies. This includes the chemicals that enter our bodies through our skin.

Here is the Food Matters Skin Care Buying Guide for 2014!

Discover the problems with the beauty industry, how to understand labels and where to buy safe products.

The skin is your largest organ and absorbs an average of 60% of what you put on it. According to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 “beauty” products per day, containing about 168 ingredients. That’s a lot of ingredients you’re putting into your body and if you are not careful, many of those ingredients could be toxic!

Common Myths:

Myth #1. It’s sold in stores, it must be safe?

The US Food and Drug Administration does not have mandatory safety standards in place for cosmetics. Any cosmetic product can make it onto the shelves and could be loaded with toxic formulas, which could be endangering your health.

Myth #2. They have just released a new anti-aging formula.

Before you start dousing yourself in the latest skin care that promises to wipe 10 years off your face and remove all those unwanted skin spots, take a look at the label. Can you even decipher what’s in it? Many of those ingredients could contribute to long-term health effects such as eczema, cancer, infertility and more.

Myth #3. The label looks safe, so it must be OK?

You’re armed with a list of all the ingredients to look out for on the label. It doesn’t say it contains formaldehyde or parabens, so they must not be in there. Unfortunately a lot of chemical cocktails hide under the term “fragrance” which allows the company to not actually list what is in it. There are all sorts of loopholes in the beauty industry.

Myth #4. “Pink” products help cure breast-cancer

Most large beauty companies such as Estee Lauder, Avon and Revlon use toxins and carcinogens in their products. So even though they are promoting that they donate profits to find a cure, they could be in fact contributing to this deadly disease.

Product Labels:

One of the most important things to do when selecting your skin care products is to read the label of ingredients! Forget the terms on the front “organic”, “natural” or “fragrance-free” and jump straight to the small print.
Here are a few things to stay clear of:

1. Thimerosol - Is a mercury-containing preservative. Mercury may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation and adverse effects on the nervous system. Studies have also show that it can affect reproduction. Thimerosol is used as a preservative for products applied in the area of the eye, such as eye drops and contact lens solutions.

2. DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea - Used as preservatives and can release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a sensitizer and a proven carcinogen. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate - A known skin and eye irritant and enhances allergic response to other toxins and allergens. It is used as a lathering agent and detergent and is present in hundreds of commercial shampoos, body washes and bubble baths, as well as skin creams and some brands of toothpaste.

4. Benzyl Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol - Both can irritate the skin. They are used as fragrance ingredients as well as preservatives, solvents and anti-foaming agents for lotions, sunscreens, hand sanitizers, sunscreens and baby wipes. There is also evidence that these two alcohols are neurotoxic.

5. 1,4-Dioxane - Classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen. It is a contaminant in shampoos, body wash, children’s bath products and other sudsing cosmetics. 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant and not an ingredient, therefore it does not appear on ingredient labels.

6. Parabens - This is a preservative that is able to mimic estrogen hormones and has been found in breast tumors.

7. “Fragrance” - An ambiguous term where many toxic chemicals are hidden under, including synthetic fragrances containing phthalates - a plasticizing material used in polyvinyl chloride PVC which can mess with your endocrine system.

Beauty Is Created From The INSIDE & OUT:

Beauty is created in two ways: the foods that you eat, and what you put on your skin. It’s not only important to know what ingredients you are putting on your skin, you also need to know what ingredients you are eating and feed your body with foods that promote beauty and vitality. If you want a healthy glow, then start by eating foods rich in nutrients and minerals that nourish your cells and make your insides sing and dance with joy!

How Can I Find The Right Skin Products?

Here’s what to look for when choosing a skin care products:

1. Read labels: Start looking at the back of your products. The more ingredients you can pronounce, the better. If you see a lot of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petroleum products, fragrances and the like, look for another, safer product. Remember, not all ingredients are on the label, so make sure you trust the company you are purchasing from.

2. Shop at natural stores or online specialty stores: Most of your healthier and safer products are either in health food stores or online.

3. Research the company: Many newer companies were started because of the lack of natural and nourishing products out there. These companies tend to care more about what they put into their products. Research the companies you’re buying from, and find those that you can trust.

4. Rate your products: Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database and type in your product. You’ll discover the rating for the hazard level of that product. This will give you a good starting point as to which of your current products may not be completely safe.

5. Educate yourself: The more you read about cosmetics ingredients, the more you’ll be able to make smart choices. The basics are here.
If you follow these simple tips below, you should be able to find an awesome natural skin care range that your body loves and is free of the hidden dangers.

Food Matters Recommended Companies:

1. Annmarie Gianni

2. Kora

3. Face Naturals

4. Juice Beauty

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