• 25Feb

    Finding the ingredients lists for natural skin care products

     

    Beware of natural skin care product lines that don’t list all their ingredients on their website. If a skin care product line that claims to be natural or organic lists only “key” ingredients or only names a few natural or herbal ingredients, then it’s very likely that they  have something to hide.

     

    Most truly natural skin care companies, who really believe that all their ingredients are safe and healthy, will provide the complete ingredients list on their website.

     

    At worst, at least until today, an e-mail to the company will generally get the ingredients list or a link to where it can be found.

     

    However, I was sent on a wild goose chase yesterday and today when I tried to get the ingredients in the new “Pink Body” line by Victoria’s Secret. They claim the ingredients in their new skin care products are natural, organic and 100% vegan. If you try to locate the ingredients on their website, all you will find is two or three ingredients listed in a brief description of each product.

     

    When I see a skin care company that claims such high standards for the ingredients in their supposedly natural and organic skin care products on top of alleging they are also “green,” I want to check them out!

     

    Because I didn’t find complete ingredients lists on their website, I did the usual and sent them an e-mail. The response I got back mentioned the same few ingredients they list on their website and they directed me back to the website. When I replied and said I wanted the COMPLETE ingredients lists for their products, they sent me the phone number for the lab that does their MSDS’s (manufacturers safety data sheets). I called and spoke with a very helpful gentleman who then told me that the MSDS’s don’t contain ALL the ingredients in each product. He then gave me the corporate phone number for Victoria’s Secret and a lab that actually manufactures some of the products.

     

    I wasn’t about to waste any more time trying to chase down all the ingredients in these supposedly organic, natural and vegan skin care products. If they put that much effort into making the ingredients unavailable to the consumer, I can only assume that they have something to hide.

     

    Now it is up to Victoria’s Secret to come forward with full disclosure! I dare them!

     

    In the meantime, make sure you can read the entire ingredients list and all the ingredients are safe for any skin care product you intend to buy. Dying To Look Good will help you decipher the safety of ingredients you find on the labels when you shop.

     

    Christine H. Farlow, D.C.

    The Ingredients Investigator

    Protecting You From Harmful Ingredients…

    www.dyingtolookgood.com

    www.dyingtolookgoodbook.com

     


  • 04Feb

    Four new natural skin care ingredients

     

    Here are some new ingredients you may be seeing in natural skin care products.

     

    GATULINE® SKIN-REPAIR BIO is a new “active ingredient” that stimulates skin regeneration and repair. Made by “hydro-alcoholic extraction of the cotton thistle,” it is certified organic by Ecocert and approved for use in The US, Australia, Japan and Europe. (INCI: Alcohol andWater and Onopordum Flower/Leaf/Stem extract) 

     

     Saberry™ is a standardized natural extract of fresh Indian gooseberries. Processed with a “solvent free technology that preserves the natural goodness of the fruits,” it is rich in antioxidants.

     

    TEGO® Cosmo LSG (Scleroglucan) is a “water-soluble, natural beta-glucan  biopolymer” produced by fermentation. It is used in products intended to protect the skin; is biodegradable and said to be non-toxic.  However, since it is a product of fermentation, it is a possible hidden source of MSG.

     

    TEGO® Cosmo PGA is a polypeptide of the amino-acid L-glutamic acid produced by biotechnology, i.e. it’s genetically engineered. It’s also a potential source of hidden MSG (L-glutamic acid). It is said to be derived from the same micro-organism as natto and to be edible, non-toxic and biodegradable. However because it is genetically engineered and a potential source of MSG, I do not recommend it.

     

    As always, to make sure you’re using healthy natural skin care product lines read the list of ingredients on the back of the label. You can find more information on safe and healthy natural skin care ingredients in the book, Dying To Look Good.

     

    Christine H. Farlow, D.C.

    The Ingredients Investigator

    Protecting You From Harmful Ingredients…

    www.dyingtolookgood.com

    www.dyingtolookgoodbook.com


  • 14Jan

    Product review for a new and an old natural skin care line

     

    Glory for Girls 100% natural skin care products for tweens and teens will be making their debut Janauary 25-29 at the New York International Gift Fair.

     

    I love to check out skin care product lines that claim to be 100% natural. Glory to Girls “everyday” all natural skin care product line particularly interested me because it is targeted to young girls.

     

    While they claim that their skin care products are 100% natural, not all of their ingredients are listed among the allowed ingredients in the Natural Products Association Natural Standard. They do have some certified organic ingredients in these products, but they also have some less desirable ingredients that I would not expect to find in natural skin care products.

     

    Some of the ingredients I find objectionable are:

    • d-limonene - a sensitizer, irritant, teratogen and neurotoxin
    • sodium benzoate - a synthetic preservative associated with a variety of health issues
    • cocamidopropyl betaine - may be contaminated with carcinogenic nitrosamines and may cause allergic reactions
    • cocamidopropyl hydroxysultane - may be contaminated with carcinogenic nitrosamines, safety has not been adequately investigated.
    • grapefruit seed extract - may be contaminated with benzethonium chloride, triclosan and/or parabens
    • carrageenan - a possible hidden source of MSG
    • tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane - no safety information on this ingredient
    • tetrahydrodemethoxydiferuloylmethane - no safety information on this ingredient
    • tetrahydrobisdemethoxydiferuloylmethane - no safety information on this ingredient
    • polysorbate 60 - may be contaminated with cancer-causing 1,4-dioxane
    • phenyl-n-butyl nitrone - no safety information on this ingredient

    The most objectionable product in this natural skin care product line is the sunscreen.

    While I do not recommend these so-called natural skin care products and definitely would not give them to my daughter to use, it is a significant improvement over the American Girl Real Beauty Product line.

    The American Girl Real Beauty Products, described by the company as “good-for-you products” contain many ingredients of questionable safety, including parabens and other endocrine disruptors, fragrance, petroleum based ingredients and ingredients that may be contaminated with carcinogens.

    The key to remember when shopping for natural skin care products, whether natural, organic or commercially produced is to read the ingredients list, in the small print, on the back of the package. Never believe what you read on the front of the package, in an ad, hear on the radio or see on TV. Read the ingredients list and make sure the safety of the ingredients in the products meet with your safety standards.

      

    Christine H. Farlow, D.C.

    The Ingredients Investigator

    Protecting You From Harmful Ingredients…

    www.dyingtolookgood.com

    www.dyingtolookgoodbook.com

      


  • 10Oct

    Best all natural skin care lines - makeup

     

    I have two primary recommendations for natural skin care makeup lines.

     

    Miessence has an almost complete line of the finest organic and natural skin care cosmetics. They include:

     

    Foundation – either liquid or mineral foundation powder

    Concealer

    Bronzing Dust

    Lip balms

    Lip cremes

    Blush – either shimmer cream or mineral blush powder

    Mascara – can also double as eyeliner

    Accessories – for applying your makeup

     

    Sample size packets of the liquid foundation are available for a small charge.

     

    Although Miessence doesn’t at this time offer eye shadow, my other top recommended company, Eternal Beautyé™, does offer eye shadow from crushed minerals. In fact the entire Eternal Beautyé™ line is made primarily from crushed mineral powders. They include:

     

    Foundation

    Concealer

    Setting powder

    Natural mineral blush

    Natural mineral bronzer

    Eye shadow

    Multi-purpose mineral powders – can be used as blush, eye shadow, body shimmer

    Cosmetic brushes & tools

     

    A variety of sample packages are available or you can choose product samples for individual items at a reduced price.

     

    In addition, the Eternal Beautyé™ website also provides natural skin care makeup tips on how to apply natural mineral cosmetics.

     

    See the dramatic results of some Eternal Beautyé™ makeovers.

     

    There are so many cosmetic products on the market that claim to be the best natural skin care and makeup line, but if you look at the ingredients in the products, you’ll find that in many, if not most, cases, it’s just not true. So, make sure you do your homework, before you buy!

     

    Christine H. Farlow, D.C.

    The Ingredients Investigator

    Protecting You From Harmful Ingredients…

    www.dyingtolookgood.com

    www.dyingtolookgoodbook.com