ORGANIC:IS IT REALLY THAT SERIOUS?

True or false: Cosmetics and personal care items in America are produced under strict guidelines and approved by the Food and Drug Administration? FALSE! Believe it or not, there is very little testing done on personal care products and many contain such ingredients as petrolatum, the stuff you put in your cars! Do this - Go and get one or two of your favorite personal care items. Look at the ingredient list. First of all, does your product even list ingredients (they’re not required to be listed)? If it does, how many ingredients do you recognize AND know what they is? Probably very few. If you do recognize an ingredient, it’s probably one of the last things in the list. Remember, ingredient lists are in the order of the largest component of the product to the least.

So, all these chemicals are going onto your skin and into your bloodstream. What should you be on the lookout for?

TOP TEN INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:

• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Dioxins

2) Mercury: Mercury is still an ingredient in many eye drops and mascaras. It is listed as thimerosal. The dangers of mercury include:

• Profound central nervous system effects
  
• Impairment of heart & lung function

• Birth defects
  

3) Phthalates: In synthetic fragrances, nail polishes and hair sprays, as well as soft plastic toys and vinyl shower curtains. Phthalates can cause:

• Endocrine disruption
• Damage to liver & testes
• Birth defects
• Cancer
• Asthma in children
  

4) Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: Contained in about 95% of foaming products, and 50% of personal care products, it is difficult to find a product that doesn’t contain it when you comb through the drug store shelves. SLS can cause:

• Skin and eye irritation

• Hair loss
• Microscopic damage to gum tissue, leading to gum disease and increased incidence of canker sores.
• An increase in the permeability of the skin, enhancing the absorption of other potentially harmful chemical ingredients
• It is also usually contaminated with toxic by-products from the manufacturing process.
  

5) Parabens: These widely used preservatives in cosmetics and hair care products can:

• Disrupt hormones
  
• Increase the risk of certain cancers
  
• Cause infertility
  
• Cause allergic skin reactions & irritation
  

6) Triclosan and Triclocarban: Commonly used in anti-bacterial products, they:

• Interfere with thyroid function
• Create "super-germs", leading to bacterial resistance to antibiotics
• Weaken the immune system
• Alter sex hormones
• Are linked to birth defects
• Cause cancer
• In the environment and at home, combine with chlorine in tap water to produce dangerous chloroform and chlorinated dioxins

• Causes impaired vision
  
• Is linked to damage to the kidney, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, liver and skin in animal tests
• Combines with common nitrate preservatives in cosmetics to form nitrosodiethanolamine (NDLA)-A potent carcinogen

7) Placenta: Placenta is added to some hair relaxers and is extremely high in hormones, mainly estrogen. Linked to premature breast and sexual development in young girls.

8) Hydroquinone: Banned in many countries, hydroquinone is a common ingredient in skin lighteners. It is a known carcinogen.

9) Diethanolamine (DEA): Found in almost all conventional soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and cosmetics. DEA is readily absorbed by the skin and accumulates in the internal organs. DEA:

• Causes impaired vision
  
• Is linked to damage to the kidney, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, liver and skin in animal tests
• Combines with common nitrate preservatives in cosmetics to form nitrosodiethanolamine (NDLA)-A potent carcinogen
  

10) Formaldehyde: Still used as a preservative in many cosmetics, face creams, shampoos, bubble bath, deodorants and nail products. Causes:

• Eye, nose and throat irritation
  
• Coughing
  
• Asthma attacks
  
• Nausea
  
• Vomiting
  
• Nose bleeds
  
• Ear infections
  
• Headaches
  
• Dizziness
  
• Weakens the immune system
  
• Cancer in animal tests
  

Now you know what to avoid, although this is in no way a complete list. There are 1000’s of chemicals used in all sorts of personal care products. So, how can you avoid these pervasive chemicals that seem to be in every product?

1. Use the internet to create a list of products to avoid…then take that list with you when you shop.

2. Only buy products that fully disclose all ingredients used to make it. If there’s no ingredient list, why would you use the product to put on your body when you have no idea what’s in it?

3. Choose organic! And, be wary of labels. “All natural” really means nothing when it comes down to it. This word and others like it are not regulated. Instead, look at the ingredient list again. Any item that is organic, should be listed as such in the ingredients.

4. Shop at health food stores or at organic online companies. However, don’t assume it’s safe just because you’re buying there…continue to check labels. Yes, it may cost more, but what’s a couple dollars more when you are preventing future adverse dangers, such as skin problems, or worse, cancer?
   

You shouldn’t feel daunted by this process. There are some of us that can completely clean out their medicine cabinets and start over with healthier products immediately. If so, this a great time to start your new year on the right foot. You will probably see the results of your changes with fewer skin problems, etc.

If you can’t replace everything, begin to reduce your exposure to these chemicals by replacing one product at a time. When you see a sale or use an old item up, start fresh with an organic alternative. SanRe Organic Skinfood fully discloses all ingredients in our products. Simply go to SanRe’s website (www.sanreorganic.com) and you can find a complete listing of ingredients AND exactly what each ingredient is used for! We are the type of responsible company you want to shop from!

Most importantly, begin to protect babies and children immediately. They have sensitive, susceptible, and growing systems that should be taken care of. They will be protected now and will see these benefits later in life.

But remember, it’s never to late for you to start! The reduction of these chemicals in your and your family’s life will provide wonderful benefits without the dangers. SanRe welcomes you to organic and BENEFICIAL beauty.

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