What’s In Your Skin Care Products?

Making The Case For Organic

Produced by Eastwalk Media©2013

About Our SkinThere is nothing worse than dry, scaly, itchy skin. It is the bane of our existence and we go great and often times expensive lengths to moisturize our body’s largest organ. On average it weighs 8 pounds and covers some 22 square feet. According to National Geopgraphic, our skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield, guarding the body against extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight, and harmful chemicals. It also exudes antibacterial substances that prevent infection and manufactures Vitamin D for converting calcium into healthy bones. Skin additionally is a huge sensor packed with nerves for keeping the brain in touch with the outside world.

Our best intentions to moisturize and protect our skin often result in failure and one of the reasons is that we take skin care products at face value and if the name is one we are familiar with or word of mouth reviews are good, we purchase a product. We seldom read the labels which include a list of gobbledygook and any potential warnings. All moisturizing agents are not created equal

Methyl What? Polyparabens?If you are one of those consumers who reads labels, first of all you are among the minority and second you will notice that one of the first three ingredients in most brands of lotion is water. After that you may see cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and/or benzyl alcohol. In fact, if a skin care product contains water, it must contain preservatives [source: American Academy of Dermatology and the most popular preservatives used are polyparabens and methylparabens. After that there is the gobbledygook- the odd lot assortment of hard to pronounce ingredients with definitions that boggle the mind.

Parabens are a class of ingredients derived from para-aminobenzoic acid. They function primarily as preservatives, increasing product shelf-life.

In the next few slides I will share with you the ingredients in some of the more popular and best selling brands. The information is readily available for a variety of sources including MSDS sheets if you can find them. It is important to remember that when it comes to labeling some of the exact ingredients are protected by US Federal Trade Secret laws.

Johnson and Johnson Baby Lotion Ingredient List

Water, Propylene Glycol/Myristyl, Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate/Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Polysorbate 61, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Sorbitan Stearate, Cetyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Benyl alcohol, Synthetic beeswax, Demethicone, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Carbomer, BHT, Sodium Hydroxide, Red 33.

Jergen’s Ultra Healing Lotion Ingredient List

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Ceteareth-20, Aluminum Starch Ochtenylsuccinate, Ascorbyl Palmitate*, Tocopherol**, Panthenol***, Tylene Glycol, Lecithin, Alcohol, Cetyl-PG, Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Allantoin, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylp araben, Sodium Hydroxide, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance.

Nivea Ingredient List

Parafinnum liquidum, PEG-150, methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben, simethicone, BHT, parfum, limonene, geraniol, linalool, hydroxycitronellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexane carboxaldehyde, citronellol

Aveeno

Active: Dimethicone (1.2%) Purpose: Skin Protectant Inactive: Water, Glycerin, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride

Cetaphil

Water, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), sodium trideceth sulfate, glycerin, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, sodium chloride, sodium lauroampoacetate, cocamide MEA, niacinamide, tocopheryl acetate, allatoin, arginine, citric acid, methylisothiazolinone, SodiumPCA, 1, 2-Hexanedicol, caprylyl glycol, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, potassium sorbate, disodium EDTA.

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion 7 0

Water (Filtered), Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Coconut Oil, Stearic Acid (vegetable fat), Beeswax, Orange Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis, Buttermilk Powder, Sodium Borate (natural borax), Xanthan Gum (natural thickener), Sucrose Stearate (sugar emulsifier), Glucose, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase (sugar & natural enzymes), Rosemary Extract, Fragrance

Eucerin Intensive Repair Ingredient ListFor the most part consumers make the assumption that a widely recognized and highly recommended product is safe to use and there is no reason to read the labels, however, as you can see the warning on the label of Eucerin is one every user should heed.

Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Isohexadecane, Sodium Lactate, Urea, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Panthenol, Microcrystalline Wax, Magnesium Sulfate, Lanolin Alcohol, Bisabolol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. Sunburn Alert: This product contains alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.

CeraVe Ingredient List

Purified Water, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20 And Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate And Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6-II, Ceramide I, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Petrolatum,Dimethicone, Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Phytosphingosine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum.

What Makes A Product Organic?Now that you have read the laundry list of ingredients in some of the top selling skin moisturizing agents, you can begin to appreciate the value of organic skin care preparations.

The USDA has identified for three categories of labeling organic products:

100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients

Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients

Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package. (excluding water and salt).

Most Widely Used Ingredients In Organic Products

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera Gel- referred to as “the plant of immortality” , the Aloe Vera plant is effective in treating a variety of skin conditions

including wounds, burns and minor skin infections. When applied topically, it :

Treats sunbur Acts as a moisturizer and after shave treatment for small shaving nicks

Treats acne and is soothing and can reduce skin inflammations, blistering and itchiness, while helping the skin to heal more

rapidly. Fights aging- Aloe leaves contain a plethora of antioxidants

including, beta carotene, vitamin C and E that can help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated. For

cosmetic purposes look for 100% certified organic on the label. (non-comedogenic)

Beeswax • I

Beeswax- By itself, beeswax locks in moisture, fosters cells and protects skin. With its amazing ability to work with in concert with multiple ingredients, beeswax can be utilized to benefit and beautify the entire body. With anti-bacterial properties and vitamin A, it aids in natural healing and cell development without clogging pores.

With its water repelling properties, beeswax sustains sunscreen action it• is an excellent emollient and support for moisturizers•It gives skin protective action of a non-occlusive type•It increases the protective action of sunscreens•It does not provoke allergic reactions

*Warning: Pregnant and nursing women should check with their physicians before using products containing beeswax. People who are allergic to bee stings should avoid using products containing beeswax.

Coconut Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil-  is often described as “the healthiest oil on earth”. Good for you inside and outThe benefits of coconut oil run the gambit literally from head to toe. Also, coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises and burns by helping to repair damaged tissue. For cosmetic purposes look for 100% virgin coconut oil in the top three ingredients on a product label. Virgin coconut oil is non-comedogenic.

Grapeseed OilGrapeseed Oil-• Cold Pressed , Organically Grown Pure Grapeseed Oil is truly a versatile oil with numerous benefits when used in cosmetics. It's rich in essential fatty acids and is esteemed for its emollient properties and is suitable for all skin types. A light oil that helps nourish, tighten and tone the skin without clogging pores or causing breakouts. Cold pressed is preferred for organic cosmetic purposes.

(non-comedogenic)

Shea ButterShea Butter - Superfood for the skin and grown in the Sahara the properties of shea butter can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and scarring. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and deep moisturizer. It can contribute to skin strengthening and protects from harmful UV rays. It alsohelps in skin cell regeneration and stimulates collagen production.

Refined Shea butter has been extracted with chemical process (with hexane mostly), which involves bleaching, deodorizing and overheating. All of these deeply altering chemical processes yield a white odorless Shea butter that has lost all of its deep moisturizing, anti-aging, protecting and healing properties.Raw Shea butter in its natural state has been extracted manually or mechanically. It has a mild nutty-smoky scent and a golden to light ivory color. The raw Shea butter has retained all its precious skin moisturizing, anti-aging and healing properties. (non-comedogenic). *When reading cosmetic labels look for “raw shea butter” as an ingredient.

Sunflower OilSunflower Oil- High oleic cold-pressed, unrefined extra virgin Sunflower Oil is filled with live nutrients and when applied topically is:

•a great moisturizer for skin and hair, especially on dry scalp and hair and mature, dry, cracked or damaged skin, as well on allergy prone skin.•is very useful on infants in preventing diaper rash and skin infections• helps to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy and scars when used as massage oil•great to use on sunburn & sun damaged Skin •(non-comedogenic)

Benefit and Cost• In addition to all natural skin care products being better for the environment,

they have the ability to restore skin to good health. The problem with skincare products made using synthetic or inorganic ingredients is that they can lead to irritation, inflammation, skin disorders, discoloration, and more. Even worse, these products often contain carcinogenic substances, which are ingredients known to cause cancer.

• In comparison, organic facial products are made with only the finest quality substances that meet extremely high and regulated standards. With this, skin is healed on both the inside and outside. Internally, collagen production increases, damage caused to cells by free radicals decreases, and even oxygen and blood flow improve. Externally, a person’s skin will be better protected against environmental elements. (Source: naturalskincarelove.com)

Benefit and Cost Cont’dMost organic ingredients are familiar and their function easily understood while few ingredients listed in some of the most popular products are known or their product function understood. There is also the issue of comedogenicity. Many of the popular skin moisturizers make no mention as to whether or not their product is non-comedogenic or even dangerous such as the sunscreen warning which could be overlooked.

While considering to our own personal health and wellness as that of our families, it is our responsibility to also consider the impact a skin care product has on our eco-system. Just as we live and die in the skin we are born in, our planet is the same way. Every product we use becomes waste of some kind, either packaging or an unsatisfactory product rinsed down the drain or tossed in the trash. The certification process farmers grow through to have their products certified is expensive and the care taken in the manufacturing of organic skin care products and the knowledge that ingredients from the earth return so in a harmless fashion is one important consideration. Oftentimes the processes used in the manufacturing of non-organic products is one that is not eco-friendly.

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Cost Versus BenefitIn the final analysis when it comes to buying moisturizing products we spend a lot money using a lot of ingredients that we don’t understand and that often don’t get the job done. Organic skin care products contain nutrients, are non-toxic and many are fragrance-free. When fragrance is added it is an organic essential oil. They are priced competitively and safe for skin from birth to the grave.