I thought I would touch on a daily routine that everyone does and how it affects our health.
We’ve all heard how chemicals are in our toiletries and cosmetics and how they can do harm. But…have you really taken note and listened? I know I haven’t! Not with every product anyway.
Someone in the same room as you right now is more than likely suffering from neurotoxicity, aka harm to the brain and nervous system that could cause developmental delays or even damage to the nerves because of toxins they use daily.
A recent report states that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products around the world are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.
That scares the crap out of me!
But don’t go running out to your local salon or makeup counter to buy expensive hair care and beauty products thinking you’re going to be better off because quality comes with value.
Wrong!
In a lot of cases yes, you get what you pay for, I’m a firm believer in that. However, when it comes to hair care, skin care and makeup, high prices mean squat when it comes to quality.
It simply means they spend a lot more on packaging and marketing and ‘someone’ has to pay for it! Expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Most make up counters and salons only know as much as the company they’re representing teaches them to know.
Their job is to promote their recommended product, and the companies want them to sell, sell, sell. So it’s coated in gold and sold just as high. They overcharge you for a bunch of hype and the product is filled with toxic ingredients that you’re better off not even using.
Are products listed as being "organic" and "natural” very good for you and do they use chemicals?
When you see companies coming out with a more natural version of their existing product, beware! Many companies actually reformulate their products and list them as being natural. However, since there are no legal standards as to the use of the words “natural” or “organic” in their marketing of hair products, you the consumer need to do your own due diligence and research thoroughly to find the real answers.
These are the 12 main ingredients to avoid:
To make this really easy for every single person out there, I found a list that you can download and take with you when you go shopping or use as a reference when you research your favorite products online.
David Suzuki’s “What’s Inside Shoppers Guide”. Love this little tool! A must have for everyone. Download it here:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2010/whats-inside-shoppers-guide.pdf
Now if you want a “ton” more information on how each one affects you, then download this PDF get into some research!
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/downloads/Dirty-dozen-backgrounder.pdf
I hope your find this very useful and that you can make some changes to you and your family’s health and the environment.
Yours in health!
