It was exciting to me when my daughter came home with an article titled “Dying to Look Good,” in the October 8th, 2012 issue of Science World magazine. It is about young Ava, who is spreading awareness of the health concern of skin products and creating her own line of chemical free products. Your skin is the largest organ in the body. The products that you are putting on it can get absorbed into the skin. They can disrupt your hormones increasing risk for hormone related problems and cancers.
We use about a dozen different products on our skin a day. More and more research is being done on the effects of the chemicals they contain on our health. Some substances to be cautious of are phthalates or fragrances, parabens, polyethylene glycol (PEG), retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A), Petrolatum, sodium laureth sulfate, and Triclosan. The retinols (Vitamin A) can possibly even cause genetic malformations in the growing fetus. If you are looking for the skin enhancing effect; Retinaldehyde, the storage product, is much better choice. It can be broken down naturally to retinoic acid by the body as it is needed still creating more collagen and elastin. Other products like Ava Anderson and Noble Natural are out there. You just have to do your research. You can evaluate your products through the environmental workers group Skin Deep Database.
But do not forget that the most important place to start with beautifying your skin, is through a healthy diet and clean living. Improving gut health, proper nutrition, detoxification, stress reduction, sleep and hydration are the key to not just looking good; But feeling great too.