Would you believe that your personal care products could be putting you at risk for hair and skin damage, damage to your eyes, immunological problems, or possibly even cancer?  And if so, would you want to pay a little more attention to their ingredients?

Personal care products have grown into a $50 billion industry here in the US and most of us are seduced regularly and on a daily basis, by the flashy packaging, intoxicating aromas, and enticing promises of shinier hair, smoother skin, whiter teeth, or everlasting youth by simply using these products. 

Many of you have become increasingly aware of the chemicals in the foods you eat by beginning to closely reading labels, and if you are already doing this regularly then I commend you for it and you will certainly live a lot longer. As with all food products, the list of ingredients will always place those of highest content at the top of the list.  But have you otherwise started to become more aware of the products you are smearing all over yourself?  A brief list includes shampoo, hair sprays, lipstick, eye makeup, sunscreen, and laundry detergent.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a six month study was done in 2004 by the Environmental Working Group evaluated more than 10,000 body care product ingredients, involving 2,300 patients.  The study found that more than 250,000 women, and one out every 100 men use an average of 15 products daily.   Also one of their discoveries was that the average adult uses nine (9) personal care products each day.  The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports that of all the chemicals used in the cosmetic industry, nearly 900 are toxic, and that that estimate might be low.

Because of the enormous multitude of chemicals in these products, it is impossible to discuss them all in one writing, however one of the most common chemicals used throughout the cosmetic industry is sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES).  There is a great deal of myth, misinformation and rumor that surrounds SLS/SLES so I will discuss much of what is really known about this chemical and its potential risk to you.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant which aids with easier spreading and penetration, a detergent, and an emulsifier that is used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners.  It is also present in nearly all shampoos, hair color and bleaching agents, scalp treatments, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents,  and bath oils / bath salts.

The list of dangerous affects from SLS/SLES begins with the stripping of your skin of protective oils and moisture, nausea and diarrhea if swallowed (toothpaste), increased canker sore ulcers (mouth wash), and according to Judi Vance, author of Beauty to Die For, SLS can cause cellular DNA damage.  SLS/SLES is often contaminated by two known carcinogens, ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane.

Now for the big surprise, which is what you put on your skin can me more dangerous than what you eat.  When you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of your body, but when you apply these chemicals on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream without any kind of filtration, going directly to your delicate organs.

Besides being the largest organ on your body, your skin has many functions including the protection of your internal organs from injury and infection, and is your primary and most important defense against infections.  It also helps eliminate wastes through perspiration.  Your skin provides a friendly habitat for good bacteria and assists your immune system by providing a protective barrier to viruses and bad bacteria which prevents infections.

Your skin also seals in moisture, maintaining your body’s delicate fluid balance and it produces vitamin D which is crucial for your overall health.  Lastly, it helps maintain body temperature by controlling heat flow between you and your environment.

“Natural” cosmetics should be scrutinized carefully as there are no federal regulations for beauty products which allows anyone to claim their product is “natural” or “organic”.  The labeling of personal care products and cosmetics is a kind of a free-for-all where the word “organic” has no bearing to usage of the same word used with food products, unless the product is certified by the USDA National Organic Program.

 If you are now concerned about exposing yourself to the long-term dangers of SLS and its associated contaminants, the best advice is to avoid them and avoid the risk altogether since there are safe alternatives available.  Beginning with making your own personal care products using simple, all-natural ingredients that you may already have in your home, the internet will help you easily find recipes for your own homemade beauty products.  Simply Google “homemade cosmetics” for literally thousands of recipes and instructions.

It may also be that doing the homemade thing is not for you and if that’s so, then you should be sure to read labels and check products out before buying them.  Two excellent websites that can help you here find and evaluate healthful, green products for personal care are Skin Deep (www.cosmeticsdatabase.com) and Good Guide (www.goodguide.com).

A few simple tips to remember: Look for products that are fragrance-free as one artificial fragrance can contain hundreds of chemicals and fragrances that are a major cause of allergic reactions.  Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic if possible, and otherwise make sure all plastic bottles are BPA free.  Also drink plenty of filtered water (preferably alkaline) every day to assist you body in flushing out toxins and eat lots of organic vegetables and fruits to keep your body well stocked with antioxidants.

If you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t want to put it on your body.

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