parabens/laurel sulphate help..

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Hi! Here's some info that I have about the harmful chemicals you mentioned. Have you tried the Biotique products? They are natural skin and hair care products based on ayurveda. You can get them at www.EasternLink.co.uk Hope this helps...

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) SLS is the main foaming agent and degreaser in almost all personal care products – shampoo, toothpaste, bubble bath, shower gel, shaving lotion, etc. etc. It is used because it is cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam. It is used in industry for cleaning garage floors and degreasing engines. SLS is a known carcinogen and skin irritant. It is perhaps the most harmful ingredient in personal care products and is used in testing labs as the standard ingredient to irritate skin. SLS is systemic, and can easily penetrate and be retained in the eye, brain, heart and liver and is associated with health problems with these organs… It could retard healing, cause cataracts in adults and can keep children’s eyes from developing properly… When applied to human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer and then irritating and eroding the skin… It causes eczema in susceptible people and is a contributing factor in the onset of psoriasis… It irritates the scalp, corrodes hair follicles and impairs the ability of the follicle to grow hair… It has the ability to cause ongoing sensitivities, chronic health problems and mouth ulcers… When SLS is used in products containing nitrogen-based ingredients, it can form carcinogenic nitrates. SLS also combines with ethanolamines (often found in the same product) to form nitrosamines, potent carcinogens that cause the body to absorb high levels of nitrates.

Ethoxylation is the process that makes degreasing agents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) less harsh and gives them enhanced foaming properties. When SLS is ethoxylated it forms Sodium Lauryth Sulphate (SLES) which is slightly less irritating. However, the problem is the extremely harmful compound 1,4-dioxane which may be created during the ethoxylation process, contaminating the product

Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben) These are common preservatives that are present in many skin, bath, baby, dental, deodorant and hair products. They mimic oestrogen and may disrupt hormone function and increase the risk of breast cancer. They are also highly toxic and linked to allergic skin reactions.

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

DEAR HOLISITIC_BLISS
[sm=dance.gif] YES SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS ARE AWFUL IN COSMETIC AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS. THEY ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS. THERE IS AWESOME INFO OUT THERE. TRY VISITING [link= http://www.SAFECOSMETICS ]WWW.SAFECOSMETICS[/link] THEY HAVE INVALUABLE INFO ON THESE HIDEOUS CANCER CAUSING INGREDIENTS. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THIS RUBBISH AND WHEN YOUR OUT AT THE SUPERMARKET ONE DAY SOON CHECK OUT THE INGREDIENTS THEY PUT IN BABY PRODUCTS - HORRENDOUS- THE ONLY REASON THESE PETROCHEMICALS ARE IN PERSONAL CARE COSMETICS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE -CHEAP - AND THE COSMETIC COMPANIES THAT FILL UP THEIR PRETTY BOTTLES FULL OF THIS MUCK FOR US, THE CONSUMER, TO BUY, IS BECAUSEWE KEEP BUYING THEM!! STAY INFORMED. DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND STUDY INGREDIENTS. THE POLYPARABENS AND DEA'S AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING YOU CAN'T PRONOUNCE, JUST CHUCK EM OUT, THAT'S ALL THEY ARE WORTH. I KNOW IT IS CRIMINAL BUT THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY IS LARGELY UNREGULATED AND THEY PRETTY MUCH PUT IN WHATEVER THEY WANT. OH, YOU MAY HAVE THE ADDED HERB OR ESSENTIAL OIL THROWN IN WHICH IS MERELY A TEABAG DIPPED IN 99.999% OF THE MUCK THEY ARE SELLING TO US. ALSO YOU PAY MOSTLY FOR WATER - WHAT? - YEP, AND THE REST IS SLIMEY GREASY SYNTHETICS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY.... IF YOU HAVE SKIN ......please read your product labels and know what ingredients your skin is absorbing. 9/10 timeswe can't pronounce what the ingredients are. Make no mistake... you wouldn't take these ingredients orally but most personal care and cosmetic products have chemicals in them weABSORBdailythrough our skin and in thisway theyenter our bodies and cancause numerous healthproblems. To young beauticians in training...it is OK to question ingredients. Consumers are becoming more savvy about ingredients. Chemical Free is the future in the cosmetics industry.;)
I USE AND RECOMMEND CERTIFIED ORGANIC PERSONAL CARE AND COSMETICS FOR MY CLIENTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I KNOW AND I COULD NEVER USE THE OTHER MUCK IF I WAS PAID TO!! AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF EDUCATING OURSELVES AND FINDING PRODUCTS WORTHY ENOUGH FOR OUR HEALTH AND OUR MONEY. WE HAVE ENORMOUS PURCHASING POWER WITH OUR DOLLAR. I WILL SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT CARE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE CLEAN AND HEALTHY PRODUCTS.
I HOPE THIS SHEDS SOME LIGHT FOR YOU. IM HAPPY TO CHAT FURTHER. IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC...
Cheers
skinbiz

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

I missed this first time round, but I have to strongly disagree with a lot of what is posted above. This is by no means a personal attack on CloudNumber9 or Skinbiz, as I'm sure the above information was posted with the best intentions – indeed, most of what is highlighted can also be found on various "consumer safety” sites across the internet, but a lot of it simply isn't correct.

Cosmetic ingredients are an area of great personal interest as I react to just about everything I put on my face, but there is a great deal of misinformation out there and I'd like to share what I've found over the years. I agree that there is a lot of unnecessary and potentially irritating rubbish in our skincare products, and I'm all for education when it comes to sorting the good from the bad – but I also believe that people should make an informed decision on what they buy based on peer-reviewed and up-to-date research, not scaremongering.

I can provide references for all of the below statements – if anyone is interested, I'd be more than happy to post a fuller "review” of these ingredients. If this is an area which interests you, I can highly recommend Paula Begoun's excellent "Cosmetic Cop" website and books, which provided the starting point for a lot of the below information.

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE

Much of what is written above and found on various consumer safety sites regarding Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is misquoted from a study undertaken in the 1980's by Dr. Keith Green, Regents Professor of Ophthalmology at the Medical College of Georgia. This study was supposedly citedin a reportpresented atthe Research to Prevent Blindness conference, but whether it is the original research or theconference report that is being misquoted is unclear.

SLS was never found to linger in the organs of test subjects, and no part of the original or any subsequent studies that I am aware of indicate that SLS or Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) cause the health problems mentioned above or lead to cataracts or problems with the development of children's eyes.

MOST IMPORTANTLY – there is not a single piece of published, peer-reviewed research anywhere in the world that indicates SLS or SLES are known carcinogens. This myth seems to have stemmed from a hoax email that first did the rounds in the late 1990's and is still perpetuated today.

I'd be interested to know exactly how SLSis supposed tocombine with ethanolamines (alkyloamides such as DEA, MEA or TEA) to form carcinogenic nitrosamines. As far as I'm aware, the problem is with the amines reacting with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, not the SLS itself. SLS is often found in the same product simply because of the foaming, thickening and binding properties of alkyloamides, which make them useful in the types of product thatSLS is usuallyfeatured in (shampoos, etc).

I agree that SLS is, however, a recognised skin irritant and sensitizer for many people and Cloud is correct in stating that it is often used as a comparison substance when measuring the skin irritancy of other ingredients. For this reason, it is not recommended as an ingredient in products for people with dry or easily irritated skin. This would include those who suffer from eczema or psoriasis as it would most likely irritate the symptoms, but to state that SLS "causes” these conditions is erroneous.

I feel it necessary to restate that SLS being a skin irritant is NOT the same as it being cancer-causing, cataract-forming, blindness-inducing or any of the other exaggerated and frightening claims attached to this much maligned ingredient. By all means avoid it if the potential for skin irritancy is of concern, but I hope that the above has helped to sort some of the myths from the reality.

*Edited to clarify original studies and effects of amines*

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

SODIUM LAURETH SULPHATE

With today’s manufacturing processes, the possibility of Sodium Laureth Sulphate remaining contaminated with 1,4-dioxane in any substantial quantity as a result of the ethoxylation process is slim to say the least. Whilst 1,4-dioxane is certainly harmful to health when inhaled or ingested in large quantities, manufacturers have been required to reduce the amount of 1,4-dioxane in their cosmetic ingredients to “safe” levels since 1985.

SLES is generally considered to be gentle and effective as a skin cleansing agent.

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

PARABENS

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic forumulations andinclude butylparaben, propylparaben, methylparaben, and ethylparaben.

Far from being highly toxic, parabens are actually considered to be more stable and less irritating for the skin than many other preservative ingredients currently available.

There is indeed research showing that in animal models who were administered with parabens both orally and intravenously, there was evidence of a weak oestrogen effect on cells.

However, the findings of all published research have in reality been inconclusive when it comes to the possibility of parabens being a causative factor in cancer cases. It is not known whether the low-dose presence of parabens in cosmetics that are topically applied poses any health risk for humans, especially when compared to the oestrogenic effects of certain foods, plants and in fact our own hormones. Having said that, the FDA are sufficiently concerned to be conducting their own research into the matter.

At the moment, I would suggest it's a case of "watch this space” and a judgement call for consumers when choosing their skincare ingredients.

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Dear Barbarallaboy
I appreciate your feedback although I am left wondering why on earth you would think that any synthetic in personal care/cosmetic products is acceptable.
Rachel Carson's superb book "Silent Spring", which in 1962 exposed the hazards of the pesticide DDD, eloquently questioned humanity's faith in technological progress and helped set the stage for the environmental movement. Anyone reading "Silent Spring" will be moved by Carson's revelation of the deadly effects of exposure to seemingly harmless chemicals through bio-accumulation (1), bio-concentration (2), and bio-magnification (3).
While pesticides ("icide" is Latin for "to murder or kill" as in "homocide") had existed for centuries, World Wars I and II served as a watershed for the modern agri-chemical industry. Chemicals and technologies developed for warfare were later for use in agriculture and pest control.
Over the past 40 years many scientific studies have verified Carson's findings regarding the adverse effects of agricultural chemicals, including those used on plants for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, which led to known carcinogens such as DDT, Dieldrin and a host of others being banned. The unfortunate thing is it took decades (up to the 1990's for some) for this to happen. One of Carson's most important discoveries was that of bio-magnification. The process that results in the accumulation of a substance in an organism at higher levels than are found in its own food i.e. it becomes more concentrated as it moves through the food chain. Humans are atop of the food chain. Carson's book isjust as relevant today aswhen it was written in 1962.
When chemicals such as Cocamide DEA or Sodium Hydroxysultaine are followed by the term "derived from coconut oil" the consumer is led to believe that these synthetic chemicals must be natural. While this may be true in some cases; it is ultimately irrelevant because what you end up with after the chemical processing is usually anything but natural orpure. For example, to create Cocamide DEA, a foaming agent in some shampoos, requires the addition of a synthetic chemical and known carcinogen, Diethanolamine - DEA, to the coconut oil. It is therefore no longer natural, or safe!
There are some people who believe that there are really "safe" synthetic chemicals.
If we look at chemical use historically, we see a pattern of fantastic chemical breakthroughs that are sold to us as the "new" answer to our problems, which are then subsequently banned (or withdrawn) after the damage has been done.
Remember the "miracle" of DDT for getting rid of pests on crops?
The search for newer, better and safer chemicals is foolish. Mother Nature always has, and always will, provide us with everthing we need.
We should avoid all synthetic chemicals.
The long-term effects of these harsh chemicals on both your body and the environment are still unknown.If you think of the amount of personal care products the average person might use in a day or week..it isa chemical cocktail. Your skin is a living organ that protects your body, but also absorbs much of what comes into contact with it. If you use skin care products made of petrochemicals and other chemical preservatives, your skin is going to absorb these toxins. Remember the nicotine patch and estrogen patch.
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RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Hi Skinbiz,

Thanks for a great post. I agree with you 100% about the importance of education and staying informed, which was my reason for posting above. I also agree with you that Mother Nature has provided well for us, and it saddens me that we have spent much of the last century destroying our planet through our own industrial pursuits, but that's a topic for another day!

I am unable to accept, however, that natural is always going to be better simply because something might grow wild in a field or a forest. Yes, there are hundreds of known plant oils and extracts which have wonderful benefits for the skin (bisabolol and azulene, which are found in chamomile, are good examples), and this is great. But there are also a host of natural ingredients out there which have sensitising and irritating potentials for skins, as I'm sure any of the fellow aromatherapists on this board can confirm, but these are still found in a wide range of cosmetic preparations from moisturisers to shower gels. I wouldn't step outside with citrus oils on my face, for example, as these are a known photo-toxic, but they turn up time and time again on ingredient lists.

It is right and proper that all ingredients, whether from natural or synthetic sources, undergo safety testing, and you make an excellent argument for why this should be the case. I also believe that these tests should be applied to natural ingredients, and I'm glad that more studies are now being undertaken into the efficacy of their use (in supplements and skincare) as it is only through continuous research that we will understand the world around us.

Please don't misunderstand me – I'm certainly not bashing "natural” products and I'm delighted that your arrival on the boards has in fact made me aware of another product range which I can recommend to customers that desire an organic line.

But sadly it's not always as simple as only picking products with "all-natural” ingredients, especially whilst cosmetic companies continue to use misleading advertising and labelling. You highlighted above the ridiculous situation where some companies will claim a product is "natural” because they quote the source substance– Cocomide DEA coming from coconut oil is an excellent example (although again I would disagree that DEA is a known carcinogen for humans) – and unfortunately this seems to be prevalent in the cosmetics world.

I would argue, in fact, that any plant "extract" (unless cold pressed or steam distilled) would have undergone some form of chemical/synthetic procedure and is not going to bear a full resemblence to theshrub or flower from which it originally came, but this is a wonderful example of how man-madeintervention can actually help to remove the harmful constituents from a subtance and isolate the beneficial ingredients.

I sometimes think we should all stick to mashing up fruity facepacksin our kitchens, at least then we'd know more or less what we were putting on our faces! 😀

Andy 🙂

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Dear Andy
Thanks for a great reply. I am encouraged by your strong interest insuch animportant topic.
My goal at this stage is to educate teens and mumsabout choosing safe healthy personal care products. It is a slow process, but planting the seed always works well. I don't like to hammer it on to them, but rather encourage them to be selective and not to fall for the pretty packaging and marketing hype that usually accompanies products directed at them.
Teens in particularare a huge uneducated markettargeted by thecometics industry.
I can in no way condone the use of personal care or cosmetic products with synthetic chemicals. There is a better option.
The products I use and recommend are Certified Organic to Food Grade Standards. The only cosmetics company on the planet with food grade cosmetics and personal care. And yes you could eat them if you were hungry enough. The ingredients in these delightful products are all cold formulated. They are living products. Most other products on the market in the cosmetics industry are dead. [:o]

This product range stands in a class of its own.

TheCertified Organic seal on these products is your guarantee of the authenticity and integrity of the company's claim of totally synthetic chemical-free products containing only pure, organic ingredients.
Our Certified Organic productscontain no GM ingredients, no irradiated ingredients, ingredients are not extracted using chemical solvents and not grown in sewerage sludge.
95% of these gorgeous ingredients are Certified Organic. Excluding water and salt. You can't Certify anything that doesn't grow.
There are however, other Organic Standards particularly in the U.K, Health and Beauty Care Standards in which they allow various synthetic and toxic ingredients in these so called Certified Organic Health and Beauty Care products. Ingredients that would never be allowed in organic food.
The delightful products I use are Certified to Food Standards and you will never find harmful synthetics in them because of thisFoodStandard.
It is of utmost importance to this visionary company to offer the highest standard products so they can stand as a beacon of integrity amongst the plethora of fake organic products and support farmers and companies that support the ethical use of the earths rescources.

In regards to your comment on making your own...I did that for some time before I discovered this yummy range and I can tell you...you soon get tired of mixing up cucumber and oats and avocado after a while.
Why 're-invent the wheel'? I say.
They have already been made and are made fresh constantly and shipped anywhere in the world. Check out these delights on my website and read their story. Perfect for salons. What a treat for clients to offer a truly organic facial or treatment. They love it !!!
And good for you Andy for stepping into a largely female dominated industry. You have enormous power to educate your male (in particular) clients on good skin care.
Hats off to you!
Have a great weekend !:)

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RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

😮ok... now you wouldn't really eat these products as your tummy may not like it too much but you are certainly feeding your skin with them and your skin will love it.
In regards to sensitivities to plantessential oils and herbs etc I guess there are always going to be souls that can't use these ingredients just as there are folks who have sensitivities to certain foods.
cheers
skinbiz

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Hi Sonia,

I think it's great that there's an organic skincare line available, and I look forward to chatting with you more on the boards - we may be coming from slightly different angles at times and may not always agree on every point, but I think we both have the same ultimate aim of encouraging people to think more about what they put on their skin, and in the long run that can only be a good thing!

Your passion for the use of organics is truly inspiring, and I look forward to hearing more about your range in the future 🙂

Welcome to the boards, by the way! I hope you have a great weekend too 🙂

Andy

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Hi Skinbiz,

these products you mention sound wonderful, and just what I'm looking for right now. What is the name of them and where can I buy them?

Thanks,

Loopy

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

🙂Hi Loopy
Welcome.
Yes! they most definately are as good as they sound. At this stage they are not yet availablein retail stores in UK. Organic stores and health stores usually supply them and also some pharmacys here in Australia.

Best wishes
skinbiz

RE: parabens/laurel sulphate help..

Hi,

I have just discovered Purely Skincare. They are all natural no parabens SLS/SLES, arificial colours, preservatives etc.

I tell you, for me and my daughter its been a real gift. We both suffer from really severe excema, and have finally found something that leaves us feeling normal without tight dry skin.

They are at [link= http://www.purelyskincare.co.uk ]www.purelyskincare.co.uk[/link]

Plus they smell great, and foam up as well. For people lucky enough to have normal skin, this may sound daft, but this really has been life changing

Daisy