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My grandmother had beautiful skin.  At 87 years old her skin was clear, pink, soft, no pores visible, and very minimal sagging.  She did not have deep wrinkles and had a lovely healthy glow – right up until she died.  How did she do this?  Of course some of it is genetic and she lived in Scotland –known for lots of rain and not much sunshine.  She used very little product, washed her face every day in cold water, and used Ponds cream.  I am in my sixties and while my skin is still good it is nothing like my grandmothers.  I changed to organic skin care products and it is definitely improving.

What does the word “organic” mean on a label?

Ecocert certified organic means an independent third party guarantees the organic claim.  It must comply with stringent internal standards, showing an organic audit trail from seed, growing, harvesting, storage, transportation and processing right through to the finish including packaging.

None of the ingredients may be from a list of chemicals or non-organic compounds, including:

• NO synthetic perfumes or dyes
• NO propylene glycol or similar solvents
• NO emulsifiers such as PEG-polyethylene glycol
• NO fatty alcohols or acids
• NO artificial preservatives such as parabens
• NO petroleum by-products such as mineral oil or silicon
• NO carbomer

The industry definition of organic is “any compound containing carbon”.

What does the word “natural” mean on a label?

Ecocert defines natural as existing in or formed by nature, not artificial.  It comes from a plant that has benefit to the skin.

The industry definition of nature is “derived from” natural substance

Our skin is the largest organ on our body and the second largest detoxifying organ.  One square inch of skin contains 65 hairs, 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels and 1000 nerve endings.

According to Medical News Today, we are the first generation of people with chemical overload.  There are approximately 200 chemicals in the average person’s body fat.  It is not a question of IF we are carrying a burden to toxic compounds but how much.

The European Union has banned more than 1,100 chemicals – Here in the United States we have banned only 10 ingredients in the last 67 years.

The 50 Billion Dollar U.S. Cosmetic and Skin Care industry routinely opposes laws that would protect consumers because it says that it can voluntarily regulate itself.

Senator Edward Kennedy, who  battled brain cancer said “Long term illnesses ranging from cancer to birth defects may not be lined to their underlying cosmetic-related causes because symptoms of chronic toxic effects may not occur until months or years after exposure”.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products:

• 884 were toxic
• 314 caused biology mutation
• 218 caused reproductive complications
• 778 caused acute toxicity
• 148 caused tumors
• 376 cause skin and eye irritations.

Mt Sinai School of medicine tested the blood of 100 people and found as many as 95 chemicals in each person.  53 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, 62 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 55 are associated with birth defects.

On the physical level our human body needs only two things to create perfect health – remove toxins and receive nutrients.  Since the skin is the largest organ, it stands to reason that we need to use topical products that are certified organic. We need to eliminate, at least on these products we put on our skin, this incredible toxic overload that we are exposed to daily.

When you head to the beauty counter, start reading labels and please do not purchase any product with any of these ingredients listed:

• Tirclosan
• Dioxin
• Phthalates
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• PEG (Polyethylene)
• DEA, MEA, and TEA
• FD&C Color & Pigments
• Parabens (methyl, butyl, ethyl, Propyl)
• Propylene Glycol (PG) & Butylene Glycol
• DMDM Hydantoin & Urea Lmidazolidinyl
• Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
• Sunscreen chemicals: avobenzone, Benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA