How to Buy Natural, Safe, Healthy Moisturizer?
Tips to Stay Away from Toxins in Skin Lotions & Face Creams
Nov 4, 2009
A moisturizer is needed to keep the skin soft and supple. While the basic function of a moisturizer is to hydrate the skin, skincare companies make many claims about their products - such as wrinkle control, making the skin tone even, making the skin glow and so on. While these claims may or may not be true, the consumer should ensure that the ingredients in the moisturizing cream or lotion do not cause long term side effects.
What Ingredients Should Consumers Avoid in a Moisturizer?
According to Dr.Mehmet Oz and Dr.Michael Roizen, authors of book, You Being Beautiful, the following ingredients should be avoided in a moisturizer as they tend to cause damage to the skin.
- Imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea are preservatives to prevent bacterial growth and may cause contact dermatitis.
- Fragrances may cause allergies. People with sensitive skin should try to avoid fragrances in any skin care product, including moisturizers.
- Mineral oil used as a base in some products may interfere with perspiration.
- Ingredients like MEA, TEA may tend to clog pores and create blackheads
Fitness expert and author, Jillian Michaels, in her book Master Your Metabolism, recommends avoiding products with the following ingredients
- Mercury (listed as thimerosol) is a known toxin and endocrine disruptor.
- Formaldehyde is harmful to the immune system and a known carcinogen.
- Parabens and placenta can produce hormones that may lead to breast cancer.
- Pthalates are sometimes hidden in the ingredient list as "fragrance" can cause infertility and birth defects.
- Triclosan can interfere with the endocrine system and is potentially carcinogenic.
Dr.Oz's Tips for Buying a Moisturizer that's Healthy for the Body and Keeps Skin Beautiful
Dr.Oz also suggests the following tips for choosing moisturizers.
- choose a moisturizer with SPF 30 for sun protection
- When using a product to moisturize at night, choose a cream with Vitamins A and C
- Some helpful ingredients in good moisturizers are squalene (made from olives), avocado oil, walnut butter, cocoa butter.
How to Find Natural Safe Facial Moisturizers
There are no governmental guidelines for cosmetics. However, Environmental Working Group's cosmetic database — cosmeticsdatabase.com — takes the ingredients in more than 25,000 products and matches them against 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.
Jillian Michaels, recommends natural skincare brands — Dr.Hauschka, Ren, Aesops, Nude and Jason as being safe and non-interfering with the body's hormonal functions, in her book Master Your Metabolism.
Moisturizers are typically the most frequently used skincare products, so consumers need to be mindful of the quality and nature of the ingredients. Since real beauty and vibrant health are inseparable, good quality moisturizers are amply aided by a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, exercise and adequate rest.
Related Reading
Readers may also enjoy How to Choose a Good Facial Moisturizer? to learn what to look for in a facial moisturizer for different skin types. Find suggestions to everyday beauty without compromising health in Healthy Tips for Glowing Skin and Beautiful Hair.
Sources
- YOU:Being Beautiful:The Owner's Guide to Inner and Outer Beauty, Dr. Michael F.Roizen, Dr.Mehmet Oz.
- Don't go the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, Paula Begoun
- Master Your Metabolism, The Three Diet Secrets to Balancing Your Hormones for a Hot and Healthy Body, Jillian Michaels.
 |
 |
 |
