How to Protect Yourself from 5 Common Hidden Dangers in Cosmetics

Toxic chemicals, hormone disruptors, heavy metals, carcinogens and bacterial contamination…these all sound like problems you are more likely to encounter in a toxic waste dump than in your makeup case. Truth is, even “safe” cosmetics can go bad and expose you to all kinds of health dangers. Here are several potential health disasters that can be avoided.

1. The Danger: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Fungus in mascara.
These germs, normally found in the eyes, settle in your mascara tube after coming in contact with the applicator wand, making it a virtual breeding ground for bacteria. Experts recommend that most mascara tubes be thrown out after about three months of normal use, but be aware that keeping mascara in your purse or your car where the temperature is higher than it is in your makeup drawer or under your sink will reduce the efficacy of the preservative system, thus allowing bacteria to multiply quickly and shorten the product shelflife.
The Solution: Be sure to store your mascara in a cool place. Sniff often to detect early spoilage.

2. The Danger: Mercury and hydroquinone in skin lighteners.
Skin lightening creams are popular with both men and women for reducing the age spots, hyperpigmentation and uneven skintone most of us develop as we get older. Two bleaching ingredients should be avoided at all costs: hydroquinone and mercury. Mercury poisoning can cause serious issues, including neurological problems, memory deficiencies and abnormalities in vision and hearing.

The lesser known but commonly used hydroquinone is associated with a slew of health issues, including toxicity, allergic reactions (severe burning, stinging, swelling, trouble breathing), photosensitivity, possible carcinogenic properties, and ochronosis – a blue-black discoloration on the skin that ironically develops from using the very hydroquinone bleaching creams intended to lighten the skin. These concerns have been widespread enough to warrant the ban of hydroquinone in several countries. The FDA has suggested removing it from products in the U.S. as well, but has yet to do so.
The Solution: Read labels carefully. Be aware that imported creams may use other names for mercury, such as “mercurio”, “mercurous chloride”, or “calomel”. If the product in question does not publish a list of ingredients and you don’t know what’s in it, don’t use it.

3. The Danger: Lead in lipstick.
There is no federal lead limit set for cosmetics and no safe level established for children. However, according to the FDA, lead in lipstick does not pose a significant danger to women if used correctly, citing that the average lead content in lipsticks ranges between 1.11 ppm (parts per million) and 7.19 ppm, well below traditionally acceptable levels. Children six years old and under are at greatest health risk from exposure to lead, which makes one wonder about the potential danger to a fetus in even trace amounts when used by a pregnant woman. Although it is hard to imagine anyone chowing down on a tube of lipstick, small amounts do make their way into the body when a woman eats food, licks her lips, or kisses someone.
The Solution: Remember the old axiom: “when in doubt – leave it out”? It might be wise to err on the side of caution, read labels and opt for a lipstick that does not include lead.

4. The Danger: All-Day Foundation.
As tempting as the notion is of applying your makeup once in in the morning and having it last all day, consider what it takes to make foundation cling to your skin and look flawless no matter what the weather, or how much you sweat in aerobics class. All day makeup usually contains a heavy dose of Phthalates - a solvent routinely used in cosmetics that makes it easier for ingredients to dissolve in water and preserve your picture perfect appearance. This dangerous chemical can be absorbed directly through the skin or simply by breathing it in. Studies have shown that phthalates cross the placenta barrier causing birth defects in both male and female reproductive systems, are hormone disruptors when applied to the skin, cause premature breast development in girls, and may be responsible for increased childhood asthma rates. As if this wasn’t enough, phthalates have been linked to breast cancer since 1997. Phthalates are banned in the EU, but not in the U.S.
The Solution: Deal with looking a little less than perfect. Choose a brand of foundation that is phthalate-free, and simply touch up your makeup throughout the day and night as needed.

5. The Danger: Mineral Makeup
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard a great deal of buzz about mineral makeups. Touted as safe and all-natural because they contain mineral pigments from the earth, many of these formulations contain plenty of other nasty ingredients, including the aforementioned phthalates, parabens (petroleum-based hormone disruptors that mimic estrogen and have been incriminated as a possible cause of breast cancer), titanium dioxide (classified as a possible carcinogen), mica (which is a lung irritant that can cause internal scarring), and talc (which is closely related to asbestos and been shown to cause tumors in the ovaries and lungs of cancer victims). The bigger problem here is the nanotechnology being used to create smaller and smaller particles of minerals that apply smoothly to the skin. Unfortunately it also allows them to become airborne easily and inhaled into the lungs, which is potentially harmful to everybody’s health.
The Solution: You are better off using a liquid foundation and applying a pressed powder (as compared to a loose one) sparingly if at all.

Summary: We all derive great pleasure in looking good. A good appearance is life-affirming: it shows that you respect yourself, and affects the behavior of the people around you. When we look good, we feel good and this can be contagious. You don’t need to give up cosmetics altogether – just take precautions when choosing the ones you do use. Remember: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Copyright 2013 Sharon Gnatt Epel for La Isha Natural Skincare

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

Anti-aging and what you need to know about free radicals!

Free radicals are unstable organic molecules that perform some truly positive functions, including fighting off infection and interacting with enzyme function, but they also play a negative role in the aging process - one that contributes to the hallmark of premature aging, tissue damage and disease.

How does this happen, and what can you do to minimize it? Oxidation is the natural by-product of breathing, a system that creates energy in the human body and keeps us alive. It also produces free radicals, molecules that start out fairly disciplined and well-defined, but tend to go rogue as we get older. They are created by a variety of factors including environmental pollution, excessive alcohol consumption, toxic cleaning products, and cigarette smoke. They are always looking for an extra electron they can steal away from another more stable molecule, and tack on to their own structure. The result of this behavior is like a pileup of bumper cars at an amusement park. Imagine the chain reaction set off when one of these molecules manages to pry an electron away from a healthy skin cell. The free radical not only leaves behind a damaged skin cell which is now missing an electron, but turns it into another vampire-like free radical, now on the prowl for its own stabilization. When this scenario is played out over and over again it creates a snowball effect that weakens healthy skin and subjects it to oxidative stress that can be seen and measured in terms of sagging skin and deteriorating health.

Antioxidants, molecules found in many vibrant, colorful foods, are natural substances created by oxidation that help prevent free radicals from destroying healthy tissue. It accomplishes this by neutralizing the free radical and interrupting the chain reaction. Your body’s ability to produce antioxidants is partially dictated by heredity, but significantly affected by your exposure to oxidative stress. Supplementation in the form of vitamins can be helpful, but you must be careful because mega-doses could be harmful or even toxic to the body. The safest and most comprehensive way to cover your bases is to eat a variety of nutritious fruits and vegetables every day. It is the synergy of the components in these naturally occurring foods that delivers the most bang for your buck. Using natural, organic and preservative free skincare products that contain these anti-oxidants can also be extremely helpful by reducing your body’s exposure to toxins and helping minimize the free-radical damage. This in turn will help stave off the aging process and allow you to look younger longer.

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

A Natural Beauty Treatment for Dark Knees and Elbows

Here’s another natural beauty tip to keep your elbows and knees free of dark splotches.

Squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon into a glass bowl. Take a cotton ball and soak it in the lemon juice…then apply it liberally to your elbows or knees. Leave the juice on for 20-30-minutes… then rinse off with warm water. Make sure you apply an emollient cream or moisturizer to the areas afterwards. You may need to repeat this procedure for a few days before you see results.

As always, before trying out a new product or remedy, you might want to spot test your skin for potential sensitivity. A good way to do this is to apply a little bit of the lemon juice to your skin, then cover with a band-aid to intensify the absorption and leave on overnight. Remove the band-aid the next morning and check for signs of irritation. If you haven’t had an allergic reaction or increased sensitivity to the area, you are good to go!

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

Got Dry, Cracked Hands? Try This!

Washing your hands can deter the flu, but wreak havoc on your skin! Here's how to remedy this...

If you are like millions of people who are washing their hands frequently to avoid catching the flu, you may be suffering from dry skin that is so irritated it may even crack and bleed. What can you do to remedy this?
1. Wash your hands with a mild soap or cleanser. Look for one that contains tea tree oil, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

2. Use a gentle exfoliant to smooth rough skin. You can make one at home by mixing honey, brown or white sugar, and a few drops of oil (extra virgin olive oil works great!). Apply this to your hands and rub gently. Rinse when done.

3. Moisturize your hands immediately after washing them and seal the moisture in by applying a heavy lotion or rich cream onto still-moist skin and massaging it in until it is absorbed. Look for one that contains vitamin E, botanical oils or shea butter. This will help create a barrier between your skin and the environment. Make sure to reapply cream every time you wash your hands.

4. At night, after applying cream, cover your hands (and dry, cracked feet too!) with light cotton gloves. This will help the moisturizer soak into your skin, and you may see and feel a significant difference by morning. Severely dry, cracked skin will require diligence, and can take days or even weeks to heal.

5. Don’t use scalding water to wash your hands.

6. Wear (latex-free) rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products to limit your exposure to water and abrasive chemicals that can irritate your skin.

7. Drink more water!

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

You Might Want To Think Twice About Getting a Tattoo If...

Part 4: If You Have Any of These Medical Conditions You Might Want to Think Twice About Getting a Tattoo…

1. Allergies and Skin Sensitivities: Having an allergic reaction to the dyes and inks used in the tattoo process is fairly common among people who have sensitive skin. An allergic reaction can lead to an itchy rash, scarring and other dermatological symptoms that can linger for a long time after getting a tattoo, and actually take years to clear up.

2. Acne: If you tattoo skin that is prone to acne, you can get one heck of a rash that could result in permanent scarring.

3. Keloids: Are you a keloid healer? Unlike regular scars, keloids are hard, thick, red or purple raised scars that sometimes form after trauma to the skin, and often spread to the surrounding tissues. They can develop anywhere on the body and are an over reactive response of the fibrous connective tissue of the skin to anything from minor abrasions, burns or piercings to surgery and severe injury. If you already have a keloid on your body, you stand a pretty good chance of developing more from a tattoo, so think twice before you go ahead with it.

Here is a picture of a keloid that occurred as a result of a tattoo.

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

Things To Do and Not To Do Before Getting a Tattoo

Part 3 of La Isha's series on Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Tattoos, and Then Some...

Things To Do Before Getting a Tattoo
1. Take the time to visit the parlor and observe the tattoo procedure on someone else before you have it done to your body.
2. Check the tattoo parlor for cleanliness. Make sure they use disposable needles, and/or sterilize them and the rest of their equipment with a professional autoclave.
3. Make sure the artist uses disposable gloves and changes them between clients.
4. Disposable towels and cleaning products should always be used to wipe the skin as the tattoo is being applied. If not, or if the tattoo artist is not wearing a glove, leave.
5. Make sure they are opening brand new tubs of ink and disposable needles that they have not been previously used. This will lessen the chance of catching something communicable.

What NOT To Do Before Getting a Tattoo
1. DO NOT take pain killers like aspirin or ibuprofen beforehand as they may cause increased bleeding.
2. DO NOT get tattooed on an empty stomach because it may make you feel faint, dizzy or even nauseated.
3. DO NOT get tattoed while you are drunk or drugged… your taste in art may be impaired, and you may live to regret it later!

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!

Part 2 of La Isha's series on Everything You wanted to Know About Tattoos, and Then Some...

What exactly is a tattoo?

A tattoo is essentially a puncture wound, where the design is made by piercing the skin with an electrical machine that has one or more needles that deposit dye into the dermis layer (the second – not the top layer of the skin). The cells of the dermis are considered more stable than the cells of the epidermis, and are responsible for the tattoo pretty much staying in place for the duration of a person’s life.

The tattoo process is done without anesthesia and can cause varying levels of pain and even a little bit of bleeding. What determines this is how experienced the tattoo artist is, where on the body the tattoo is being drawn (some spots are more tender than others!), and last but not least, your pain threshold.

btw - The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word 'tattau,' meaning 'to mark'.

Next Installment: What you need to do before getting a tattoo.

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care!