"Does Your Skin Care Product Contain These Chemicals?"    (from DR. Mercola's site)

"Go grab the bottles of skin moisturizers you currently use. You might find that your personal care products contain one or probably more of many potentially dangerous ingredients.
Here are a few of the most common suspicious ingredients:

• Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there's an oil spill in the ocean, don't they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
•         Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body's endocrine system.
•         Phenol carbolic acid – Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
•         Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
•         Acrylamide – Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
•         Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin's moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a "nitrosamine," a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling "comes from coconut" or "coconut-derived."
•         Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
•         Dioxane– Found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. Common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, easily absorbed through the skin.

Dioxane's carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by "vacuum stripping." Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as "comes from coconut."
So, do you want to put these chemicals on your skin? Hopefully not…
You'd be better served by switching to skin care products made of plant names you recognize, can pronounce, and could even eat (if you had to).
Discover Four Awesome Ingredients for Ageless Skin –
Who Wouldn't Want to Embrace These?

You might be so used to products that contain these potential toxins that you've never even considered the alternatives.
Or perhaps you've been frustrated in your attempt to find better options. Many people wonder what ingredients they should look for in personal care products.
My team and I wanted to provide you with a world-class, health-promoting option. We searched for ingredients that enhance, instead of compromise, your health.
I'm happy to tell you that we succeeded in our original search, with Organic Body Butter. But now it's even better! Organic Body Butter got a boost to USDA certified organic, because we want to increase your confidence in what you are applying to your skin.
These four extraordinary key ingredients can contribute to your healthy lifestyle while enhancing your beauty… because I know you are equally passionate about experiencing optimal overall health and looking young and vibrant.
You really can have it both ways, with Organic Body Butter's four extraordinary ingredients:

1. Organic Shea Butter

Shea butter is an all-natural vitamin A cream from West Central Africa, where skin care depends on nature. It grows in the wild without the use of pesticides.
For centuries, shea butter has been highly regarded as a superior skin moisturizer, creating moistness similar to what your skin's sebaceous glands produce. Its deep penetration gives your skin elasticity while revitalizing and softening it. What an excellent treatment for irritated, dry, chapped, or sun-damaged skin!
Unrefined and organic shea butter contains an abundance of health-promoting ingredients, including vitamins, minerals, proteins and a unique fatty acid profile. Well-known vitamins include A, E, and F.
Evidence also suggests that shea butter contains cinnamic-acid esters, which means it may provide some UVB protection along with its skin-smoothing benefits.
Unlike petroleum-based moisturizers, shea butter actually restores your skin's own natural elasticity. It enables your skin to absorb moisture from the air to become softer and stay moisturized for longer.
Shea butter contains 7-12% unsaponifiables (a type of fat). By way of comparison, avocado oil, a well-known skin conditioner, contains only 2-6%. This high level of unsaponifiables is one property that makes shea butter so valuable as a skin conditioner.
But shea butter isn't the only special ingredient in Organic Body Butter.
But I wanted you to be able to have the benefit of four of the best and most potent natural ingredients available. So shea butter wasn't the only thing offered in our Body Butter skin care product.
You've heard me talk about the importance of coconut oil a number of times.
So coconut oil had to be one of the key ingredients of our Organic Body Butter product. Just in case you're new to my site, allow me to recap the great value of coconut oil.

1.      Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil helps you fight the signs of aging.
Virgin coconut oil is an ideal way to rejuvenate your skin.
It protects against formation of damaging free radicals, and is also used to protect skin from blemishes, signs of aging or overexposure to sunlight. Coconut oil also keeps your skin's connective tissues strong and supple.
Coconut oil offers a youthful appearance to your skin by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother.
It can even penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin and strengthen the underlying tissues. Plus, it can be a factor in healing and repairing age-damaged skin – unlike most lotions.
Naturally, you want to choose a high-quality organic coconut oil free of chemicals, and without bleach or hydrogenation (which can irritate your skin), to experience its maximum benefits.
As great as coconut oil and shea butter are, I didn't stop with them, to offer you the best skin care product possible. Jojoba oil has some spectacular benefits, so I had to be sure you could benefit from it, too.

1.      Organic Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is one of nature's most useful products.
Jojoba oil technically isn't oil, but is a pure and luxurious liquid wax ester from cold-pressed seeds of the Simmondsia Chinensis and S. Californica desert shrubs native to the Sonora Desert in the southwestern US Native Americans applied ground seeds of jojoba to scratches to speed healing and minimize scarring.
Jojoba oil is a long-chain wax ester, not a triglyceride – making it very similar to the sebum your skin produces (via the sebaceous oil gland).
Sebum's job is to retain moisture and keep skin smooth and elastic.
Claimed by many as 'nature's wrinkle fighter' – and as 'the cosmetic oil of the century.'
Unfortunately, from about the age of twenty, your skin's production of sebum decreases significantly. Remarkably, jojoba's naturally silky, odorless, non-allergic liquid mixes completely and rapidly with your natural sebum and follows its pathways deep into your skin.
The liquid wax esters in jojoba assist the sebum by maintaining skin moisture and elasticity. Jojoba oil forms a thin non-greasy lipid layer that holds water in your skin – contrary to common 'oil in water' formulations, which evaporate once they're on your skin's surface.
Meanwhile, it penetrates and stabilizes your intercellular skin structure, leaving your skin soft and supple. On oily skin, it penetrates deep and fast to merge with skin sebum, tricking your skin to regulate the production of sebum.
Since it penetrates so deeply, it helps protect, while allowing your skin's natural maintenance and healing system to do its job – without having to battle dryness.
Further, jojoba contains nutrients that get absorbed into the body, such as vitamin E, B-complex, and the minerals silicon, chromium, copper, and zinc. It also contains a lot of iodine. Its antioxidant properties prevent rancidity and give it a very long shelf life.
For these reasons, jojoba oil is becoming recognized as the 'cosmetic oil of the century', and 'nature's wrinkle fighter'.
But wait! There's even more. Read on for more great health benefits found in Organic Body Butter, this combination of wholesome ingredients for amazing skin care.

1.      Organic Murumuru Butter

Organic Body Butter – with four spectacular ingredients!

Among the 2,650 species of palm is a prickly fellow that produces a rich butter. In fact, this plant has sharp black spines that require special care during harvest. Notably, it's prickled everywhere – even its seeds and flowers.
Murumuru is the Portuguese name for Astrocaryum Murumuru. It grows in the Amazon Basins, especially in northern Brazil.
As a member of the palm family, Murumuru has large, abundant seeds. The locals have cherished Murumuru nuts for their numerous health and wellness benefits for ages, evidenced by the folklore of the region.
Murumuru's large fruits are edible. Plus the seed kernel is a source of oil that's both edible and used for skin care.
So, why bother harvesting this prickly plant when there are so many easier sources of natural oils for skin care use?
First, Murumuru's lipids intensely hydrate and moisturize your skin by supporting the integrity of the cutaneous barrier. It helps your skin retain water by creating a protective film. And it supports repair of your skin's lipid barrier.
Secondly, it nurtures your skin with vitamins and minerals. Its botanicals are rich in oleic acid, which aid moisture retention.
What's more, our Murumuru source is wildcrafted, meaning that no pesticides or other sprays are used on it. In other words, it's an organic emollient source.
As an added benefit, using products containing Amazonian Murumuru helps remote communities gain income opportunities and build economic independence. Botanical ingredients purchased through fair-trade programs support the locals and their rich cultural heritage.
It also slows down the economic drive for cutting down trees, allowing the eco-system to function naturally as it has for many years.
Organic Body Butter has a long shelf life of 24-36 months. Better yet – no refrigeration is required, so you can keep it close to where you'll use it.
I wanted you to be able to have the benefit of these four potent natural ingredients listed above for your skin's health and beauty.
And to be sure your ingredients remain pure, we chose the packaging carefully.
Just How Safe Are Plastic Containers?

Certain plastics are the subject of debate in consumer advocate circles. You, too, should be asking questions about potential health risks… because there's growing scientific evidence to justify your concerns.
Polycarbonates and phthalates are creating considerable controversy. Polycarbonates contain Bisphenol A (BPA) which mimics estrogen and is linked to breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, infertility, birth defects, and hyperactivity. Phthalates can harm the endocrine system, especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childhood, and can cause birth defects.
Both BPA and phthalates can migrate into whatever is close at hand. Containers with BPA-free polyethylene or polypropylene marked with recycling numbers 2, 4, or 5 are considered safe. That's why we use polypropylene-2, with NO Bisphenol A (BPA) or phthalates, for our Organic Body Butter."

The 12 Most Maligned Cosmetic Ingredients by Perry Romanowski on 08/30/2010 If you have spent any time reading information about cosmetics on the Internet, you’ve no doubt come across scare stories about dangerous, “toxic” ingredients. It might be lead in lipstick, mercury in mascara, or some other outrageous headline but the message is always the same, cosmetics kill and cosmetic companies are more concerned about profit than producing safe products. As a cosmetic chemist, this has always troubled me. I was a formulation chemist for years and I never used chemicals that I thought were unsafe. Also, I was never pressured by my company to use “less safe” ingredients because they were cheaper. This is complete nonsense and groups that propagate it are bad for society and for cosmetic chemists. But if you’re going to be a formulator, it would be helpful for you to know which cosmetic ingredients get bad press, why and whether it is true or not. So here we present a look at the 12 most vilified cosmetic ingredients. The next time a friend or family member asks you about them, you’ll be in a better position to answer. Top Vilified Cosmetic Ingredients 1. Parabens
2. Diazolidiny Urea
3. Diethanolamine
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
5. Petrolatum
6. Mineral Oil
7. Propylene Glycol
8. Triclosan
9. Fragrance
10. Color pigments
11. PEG — Polyethylene Glycol
12. Talc Parabens Parabens include ingredients like Methylparaben, Propylparaben and Butylparaben. They are used in cosmetics to prevent microbial contamination. Their high temperature stability, high level of effectiveness, and long record of safety make them an excellent preservative choice. Parabens have recently come under fire by certain consumer groups and all-natural companies. They claim that parabens are “…a strong hormone disrupting chemical. Has direct links to breast cancer and heart problems.” These claims are not true, not based on science and are complete exaggerations. For a full account of parabens and their safety in cosmetics see these excellent articles.
Paraben puzzlement
More about parabens Diazolidinyl Urea / DMDM Hydantoin Like parabens, these cosmetic ingredients are preservatives added to combat disease-causing microbes. They are called “formaldehyde donors” because when placed in a solution they dissociate into ions, one of which is formaldehyde. The formaldehyde then quickly kills microbes. Formaldehyde is a scary ingredient to people as it has been shown to cause irritation, gene mutations, and cancer. But formaldehyde donors are not the same thing as formaldehyde and the amount of exposure gotten from cosmetics is well within safe levels. See this summary explanation for why formaldehyde donors are safe for cosmetics.
Formaldehyde mythbusting For a full review of formaldehyde, see this toxicology report from the CDC. Triclosan Triclosan is an anti-bacterial ingredient added to cosmetics to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It’s usually found in antibacterial soaps, handwashes, toothpaste and deodorants. The FDA has affirmed its effectiveness and regulates products that contain triclosan as over the counter (OTC) drugs. Some groups object to triclosan for various reasons. They say that Triclosan can produce a toxic, hormone disrupting chemical. That it poses long term chronic health risks, alters genetic material, and causes birth defects. It also can damage kidneys, lungs, liver, etc. Independent scientists who study Tricolsan come to different conclusions. The safety of triclosan has been established but recent studies have prompted the FDA to re-examine the data. But as of now, “FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time” You can learn more about the status of Triclosan (in the US) at this FDA triclosan web page. One interesting concern about Triclosan is that it has the potential to create “super-bacteria” that is resistant to its effects. This has some scientists suggesting it shouldn’t be used in cosmetics. They might have a point. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate SLS, SLES are basic detergents used in everything from body washes, hand cleansers, shampoos and even toothpaste. They really are versatile cleansing surfactants. They are also the most maligned surfactants in the entire cosmetic industry. Just do a Google search for sodium lauryl sulfate and you’ll find plenty of sites telling you how awful it is. Claims such as “may cause hair loss”, “causes cancer”, and “the most dangerous chemical found in hair and skin care products” are frequently repeated. Of course, SLS can be irritating (many surfactants are) but the CIR has reviewed it and found “Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin. In products intended for prolonged contact with skin, concentrations should not exceed 1 percent” SLS is used in cosmetic products because it is effective, inexpensive, and safe. Diethanolamine Speaking of maligned surfactants, Diethanolamine is right up there with SLS for its ability to receive bad press. It is a secondary surfactant added to cosmetic formulas to boost foam and improve lather feel. Typically, it is not added directly to formulas but rather added in the form of Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA or Stearamide MEA. The concern is over residual DEA not from the surfactants themselves. Concern about DEA containing cosmetics was brought up when a 1998 National Toxicology Program (NTP) study found an association between the topical application of diethanolamine (DEA) and certain DEA-related ingredients and cancer in laboratory animals. Chemical fear groups ran with this and claimed that DEA is a “hormone disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates”. It actually caused most personal care companies to replace DEA materials with other options. However, the fear is unfounded and the FDA reviewed all the latest data and concluded, “at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be alarmed based on the use of these substances in cosmetics.” Certainly, the FDA will continue to review DEA containing ingredients but at the moment, there is no established safety concern. Petrolatum Ah, one of my favorite ingredients, petrolatum. It is an excellent material for moisturizing skin and also for creating slick hairdos. Unfortunately, this petroleum-derived hydrocarbon blend is also a favorite ingredient for all-natural and chemical fear-mongerers to bash. What’s the complaint? There are lots of claims but basically the knock on petrolatum is that it causes cancer and the fact that it’s banned in the EU. The FDA has reviewed the safety of Petrolatum and determined that it is a safe ingredient to use. In fact, it’s even safe for use in food products. And as far as the EU goes, it is not banned in cosmetics. Petrolatum can and is used in cosmetics as long as it’s a cosmetic grade of the material. Mineral Oil Mineral oil is another skin moisturizing ingredient that gets a bad wrap from natural product producers and other chemical scare groups. I never understood this because Mineral Oil is a natural ingredient that comes right from the Earth. No matter, here are some of the claims about mineral oil. Mineral oil is contaminated with carcinogens
Mineral oil dries the skin and causes premature aging
It robs the skin of vitamins
It clogs pores and prevents collagen absorption
It causes acne None of these claims are true as reviewed in this mineral oil article. Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol is a humectant and diluent frequently used in cosmetic formulations. It is a useful material as it’s compatible with numerous materials and provides benefits itself. Regrettably, it’s also claimed to penetrate and weaken skin proteins and to cause brain, live and kidney abnormalities. Of course, it’s claimed to have a cancer link too. And did you know it is used in anti-freeze? I’ve never understood why PG is so feared but according to scientists at the FDA, CIR, and National Toxicology Program, there is negligible concern related to its use. In fact, PG is so safe it has earned the designation as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) from the FDA. It’s safe enough to eat. Fragrance Fragrances are added to cosmetics to make products smell better or reinforce a marketing story. Cosmetics without fragrance just don’t sell as well so that’s why cosmetic chemists add them. But some groups will lead you to believe that all fragrances are awful. They “…cause headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting and skin irritations. Fragrances affect the nervous system, cause depression, hyper activity, irritability, inability to cope and other behavioral changes” Indeed there are chemicals in fragrances that can cause problems at high enough levels. There are even ingredients that the EU requires companies to label because they are known allergens. However, fragrances are thoroughly screened for safety by independent scientists at the IFRA. There is a safe level of use and fragrance houses follow these guidelines. Colors Without colorants most cosmetic formulas would be yellow or brown. Color cosmetics would not exist. The complaint is that artificial colorants are carcinogenic. As usual, this claim is not supported by science. Of all the ingredients in cosmetics, colorants are the most highly regulated. Each batch of colorant must be approved by the FDA prior to use. The FDA also monitors the safety of colorants. Any color additive that is found to cause cancer in animals (or humans) may not be used in cosmetics. PEG PEGs (polyethylene glycols) are used in cosmetics for a variety of reasons including moisturizing, thickening, emulsification, solvency, etc. It would be difficult to produce many modern cosmetics without them. However, the chemical scare mongers fear that PEG is a carcinogenic material that will dry out and make your skin age faster. It’s the typical claims you find related to any petroleum derived ingredient. According to an article in the journal Toxicology from 2005, scientists conclude that “Taking into consideration all available information from related compounds, as well as the mode and mechanism of action, no safety concern with regard to these endpoints could be identified.” Chemical fear-mongers are not basing their concerns on science. Talc Talc is a powdered ingredient used is cosmetics to absorb moisture and as a filler. It is powdered hydrous magnesium silicate. The primary concern about talc is that it is linked to ovarian cancer. This is based on a study published during the 1990s. Subsequent review of all the available data has demonstrated that talc is safe when used as directed. The most recent talc data supports this position. The push to avoid Talc is not based on science. What can cosmetic chemists do? As a cosmetic chemist you are the one who ultimately makes the decision to use a certain ingredient or not. It is up to you to see what the best SCIENTIFIC data has to say about ingredients before making any choice to use them or not. Forget what consumers tell you, or fear-mongering groups say, or even what your marketing people believe. Cosmetic ingredients are tested and answers about safety are available for people curious enough to look beyond a Google search of the latest blogs. Sure, your marketing group might want to remove some of these ingredients because of bad PR but that doesn’t change the fact that none of these materials pose a significant risk to consumers when used in cosmetics. Did we miss any maligned ingredients? What do you think about the safety of cosmetic ingredients? Leave a comment below.

The Ominous Truth Behind Cosmetic Beauty Claims… (Dr. Mercola 2010)*

If you use conventional make-up on a daily basis, you can absorb almost 5 pounds of chemicals into your body each year -- and that's without adding in body lotion, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and other personal care products!
Many of these chemicals have been directly linked to cancer or are known to cause damage to your brain, reproductive system and other organs, and this is no exaggeration. Though it may sound hard to believe, the FDA does NOT systematically review the safety of personal care products.
It is important to understand that of the 10,500 ingredients used in your toothpaste, sunscreen, nail polish, and so on, only 13 percent of them have been reviewed for safety in the last 30 years, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis -- and those that have were reviewed by the Cosmetics Ingredients Review, which is run by the cosmetics industry!
On average, you likely apply 126 different ingredients to your skin daily and 90 percent of them have not been evaluated for safety. The FDA even states:
"Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority, with the exception of color additives … Cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing."
What are You Really Putting On and In Your Body?Only the cosmetics companies know for sure, as all ingredients are not even required to be on the label. Most personal care products are therefore nothing more than a product of marketing success, formulated to smell good, look good and feel good when your rub them on your skin, with little regard to their impact on your health.
The list of dangerous ingredients used in cosmetics is quite long -- the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has stated that nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are toxic -- but here are some of the major ones that are very common, but that you will definitely want to avoid:

• Paraben, a chemical found in underarm deodorants and other cosmetics that has been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant, detergent and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. It is present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents and bath oils/bath salts. The real problem with SLES/SLS is that the manufacturing process (ethoxylation) results in SLES/SLS being contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product.
• Phthalates, plasticizing ingredients (present in nearly three-quarters of 72 products tested by the Environmental Working Group), which have been linked to birth defects in the reproductive system of boys and lower sperm-motility in adult men, among other problems.
• Musks, used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.
• Artificial fragrances, which are among the top five known allergens, and can cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks.
• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system.
• Toluene, made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.
• Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum, these products coat your skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging, and are a suspected cause of cancer and disruption to hormonal activity.

You Can Absorb MORE Toxins from Skin Care Products Than FoodYour skin is your largest organ -- and also the thinnest. Less than 1/10th of an inch separates your body from potential toxins. Worse yet, your skin is highly permeable. Just about anything you put on your skin will end up in your bloodstream, and will be distributed throughout your body.
This is why I'm so fond of saying "don't put anything on your body that you wouldn't eat if you had to..."
Putting chemicals on your skin or scalp may actually be worse than eating them. When you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of your body. However, when you put these chemicals on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream without filtering of any kind, going directly to your delicate organs.
Once these chemicals find their way into your body, they tend to accumulate over time because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down. When you add up daily exposure over the course of a lifetime, this adds up to an untold amount of chemical exposures.
You Deserve Safe Personal Care ProductsMost of the personal care products in supermarkets and even high-end department stores contain toxic ingredients that can harm your health. You and your family deserve better, and there are other options.
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you're not being exposed to potentially hazardous agents is to simply make your own personal care products, using simple all-natural ingredients that many of you may already have in your home.
Here are a few of my recommendations:

• All-natural moisturizers -- Pure emu oil is a great alternative to facial- and body moisturizers and lotions, as is pure coconut oil. It's a fantastic moisturizer and a potent source of the beneficial fat lauric acid.
• All-natural acne fighter -- Rubbing just a drop of oregano oil on a breakout can speed up the healing and prevent unsightly scarring without resorting to harsh commercial acne medication (remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterward).
• All-natural deodorant -- I advise avoiding ALL antiperspirants. Common soap and water works fine. If you still need further help then try a pinch of baking soda mixed into water as an effective all-day deodorant.

If you'd rather find ready-made products, be sure to read labels and check products out before buying them. EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database is an excellent resource for finding and evaluating healthful personal care products.
I also offer one of the highest quality organic skin care lines, shampoo and conditioner, and body butter available, all of which are completely natural and safe. I am constantly amazed at the consistently good comments I receive from friends and relatives that I have given this to as a gift.
Finally, if you're perusing your local health food store for some safe, natural options, here are my top guidelines to keep in mind:

• Look for the genuine USDA Organic Seal.
• If you can't pronounce it, you probably don't want to put it on your body. Ask yourself, "Would I eat this?"
• Look for products that are fragrance-free. One artificial fragrance can contain hundreds -- even thousands -- of chemicals, and fragrances are a major cause of allergic reactions.
• Pay attention to the order in which the ingredients are listed. Manufacturers are required to list ingredients in descending order by volume, meaning the first few ingredients are the most prominent. If calendula extract is the last ingredient in a long list, your calendula body wash isn't very natural.
• Stick to the basics. Do you really need 20 products to prepare for your day? Simplify your life and rescue your bank account.
• Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic, since chemicals can leach out of plastics and into the contents. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a serious concern; make sure any plastic container is BPA free.
• Look for products that are made by companies that are earth-friendly, animal-friendly and green.

​* Mercola, Dr. "The Ominous Truth Behind Cosmetic Beauty Claims…." Mercola Articles (2010): n. pag. Web.

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