What are parabens and do I need to worry about them?

By Eleni N. GagePublished |February 26, 2014

Parabens have been widely used in products to prevent bacteria growth since the 1950s.

“About 85 percent of cosmetics have them,” said Arthur Rich, a cosmetic chemist in Chestnut Ridge, New York. “They’re inexpensive and effective.”

New York City dermatologist Dr. Fran E. Cook-Bolden explained, “Parabens have a long history of safe use, and that’s why they’re commonplace. New preservatives have less of a proven track record.”

In fact, typically, more than one form of the ingredient is used in a product. The most common are butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben. Over the last few years, however, in response to customer concerns, many brands have started to manufacture (and label) paraben-free products, including lotions, lipsticks, shampoos, scrubs, and more.

So What’s the Problem?

In the 1990s, parabens were deemed xenoestrogens―agents that mimic estrogen in the body. “Estrogen disruption” has been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues. And in 2004 British cancer researcher Philippa Darbre found parabens present in malignant breast tumors. As a result, experts in many countries are recommending limits on paraben levels in cosmetic products. What’s more, watchdog organizations worry that if parabens can be stored in the body, over time they could have a cumulative effect and pose a health risk.

But here’s the flip side: Critics of the British study point out that noncancerous tissue from healthy breasts wasn’t examined to see if parabens were also present there, and that the presence of parabens in tumors doesn’t prove that they caused the cancer. Other studies have shown parabens to have a very weak estrogenic effect.

All this leads to concern about the unknown. Cook-Bolden tells her patients that “so far there’s no scientific evidence to support any link with any form of cancer.” Currently, the amount of parabens in any product is typically quite small. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization consider the chemicals safe at low levels.

The Bottom Line?

There’s reason to be mindful, but no reason to have an all-consuming concern about these chemicals. If it helps you rest easy, use a paraben-free body lotion (which coats a large area of skin). Today there are a number of formulas available from paraben-free brands. Labels that list the preservatives as one of the last four ingredients also indicate that the chemicals are present in very small amounts, said Andrea Kane, editor of Theorganicbeautyexpert.com.

If you want to play it extremely safe, use a few oil-based organic products that don’t contain water (which calls for a preservative). They often come in dark containers with a pump so that light and air don’t degrade them quickly.

“With truly natural products, just stay within their use-by date,” Kane said. “It’s like milk―the date is there for a reason.”

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/26/what-are-parabens-and-do-need-to-worry-about-them/

Bynaturael Products:

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This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you. Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

Bahan-bahan di Sabun Mandi yang Memicu Alergi

Vera Farah Bararah - detikHealth

Jakarta, Sabun mandi seharusnya berfungsi untuk membersihkan kulit seseorang dari berbagai macam debu dan kotoran. Tapi tak jarang bahan yang terkandung di dalam sabun mandi justru menjadi pemicu timbulnya alergi (alergen).

Alergen yang terkandung dalam sabun kulit dapat menyebabkan dermatitis yaitu suatu peradangan di kulit yang menimbulkan kemerahan, gatal atau bentol kecil-kecil yang berisi cairan.

Dermatitis bisa disebabkan adanya kontak alergen dengan tubuh melalui kulit sehingga menyebabkan peradangan, jika penggunaannya tetap dilanjutkan maka berpotensi menyebabkan masalah kulit yang lebih parah.

Salah satu cara tercepat untuk mengembangkan dermatitis adalah seringnya kontak kulit dengan sesuatu yang dapat memicu timbulnya alergi, salah satunya melalui sabun mandi.

Seperti dikutip dari Howstuffworks, Senin (22/3/2010) ada beberapa bahan dari sabun mandi yang sering menjadi pemicu timbulnya alergi, yaitu:

1. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

SLS adalah bahan yang umum ditemukan dalam sabun atau sampo. SLS adalah sejenis detergen yang berfungsi memecah minyak dan lemak, fungsi lain dari bahan ini adalah membuat sabun berbusa ketika digosok ke tubuh.

Beberapa mitos mengungkapkan bahwa minyak di tubuh bersifat kotor sehingga harus dihilangkan, tapi sebenarnya manusia masih membutuhkan minyak dalam jumlah tertentu sebagai perlindungan. Namun SLS bekerja dengan cara memecahkan zat berminyak yang dianggap asing termasuk lapisan minyak yang menjaga agar kulit tidak kering.

Jika SLS yang digunakan terlalu berlebihan akan melemahkan lapisan minyak yang menjadi penghalang masuknya unsur alergen dari luar, sehingga benda-benda asing dari luar bisa masuk dengan mudahnya.

2. Paraben

Paraben merupakan salah satu zat yang diproduksi secara alami dari kelompok ester, zat ini digunakan sebagai bahan pembuat sabun, sampo, pasta gigi serta deodoran. Reaksi alergi yang timbul memang jarang terjadi, namun jika sering digunakan akan meningkatkan kemungkinan reaksi alergi. Paraben juga sering dikenal dengan nama parahydroxybenzoic.

3. Balsam Peru (myroxylon)

Bahan ini digunakan sebagai campuran sabun, sampo dan parfum yang membantu memperlambat penguapan. Sekitar 60-70 persen balsam peru dibuat dari senyawa cinnamein yang sudah dikenal berpotensi menyebabkan alergi, sementara 30-40 persennya tidak diketahui terbuat dari resin apa. Gejala reaksi yang paling umum adalah eksim di tangan atau ruam merah di kulit.

4. Wewangian

Bahan wewangian ini biasanya campuran dari ester, aldehid, keton, amina dan bahan lainnya, sehingga sulit untuk menentukan bahan mana yang menimbulkan alergi. Pewangi sebenarnya tidak benar-benar berkontribusi terhadap pembersihan kulit, tapi hanya sebagai bahan tambahan saja. Reaksi alergi yang ditimbulkan dari bahan ini adalah kulit kering dan gatal.

Jika setelah mandi kulit menjadi kering, gatal atau muncul ruam-ruam merah, maka sebaiknya periksa kandungan dari sabun mandi yang digunakan. Karena ada kemungkinan salah satu kandungannya bersifat alergen bagi Anda.

Sumber : health.detik.com/read/2010/03/22/175626/1323065/766/bahan-bahan-di-sabun-mandi-yang-memicu-alergi

Bynaturael Products:

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Liquid Castile Soap

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you. Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

5 Things That Should Never Be In Your Makeup

With a bit of due diligence, you can find killer makeup that won't kill you.

By Leah Zerbe

Spring is right around the corner, inspiring us to reach for bright colors, not just in the closet, but in cosmetic aisles, too. But every time you slather a flash of color across your lips, you could be applying an alarming dose of lead to your mouth, a part of the body where the heavy metal is easily absorbed and ingested. In fact, a new report found lead contamination in cosmetics is more widespread than previously thought—400 lipsticks tested positive for the brain-damaging contaminant, with L'Oreal lipsticks being the worst offenders.

The lead—which isn't listed on the ingredient breakdown—could be coming from the colorant or another contaminated ingredient, explains Stacy Malkan, cofounder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry (New Society Publishers, 2007). Short of sending the lipstick to a lab for lead testing, there's not much consumers can do to avoid it (besides just not wear it).

"It shouldn't be this hard for consumers to avoid toxic products," Malkan says. "That's why we need to update the 1938 cosmetic regulations and give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority and resources to ensure the safety of cosmetics," she adds, referring to the outdated 75-year-old law that the FDA uses to monitor safety in the beauty industry.

When it comes to cosmetics, lead is just one thing to watch out for. Many of the complex chemicals used in makeup have never been tested for long-term impacts on human health before being introduced to the market. And these routine exposures to harmful makeup chemicals could be harming the health of millions of people whose only crime is trying to look cuter. "The average woman uses a dozen personal care products every day containing more than 180 chemicals, so the toxic exposures are adding up," explains Malkan.

Malkan says she avoids products that contain any of the following substances because they indicate that the company is not doing the best job it can to formulate the safest products.

To look your best without wrecking your health, learn how to avoid these 5 toxic ingredients commonly used in cosmetics.

1. Fragrance

If a cosmetic product's ingredients info lists "fragrance" or "parfum" as an ingredient, you might want to put it right back on the store shelf. These terms are catchall phrases that can indicate any of thousands of different chemicals, including some linked to asthma, allergies, hormone disruption, and even infertility. "The best advice is that simpler is better," Malkan says. "Choose products with fewer chemicals, avoid synthetic fragrance, and use fewer products overall, especially on kids and while pregnant."

2. Parabens

Parabens, preservative chemicals that have been linked to breast cancer, can be found in 70 to 90 percent of cosmetics, according to The David Suzuki Foundation, an organization that focuses on sustainability and health. Parabens are readily absorbed by the skin, and may even interfere with a man's reproductive system. Avoid any ingredient with "paraben" in the word, including methylparaben.

3. Triclosan

Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical linked to thyroid damage and partially blamed for the rise in hard-to-kill superbugs like MRSA. It's a common ingredient in antimicrobial soaps, but some cosmetic companies sneak it into lipstick and other products, too. Look for triclosan on ingredient labels, and particularly on labels making claims of being antimicrobial or germ free.

4. Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen, something you definitely don't want to be applying to your body. The problem is, many common preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products mix with other ingredients and start releasing formaldehyde. Ingredients like DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine, quaternium-15, and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate should be avoided; doing so will protect you from formaldehyde exposure.

5. Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Other PEG Compounds

Sodium laureth sulfate is a foaming agent used in shampoos and facial scrubs and to help your skin absorb lotions and other cosmetics. It's commonly contaminated with potential and proven cancer causers like 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, and products listed as PEG or polyethylene glycol often face carcinogenic contamination problems. Used in many cream-based cosmetics and as moisture carriers, other PEG ingredients should be avoided whenever possible.

When you shop, use these easy ways to find safer cosmetics and avoid the nasty stuff:

• Befriend this detailed database. This website will change your life, and for the better. Search Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetics database to check the safety of your current products, and to seek out safer products. Malkan recommends opting for products with scores ranging from 0 to 2, the safest picks. In addition, look for the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics' Champion Companies, organizations that pledge to disclose all ingredients and to avoid chemicals banned in other countries.

• Do your homework when it comes to "natural" makeup. For food to be labeled organic, farmers and food manufacturers need to follow strict laws. That's not yet true in the cosmetics industry, meaning there aren't regulations to keep products from using label terms like "natural" or "organic" when they actually contain harmful ingredients. The exception? If you see an actual USDA organic logo on a personal care product, it does indicate it has been made following strict organic standards. Without that logo, you should still read ingredient labels thoroughly and investigate the product on the Skin Deep database.

• Look for less-tainted lipstick. With the latest proof that many lipsticks contain lead, be particularly wary of this type of makeup. "Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels," explains Mark Mitchell, MD, MPH, policy advisor of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice and cochair of the Environmental Health Task Force for the National Medical Association.

Check the FDA lead-in-lipstick test results to look for brands with lower levels. As an added measure, you can call your favorite brand's manufacturer and ask if the company has a policy in place to protect against lead contamination in cosmetic products.

Source: http://www.rodale.com/safe-cosmetics-0?cm_mmc=ABCNews-_-Top%204%20Moisturizers%20For%20Dry%20Skin-_-Article-_-5%20Things%20That%20Should%20Never%20Be%20In%20Your%20Makeup%20RL

Bynaturael Products:

Natural Shampoo

Liquid Castile Soap

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you. Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

Bynaturael Natural Shampoo

When we refer to shampoo, actually our product is more like hair care since the product will care for your hair without producing any foam. The product is very safe and will not harm your hair, body or environment. The scent of the citrus combines with essential oil creates a traditional aromatic sense that will delight anyone entering the bathroom after your shower.

Furthermore, our products use PET bottle which is recyclable.

Currently the products are only available for Indonesia market.

490 ml and 245 ml

Rosemary Natural Shampoo for normal hair

The product contains the following:

Rosemary herbs.

Rosemary is said to improve the memory. It contains the antioxidants carnosic acid, androsmarinic acid, and other bioactive compounds including camphor, caffeic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, rosmaridiphenol, and rosmanol. Some of these may be useful in preventing or treating cancers, strokes, and Alzheimer's Disease.

Apart of it, the rosemary benefits for hair, in brief, are:

a. Stimulates and improves circulation to the scalp thus encouraging hair growth

b. Due to it's antibacterial quality it gently cleanses hair

c. Increases shine, especially for dark hair

d. Fights premature graying

e. Relieves irritated, dry, flaky, dandruff ridden scalps

Lavender oil.

Lavender oil is well known for its wide benefit towards our body. For those with imsonia, lavender oil is helpful in improving sleep quality , since it relaxes you and get rid of anxiety and depression. It can be used to control hair fall and improve hair growth, and get rid of itchy scalp and dandruff, treating lice and lice eggs. Besides, it also soften and moisturize the hair.

Kukui nut oil.

The amino acids and essential fatty acids present in kukui nut oil penetrate the hair shaft and leave hair looking healthy and moisturized. Kukui nut oil can be used as a treatment for an itchy scalp or dandruff. It has the same regenerative effects on the hair and scalp as it does for the skin.

Key Lime.

It is usually used as conditioner and greatly treats the hair and scalp. Its potent acid will help to remove dead skin cell and dandruff. It also helps reducing excessive oil in our scalp.

Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar removes clumpy residue and gunk in hair from product buildup. It also works as a natural detangler. When used regularly in your natural hair care routine, apple cider vinegar can revitalize your hair, leaving it soft and smooth. The vinegar also works by closing the cuticle of the hair, which makes light reflect off of it. In other words, it makes your hair super shiny!

Ingredients:

Aqua, Rosemary Herb, Corn Starch, Key Lime, Kukui Nut Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Xanthan Gum, Apple Cider Vinegar

Air, Daun Rosemary, Maizena, Jeruk Nipis, Minyak Kemiri, Minyak Lavender, Xanthan Gum, Cuka Apel

Price:

245 ml: Rp 65,000

490 ml: Rp 125,000

(price exclude delivery charge/harga tidak termasuk ongkos pengiriman)

245 ml and 490 ml

Peppermint Natural Shampoo for oily hair

The product contains the following:

Peppermint herbs.

It is widely use in culinary, hair care and medical purpose. Peppermint is actually an astringent which normalizes scalp's oil production. An oily scalp produces excess oil which is then distributed throughout the hair; that creates greasy, oiled hair. Peppermint eliminates this problem and makes the appearance of greasy, flat hair a thing of the past. Another benefit of peppermint is to promote hair growth.

Tea tree oil.

It has beneficial medical properties including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. A study showed that tea tree oil preparation was more effective against head lice than permethrin (a popular pharmaceutical remedy) and effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of the condition.

Kukui nut oil.

The amino acids and essential fatty acids present in kukui nut oil penetrate the hair shaft and leave hair looking healthy and moisturized. Kukui nut oil can be used as a treatment for an itchy scalp or dandruff. It has the same regenerative effects on the hair and scalp as it does for the skin.

Key Lime.

It is usually used as conditioner and greatly treats the hair and scalp. Its potent acid will help to remove dead skin cell and dandruff. It also helps reducing excessive oil in our scalp.

Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar removes clumpy residue and gunk in hair from product buildup. It also works as a natural detangler. When used regularly in your natural hair care routine, apple cider vinegar can revitalize your hair, leaving it soft and smooth. The vinegar also works by closing the cuticle of the hair, which makes light reflect off of it. In other words, it makes your hair super shiny!

Ingredients:

Aqua, Peppermint Herb, Corn Starch, Key Lime, Kukui Nut Oil, TeaTree Essential Oil, Xanthan Gum, Apple Cider Vinegar

Air, Daun Mint, Maizena, Jeruk Nipis, Minyak Kemiri, Minyak Tea Tree, Xanthan Gum, Cuka Apel

Price:

245 ml: Rp 35,000

490 ml: Rp 65,000

(price exclude delivery charge/harga tidak termasuk ongkos pengiriman)

All of our products do not contain the following:

1. Sulfate/Ammonium/SLS/SLES.

These ingredients are commonly found in shampoos and foaming hair products. They are used industrially as detergents, car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. They are used in hair products and personal care products because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added to these substances they thicken to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated.

The Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties. What's more, the journal adds, high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration. Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

2. Paraben.

Parabens are preservatives added to products to make them last longer on the shelves. They are estrogen-mimicking preservatives, found in breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women studied. According to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, longer chain parabens like propyl and butyl paraben and their branched counterparts, isopropyl and isobutylparabens, may disrupt the endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental disorders.

3. Mineral Oil.

Mineral oil is a derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. The oil coats the hair and acts as a natural barrier to moisture getting in the hair, and worse, after prolonged use, the hair becomes dry and brittle. Problem is, most persons turn to their hairdressers when the hair is in this state of dryness and breakage who then apply even more products containing mineral oil as this is what is in quite a bit of hair ‘repair’ products.

The more mineral oil used, the more the hair dries out. It’s like a vicious cycle that perpetuates itself until the hair breaks off completely or is chopped off because it got too thin.

4. Formaldehyde.

A potent preservative considered a known human carcinogen by the International Agency on Research on Cancer. Formaldehyde, also an asthmagen, neurotoxicant and developmental toxicant, was once mixed into to many personal care products as antiseptic. This use has declined.

But some hair straighteners are based on formaldehyde’s hair-stiffening action and release substantial amounts of the chemical. Many common preservatives also release formaldehyde into products (like DMDM hydantoin, quaternium, and urea compounds).

5. Fragrance

A chemical that might be linked to sperm damage, hormone disruption (which is linked to some cancers, thyroid disease, obesity, diabetes, and other serious health problems), reproductive toxicity, and allergy problems. (Analysis performed by the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a group with coalition members from the Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group, Clean Water Action, and other public and environmental health organizations)

How to avoid chemicals in common baby products

By Julie Revelant

Published June 27, 2012

FoxNews.com

Your baby smells even more beautiful after her bath, but as you wash her hair, lather her up with soap, and then slather on lotion, you could actually be exposing her to toxic chemicals. Chemicals—studies show—that are linked to cancer, autism, learning disabilities, infertility, allergic reactions and skin irritation, and other health complications.

Take Johnson’s baby shampoo. The product description states “as gentle to the eyes as pure water,” yet it isn’t as mild as you’re led to believe. In 2009, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found two chemicals in the shampoo that are linked to cancer: 1,4-dioxane, which is added to   create suds, and quaternium 15, a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. This past October, the chemicals showed up once again in product tests.

Of particular concern to the medical community and environmental health advocates are phthalates. A group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, phthalates affect the body’s hormonal system and can cause harm at critical times of development like during infancy and puberty.

“Phthalates interfere with reproductive functioning by  reducing the levels of sex hormones that are critical for development and functioning of sex organs,” according to Lisa Archer, National Director for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund.   “Our hormonal systems are really exquisitely finely tuned, and when we mess with those systems, you can have real problems,” she said.

And babies are especially vulnerable. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics,  81 percent of babies were found to have high levels of phthalates in their systems after using  shampoo, lotion and powder. And the more products they were exposed to, the higher the levels.

“Their systems are still developing. Toxic chemicals have a much larger effect on them pound for pound than they do for us as adults,” Archer said.

Phthalate exposure has also been linked to autism and learning disabilities, breast cancer, infertility and even childhood obesity, according to a recent study by the Children's Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Another group of chemicals that are commonly added to products are parabens. Parabens are preservatives, added to many water-based products to prevent bacteria from growing. And like phthalates, they are hormone disruptors; they mimic estrogen in the body and have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive problems.

“The reason that we’re concerned about chemicals like phalataes, is that they’re one of many chemicals that have the potential to disrupt hormonal activities,” according to Dr. Maida Galvez, Associate Professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who said that researchers need to look at the mixture of chemicals that our families are  exposed to.  

“Fragrance” is misleading  
Look at the list of ingredients on practically any product and chances are that fragrance will be listed. Yet what you think might be the product’s natural scent, is actually a blanket term manufacturers use to hide allergens, synthetic musks and hundreds of chemicals including phthalates.

“Labels are put on products to inform you, but often they leave you empty handed,” according to Margie Kelly, an environmental health advocate and communications manager for Healthy Child Healthy World. “If it says fragrance, that’s code for phthalates,” she said.

New legislation is necessary
Surprisingly, the FDA doesn’t have the authority to regulate the cosmetics industry. And the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel, and industry-funded, self-policing body which was created to assess the safety of chemicals has also fallen short. “In the 33 years since it was created, it has evaluated less than 20 percent of 12,500 ingredients used in cosmetics,” Archer said.

Many chemicals used in America are banned in other countries too. In fact, the European Union bans 1100 chemicals that are linked to cancer or reproductive problems, while the United States bans only 8.  “In the U.S, it’s the wild west of chemical use. Industries can use whatever they want to, whenever they want to, even cancer causing chemicals,” Kelly said.  

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 would give the FDA authority to regulate cosmetics and ensure their safety.  First and foremost, chemicals that have a proven link to cancer and reproductive and developmental problems would be phased out. Manufacturers would be required to provide a complete list of all ingredients including those currently called fragrance. Finally, the FDA would be able to assess the safety of chemicals. In addition, a safety standard that protects babies, children, and pregnant women would be put in place.  

What you can do
The best way to avoid exposure is to use less but when you do, buy organic products labeled phthalate and paraben-free, and those free of synthetic fragrances. If a product uses a non- phthalate fragrance, the label may state where the fragrance was derived from, like from an essential oil, for example.

Avoid products that contain quaternium 15, or words with the letters PEG at the beginning or ETH at the end. Use a diaper cream that doesn’t contain micronized zinc oxide and use mineral-based sunscreens without nanoparticles, also known as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

For products that use natural ingredients, check the expiration date and opt for pumps or bottles rather than jars. If the packaging is transparent, but the bottle in the back of the shelf as exposure to light can make it go bad faster.

Check the Environmental Working Groups’ Skin Deep site for tips, guides, and product ratings or download the Good Guide app and use the barcode scanner when shopping to find out if a product is safe. Also, email your U.S. representative today in support of the Safe Cosmetics Act.

Julie Revelant is a freelance writer specializing in parenting, health, and women's issues and a mom. Learn more about Julie at revelantwriting.com.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/27/how-to-avoid-chemicals-in-common-baby-products/print#ixzz2XTYVpX00

Bynaturael Products:

Natural Shampoo

Liquid Castile Olive Soap

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you. Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

What’s your skin eating?

Ecomom

Bynaturael Products:

Natural Shampoo

Liquid Castile Olive Soap

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

What “organic”, “natural” and other claims really mean

Published: October 3rd, 2012

“Organic” and “natural” are among various labels available on the market, and are highly sought after as consumers presume an underlying promise of better results for all skin types. But as is commonplace with the personal care and cosmetics industry, these words are not well understood.

Let us understand what natural refers to. Ideally, natural products are made from pure and undiluted plant derivatives and contain literally zero additives like mercury, alcohol, DEA, nitrosamines, alcohol, isopropyl and polyethylene glycol, and preservatives.

It is important to realize that there is no regulation on the labelling of ‘natural’ products.  A company can tag its product as natural as long as a single ingredient has been derived “naturally” or in other words, a natural source, but what about the amount of processing that happens in between? In the instance of being ‘naturally-derived’, it does not necessarily translate to a safe product.

For example, cocoamide DEA is said to be derived from coconut oil. But the chemical processing that takes coconut oil to cocoamide DEA alters it so much that there is nothing natural about cocoamide DEA. In fact, 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.

The same can be said about petrolatum, which comes from crude oil, and is considered naturally derived because it was taken from the ground. According to this article by Money Talks News, synthetic ingredients are acquired from many sources and all start off as natural, since we take them from the environment.

The Natural Seal, certified by the National Products Association dictates that natural products are those that are expected to contain at least 95% biological ingredients and are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic preservatives and artificial chemicals that pose potential risks to the body.  It is important to note that they need not necessarily use organic materials; just natural ingredients.

Organic is taking ‘natural’ up another notch. Organic products are, again ideally, manufactured organically from plants of organic sources, from ingredients that do not have any synthetic relation or affiliation with any genetically modified organisms.

Where biodynamic products are concerned, its ingredients are  cultivated using the biodynamic approach, which includes an emphasis on integrating farm animals, the cultivation of crops, and the care of the land; the use of fermented herbal and mineral preparations as compost additives and field sprays; an emphasis from its beginnings on local production and distribution systems using local breeds and varieties; and the use of an astronomical sowing and planting calendar.

When shopping for beauty products, look out for certifications. Here are some common certifications and what they mean:

·         Natural Seal (Natural Products’ Association) – products use natural ingredients, avoid ingredients with health risks, don’t use animal testing, and include a majority of biodegradable or recycled material in the packaging

·         Contains Certified Organic Ingredients (USDA) – products that contain less than 70% may list the certified organic ingredients on the information n panel of the product package

·         Made with Organic Ingredients (USDA) – the product must be at least 70% organic and may not display the USDA Organic Seal

·         Organic (USDA) – indicates that a product contains at least 95% organic ingredients

·         Demeter Certified Biodynamic (Demeter International) – products are made from ingredients that are grown biodynamically, adhering to the cycle of nature

·         Cosmebio/Ecocert (Both issued by Ecocert Org) – 95% minimum of natural/ naturally originated ingredients, with maximum 5% synthetic ingredients (click here to see the fine prints associated with this)

·         Soil Association organic – at least 95% organic ingredients used

·          

Not all certification standards are created equal; certifiers from some countries use less stringent definitions of ‘organic’, so it is best to get yourself acquainted with the various certifying agents, and how they work.

For a thorough list of international certifications, please see here.

When you are shopping for safer skincare products or cosmetics, whether you wish to go for natural, wildcrafted or organic is ultimately up to you, even though organic is generally seen as more likely to be purer and thus safer for your skin. But whichever choice you make, ensure you are not fooled by bogus claims and flowery scents.

For products claiming to be ‘Organic’ or ‘Biodynamic’, the safest thing to do is to buy them only if certified. There is no point in giving the products the benefit of the doubt, in case they do not have the necessary certifications.

For a ‘natural’ product, always check the ingredients list before making your way to the cashier, and make sure that harmful chemicals are not part of the deal. As a rule of the thumb, divide the ingredients list into three parts: the top third usually contains 90-95% of the product; the middle third usually contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%. This way you can judge for yourself the harmful potential of your personal care or cosmetic products.

It is always better to be safe than sorry. So don’t venture out to buy a product unless you are completely sure of its safety. If you are not convinced, my recommendation would be to move on to the next store.

Article submitted by Vaishnavi

Source: http://saferskin.org/what-organic-natural-and-other-claims-really-mean/

Bynaturael Products:

Natural Shampoo

Liquid Castile Olive Soap

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

Why You Can't Trust the "Natural" Label

Meaningless claims do more than just clutter up your shampoo bottle. They could be masking harmful chemicals.

By Emily Main

"Natural" is a meaningless term on food product labels, and it's even more meaningless on personal care products, which are subject to lax regulations as it is. A recent study from the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute shows just how little you really can trust that seemingly reassuring term on shampoos, soaps, sunscreens, and other body products.

Part of a larger study on chemicals in brand-name consumer products, researchers at Silent Spring bought and tested 43 products that marketed themselves as natural or less-toxic alternatives to standard cleaners, personal care products, and household items. Each one was analyzed for 66 chemicals linked to asthma and hormone disruption (chemicals that interfere with estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid chemicals, which leads to a variety of health problems including obesity and infertility).

Of the 43 products the group tested, 32 contained "chemicals of concern"—things like hormone-disrupting phthalates, synthetic fragrance chemicals linked to asthma, and parabens, preservatives linked to breast cancer.

"If a person were to use one of our alternative cleaners, the laundry detergent, bar soap, shampoo and conditioner, facial cleanser and lotion, and toothpaste, they would be exposed to 19 harmful chemicals," says Robin Dodson, ScD, a researcher at Silent Spring and lead author of the study.

Can You Avoid These Chemicals?
It's hard to avoid toxic chemicals that aren't listed on labels, and Dodson added that the companies that sell these products may not even know they're there. Some chemicals, such as nonylphenols and phthalates, can be introduced when the product is put in packaging or at some other part of the production process. Most of the companies whose products were tested are looking into the source of the contamination.

And to be fair to these companies, the levels of chemicals found in non-"green" products were even more alarming. The four conventional sunscreens tested contained an average of 22 chemicals each, and the shampoos averaged 11 asthma triggers and hormone-disruptors.

"We wanted to provide a clearer snapshot of what people might be exposed to," she says, adding that the Silent Spring group tested just a sampling of what's out there. "People are exposed to a wide range of chemicals in everyday products, but when products aren't fully labeled, we can't make informed decisions."

Popular online rating systems like the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, which gives out product safety scores based on the ingredients listed on the label, aren't much help without adequate label disclosure, either.

So what can you do? Dodson suggests a few things:

• Just use less. The fewer cleaners and personal care products you use, the fewer chemicals you'll be exposed to, particularly the ones that don't appear on labels.

• Use sunscreens as a last resort. Rather than panic about all the unknowns in regular or natural sunscreens, opt for long sleeves and hats and hang out in the shade.

Source:

http://www.rodale.com/natural-and-organic-products?cm_mmc=ABCNews-_-Top%204%20Moisturizers%20For%20Dry%20Skin-_-Article-_-Why%20You%20Cant%20Trust%20The%20Natural%20Labels%20RL

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com

6 Things Being Done to Make Your Cosmetic Products Safer

Posted on Feb 09, 2012

– Do your cosmetic products meet the regulations of your land?

The average woman uses 12 products with 10-12 ingredients on her body everyday. Since our skin soaks up these chemicals, it’s in our best interest to avoid things that could cause cancer, birth defects, developmental delays, and reproductive challenges. Find out how laws in your country are making your cosmetic products safer.

1. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 – USA

In the US, cosmetics could be regulated much more stringently for safety in the near future. Though The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 was just introduced on July 21, 2010, it marks the first time the rules for preventing harmful ingredients from ending up in shampoo bottles have been revised since 1938!

The bill hopes to force full ingredient disclosure, phase out cancer, birth-defects, and developmental harm-causing ingredients, provide safer working conditions for people in the cosmetic manufacturing industry, and create a health-based safety standard.

2. FDA Falls Far Short

This is excellent news for the American public. Not only has it been ages since the regulations have been revised, but currently, organizations like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are virtually powerless to prevent harmful chemicals like 1,4-dioxand and parabens from being added to products sold to Americans.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics estimates that a full 89% of all ingredients used in cosmetics in the US have never been tested for safety.

3. Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist – Health Canada

Health Canada has developed a very long list – the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist – that includes all of the chemicals and other ingredients they’d like to see minimized or eliminated altogether from cosmetic products and personal care products sold in Canada.

This is all well and good, but unfortunately the Hotlist has no regulatory power – it is only meant as a suggestion for manufacturers. So while many companies are voluntarily leaving these ingredients out of their formulations, not all do.

4. Canadian Cosmetic Labeling Laws

While the Hotlist might not have the teeth to make your cosmetics and personal care products safer, the Canadian Consumer Product Safety office has a New Ingredient Labeling Requirement that means as of November 16, 2006, all cosmetic products sold in Canada must list their ingredients.

Cosmetics, as defined by Health Canada, are things used for “beauty preparation (make-up, perfume, skin cream, nail polish) or a grooming aid (shaving gel, soap & shampoos and deodorants), all cosmetics.”

5. Cosmetics Directive – The Precautionary Approach in the EU

Unlike Canada and the US, the EU has much more control over the chemicals being used to create products for Europeans.

With over 25 countries included in the EU, the Cosmetic Directive lets EU citizens rest easy knowing that their government is working to protect them by requiring that all products sold in the EU to be free of ingredients that are known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, genetic mutation, or reproductive harm.

6. Regulation of Cosmetics – Australia

Even Australia has stricter laws than some other countries listed here.

Their Regulation of cosmetics has a list of chemicals commonly used in personal care products that they control for the safety of the public. Their labeling requirements are also a little more controlled.

Source:

http://www.skincarebeautyzone.com/products/cosmetics/make-your-cosmetic-products-safer/

This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com