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Stay Beautiful During the Holiday Season

17 Nov 2011 05:39:12 AM

Tips for healthy and vibrant skin

Christmas and New Year are just around the corner! Look fabulous in social gatherings with healthy, glowing skin—from the inside out.

Your skin is one of the first feature people see. One of the functions of the skin is to eliminate toxins. When a person is overloaded with toxins, the skin can reveal the condition and look less than radiant.

Here are some tips to help you take good care of your skin and reduce the trouble-causing toxins, so you can look great and feel great in the holidays.

Tip One: SAY NO TO TOXINS—USE NATURAL PRODUCTS

20 PERSONAL CARE PRODUCT INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID 1. FORMALDEHYDE – An irritant, allergenic to the eyes and nose, that is neuro-toxic. It causes headaches, memory impairment and is mildly carcinogenic. It can be found in nail treatment products and anti-sting products. They out-gas from glue, paint, new carpet, dry cleaned clothes, particle board and many household or personal spray products such as hair sprays. 2. PARABENS – A hormone-disrupting preservative that extends a product’s shelf life. It mimics estrogen in the body and has been linked to breast cancer and early puberty in children. Generally, the longer the expiry date a product has, the more powerful parabens it contains. It is listed as methyl, propyl, ethel, isobutyl, butyl paraben, or alkyl parahydroxy benzoate. 3. 1,4-DIOXANE – A chemical carcinogen that is created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol. 4. PHTHALATES – Estrogenic plastics found in a wide range of products including hair spray and deodorant. This toxin is linked to birth defects and testicular cancer, both on the rise. Phthalates are also listed as Dibutyl (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) – DEHP, butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP). Phthalates are also found in bottled water sold in commonly used PET (soft plastic) containers 5. BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE (BHT) or BHA (butylhydroxy anisole, BHA/BHT,) – Can be found in a wide range of cosmetics, moisturisers and conditioners. It has been linked to behavioural and reproductive problems. The possible human carcinogen and endocrine disruptor is also found in food as E321, although some countries have banned its use in food, especially baby food. 6. TRICLOSAN – Found in antibacterial products such as soap, deodoarant, toothpaste, mouthwash, and also personal items such as foundation, face creams, lip gloss and shaving gel, it is bio-accumalitive and cannot be broken down properly. It has been found in human breast milk. Dioxins, which are endocrine disrupters and extremely neuro-toxic, are formed during manufacture or exposed to sunlight. Trade name Microban, chemical name - 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol. Chlorphenesin is another common antibacterial agent. 7. COAL TAR – It can be found in anti-dandruff or eczema shampoo. These items contain penetration enhancers that allows more mildly cancer promoting substance to enter the blood stream. If your shampoo is bright blue or bright green, it may contain coal tar. 8. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES – These endocrine disrupters, often used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic pliable, mimic hormones that can possibly alter genital development. They may lead to cancer, liver and kinder damage, and nervous system problems. Try essential oils instead if fragrance is what you are looking for. 9. NITROSAMINE – This carcinogenic compound develops once a product has been opened. One in 10 products on the market has been found to contain ingredients that, when combined with other chemicals, form nitrosamines. The nitrosamine levels in some products can double in four months, and increase by more than four-fold over 17 months. 10. TOLUENE – found in nail polish remover and nail polish. It is highly toxic to the central nervous system, eyes, blood, liver, kidneys and skin. Other names – Toloul, methylbenzene and phenylmethane. 11. OXYBENZONE, and OCTYLMETHOXYCINNAMATE – Often found in chemical sunscreens, they have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives. 12. PROPYLENE GLYCOL – It can be found in lotions, creams, baby wipes, shampoo, deodorants and cosmetics. It is linked to depression of the central nervous system and can cause contact dermatitis. Also known as propane-1,2-diol. 13. UREAS – Another preservative that can release formaldehydes, causing dermatitis. Watch out for this in the ingrediants under other names such as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin or sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. 14. MEA/DEA/TEA – These are “amines” (ammonia compounds) and can form harmful nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, they can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin. 15. PETROCHEMICALS – Derived from crude oil. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin, PVP/VA Copolymer (derived from nonrenewable sources) form a barrier when applied to the skin that prevent it from breathing and can clog pores. Often found in hairspray and cosmetics. 16. ALUMINIUM – Found mostly in antiperspirants, Aluminium is toxic and has been touted as a possible cause for Alzhiemer's disease, with studies showing elevated aluminium levels in sufferers. 17. ACRYLAMIDE – Possible human carcinogen, it can be found in moisturisers, conditioners, and skin masks. 18. P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE (PPD) – Found in hair dyes, body art ink, and also added to Henna, it is a contact allergen that penetrates the skin. It has been linked to cancer (in workers). 19. STEARALKONIUM CHLORIDE – It is usually found in hair conditioners and creams. Originally developed as a fabric softner, it is toxic and causes allergic reactions. 20. ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS (AHAs) – Found in many personal care products, it can cause skin reactions and may increase a person’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Do you know that on average, a woman absorbs up to 2.3kg of chemicals per year just from the skincare products she applies on her skin? Given this appalling figure, the purity of ingredients is critical, not only to skin health but also one’s overall wellbeing. Many skincare products are toxic and the toxins can stay in the body for a long time.

You would assume that most skincare products had passed through tests before becoming available on the shelves in large chains and pharmacies, and thus they are “safe”. But this is not necessarily the case in reality.

In the United States, the personal care products industry is virtually unregulated, and many toxic chemicals can be found in many common makeup, shampoos, and lotions. There is no law that says cosmetic products must be tested to ensure they are safe before sold.

Many harmful ingredients are not banned because they have not been proven to be a direct cause of injuries or death. Being exposed to a small amount of these chemicals will not harm your health in many cases but repeated exposure can be dangerous. When such products are applied daily to the skin and scalp, the toxic substances are absorbed, through direct contact and the massaging motion, into your blood stream. The harm outweighs the advertised benefits of moisturizing, rejuvenating, conditioning or whitening effects.

Here are some facts:

• 22% of all personal care products, including many children’s products, may be contaminated with cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane.
• The FDA has banned only 11 ingredients, compared to 1,100 ingredients banned by the European Cosmetics Directives
• Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association
• 61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues of lead
• 60% of sunscreens contain the potential hormone disruptor, oxybenzone, which readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% American users according to the EWG database 2010.
• Hypoallergenic means “less than”; manufacturers use this word when they believe the product has fewer allergens than some other products. There are no guidelines, let alone federal regulations, that define allergens. So “hypoallergenic” has little meaning.

It is important that you use natural products when possible. Make sure you look at the ingredients in a product before you apply it to your skin. (See “20 Personal Care Product Ingredients You Should Avoid”)

Some manufacturers, such as Lavera and Rosa Fina, make products for the skin and hair that do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals. You can purchase these from IMI, ask our dispensary team for more information.

Tip Two: A DIET GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN

Skin care products alone won’t achieve healthy skin without help from your diet. The less attention we pay to what goes in our mouth, the more problems we may see cropping up with our skin. A healthy diet will nourish your skin from the inside out and make you look great and feel great.

Berries are rich in anti-oxidants, which reduces oxidation of cells and rejuvenates your skin. Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries are all good choices.

Natural Honey is rich in B vitamins and many minerals, e.g. magnesium, calcium, potassium, as well as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents that helps fight off certain bacterial infections on our skin. It provides healing effect and speeds up recovery of acne faces. Natural honey tastes sweet but has a much lower Glycaemic Index than white sugars, thus has less effect on blood sugar level—a great option for diabetic patients (in moderate consumption).

Nuts, now known as another essential dietary category outside of the food pyramid we have been referring to for many years, is great for your skin and body. Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, while Flax and Walnuts are rich in omega oils. Both are good for your cell membranes.

Deep sea fish such as salmon, is rich in fatty acids—an essential elements for cell structure. Its Omega 3 content also reduces inflammation. Flax seed oil, canola oil are alternative choices for vegetarians.

Green tea contains polyphenols that are rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which fight off bacteria and free radicals known to cause skin aging.

Wholegrain, rich in B vitamins, is a good replacement of white refined bread, pastries, cakes and rice. It has less effect on raising blood sugar level, hence reduces the chance of activating an inflammation that often happens on broken skins.

Don’t forget water! It is best to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. It keeps your cells hydrated and flushes away toxins. Sugary drinks, known to weaken your immune system, should be avoided. At parties, alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water.

Tip Three: EXERCISE

Having at least 40 minutes of moderate exercise a day is beneficial to body fluid circulation and the respiratory-cardiovascular system. Sweating helps excreting toxins and restores body balance. Regular exercise enhances the production and regulation of endorphin, serotonin, epinephrine and dopamine, all of which are neuro-compounds that positively impact our moods, sense of content and immunity.

Tip Four: ADEQUATE SLEEP

Seven to 8 hours of sleep a day is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system to fight off bacterial infections and inflammation on your skin.

Tip Five: RELAX

Remember to relax. Don't stress yourself out over the holidays! Meditation can help you focus and feel the existence of your inner good self and the beauty around you.

 

If you have other concerns about your skin, talk to an IMI practitioner. We can help you protect your health and achieve long-term goals of total wellness. Ask our dispensary team for the right supplements or products, visit www.imi.com.hk or call 2523 7121 for more information.

References:
http://www.ewg.org/report/toxic-tub/31209
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-15-dangerous-ingredients-in-skin-care.html
http://ewg.org/node/25808
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2007/02/08/ewg-research-shows-22-percent-of-all-cosmetics-may-be-contaminated-with-cancer-causing-impurity/
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/sunscreens-exposed/nanomaterials-and-hormone-disruptors-in-sunscreens/