Organic Body ProductsIf you wouldn't put it in your mouth, would you apply it to your skin? Organic body products are important because you are consuming whatever you apply to your skin, it just gets to your system in a different way than if you were digesting it. Organic Body Products Body products on the market today can include hundreds of toxic chemicals, and there's very little industry regulation on what can and cannot be used to manufacture these products. Nail polish, for instance, contains known carcinogens. Some mouthwash and mouth rinse products have been linked to increased mouth and throat cancers. Chemicals like aluminum in underarm antiperspirant/deodorant can increase your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. If that isn't frightening enough, other chemicals and harmful additives in our everyday skincare products such as Paraben, Sodium Lauryl or Lauryl Sulfate, Paraffin, Petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances and chemical preservatives can contain toxins, skin irritants, which may even coat the skin and block pores, may cause asthma, ADHD, hormonal problems, decreased fertility and a whole host of other health issues.
Using organic body products can greatly reduce your risk for the ailments listed above. Locating true organic items can be tricky, though, so here are some tips. First off, you may notice that the prices are higher than on the regular products. This is not a guarantee of certified organic status, though.
Just this year I began using organic skincare products. The reasoning behind this was a diet I went on which did not permit me to use my normal routine. I went with pure aloe vera gel which is organic and has to be kept refrigerated. I smooth this over my face, neck, hands and arms. I also switched to an organic shampoo and I will soon be adding a few more organic skincare products to my collection, like a new cleanser, body lotion, sunscreen and body wash. I just cannot see continuing to use stuff full of chemicals on my skin, which has a high potential to cause health-related issues and I am very happy with my organic skincare products. Great Essential Oils Found In Organic Beauty Products Some of the most common ingredients that you will find in inorganic beauty products is artificial fragrances. Everything from lip balms and shampoos to body washes and moisturizers contain artificial fragrances that are created using chemical synthesis. Your lip gloss may smell like passion fruit and your body wash may smell like lavender, but if the fragrances are artificial then the smells were actually derived from coal or petroleum. Along with artificial fragrances, there are other chemicals like sulphates, phthalates, parabens, and more in inorganic beauty products. Making the switch to organic beauty products is a good choice for people who do not want to expose their skin to all of these unnatural chemicals and artificial ingredients. The scent of organic beauty products comes from essential oils that are extracted directly from plants. Essential oils have a very distinctive aroma and are said to be the "essence" of the plant. Just a few of these lovely aromas include: Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) - Not only does this essential oil have a wonderful smell, it also has natural toning and moisture retention abilities. Peppermint Leaf (Mentha arvensis) - This essential oil has an invigorating aroma that most people are familiar with. It also boast great antiseptic properties which fight fungi and bacteria. Clove Bud (Eugenia caryophyllata) - This rich essential oil has a warm and spicy aroma that people love. The oil has properties that are great for skin care, dental care, and more. Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) - The essential oil of the well-known lavender plant is both healing and incredibly fragrant. The scent alone is said to have a soothing effect. Pot Marigold (Calendula Officinalis) - Also known as Calendula, this essential oil boast a wonderful aroma and awesome healing properties. It works well to treat various skin irritations and it also has great antiseptic properties. Bergamot Orange (Citrus bergamia Risso) - Derived from a citrus plant this oil has a lovely aroma. The scent of this oil is often used for aromatherapy purposes, and the oil has antiseptic and antidepressant properties. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) - The plant from which this oil is derived has a longstanding history as a medicinal herb. It is known for being a mood lifter, a muscle relaxer, and an antiseptic oil. There are even more essential oils than this that you can find in organic beauty products. Whether it is a lip balm, body wash, lotion, or otherwise, you can use an all natural product that also has innate healing benefits. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lexe_Charleston
Why Organic Body Care Products? It is now a well-established scientific fact that continued exposure to a wide range of synthetic chemicals leads to detectable accumulations in body tissue. These chemicals include hormones, preservatives, pesticides, artificial fertilizers and antibiotics - the list is extensive. Many of these chemicals enter our bodies from the foods that we eat, particularly if that food has been mass-produced. If we accept the principle of trying to avoid synthetic chemicals in our lives, surely it makes sense for us to try and use organic body care products wherever possible. Other chemicals enter our bodies either through the air that we breathe or through our skin. We all know of the health risks associated with tobacco smoking, but it is a good illustration of how potent chemicals, in this case nicotine, can pass from inhaled air into our blood steam and hence throughout the body. It used to be thought that our skin was impervious and that no chemical substances could penetrate it and enter the body. This is now known not to be the case and skin patches containing nicotine and hormones are routinely used as an effective means of delivering these drugs into the body. It's not just medicines that can be absorbed - it is estimated that up to 60% of any chemical that comes into contact with the skin may be absorbed into our bodies. Since we now know that chemicals applied to the skin can be absorbed into the body, doesn't it make sense to examine just what we are putting onto ourselves? To find out more, we need to understand some of the basics behind organic personal care products. Herbs and herbal infusions Depending on the formulation these can form a substantial part of a product. A key ingredient in many organic skin care products is organic Aloe Vera juice, well known for its soothing and calming properties. Herbs are chosen for their particular properties, whether they be soothing, cleansing, astringent or whatever. Ideally, they are either certified organically grown or are wild-crafted from ecologically maintained stable environments. However, on occasion, it is almost impossible to locate an organic or wild-crafted source and non-certified plants must be used - an example is Water Lily extract. Oils and Waxes Many different plant oils are used in organic body care products and, just as with the herbs, the vast majority should be certified organic. Examples include Palm Kernel oil, Olive oil, Almond oil, Sunflower oil and Hemp seed oil. Certified organic Bees Wax may also be used in products which need to be water resistant. Some oils are obtained from wild-crafted sources which are carefully monitored to ensure that plants are harvested in a manner that is sustainable and which does not harm the environment. Fragrances and Scents The fragrances found in most good organic body care products come from herbal infusions, floral waters and essential oils. Herbal infusions should be made using certified organic herbs and pure spring water - nothing else. The floral waters used are ideally obtained through the distillation of certified organic flowers. These are true floral waters made using 1kg of herb to 1ltr of pure water, not weak infusions or fragrance added to water! Essential oils should normally be certified organic except where they are not available - an example is Myrrh. Compare these ingredients with the anonymous scents listed by most manufacturers under the blanket name of 'Parfum'. Emulsifiers Any personal care product that contains both water based and oil based ingredients must also contain an emulsifier. It is the emulsifier that enables these two normally repellent ingredients to mix together to form a cream or lotion. Without using an emulsifier, creams and lotions would separate into their different ingredients in much the same way as French Salad Dressing does when allowed to stand. There are many different emulsifiers in use today. Some are very mild in action and also mild on the skin, whilst others are more powerful and may be more irritant. Some are extracted from natural plant sources whilst others are synthetically produced. The emulsifiers used by good organic skin care companies are all extracted from plant oils such as coconut, palm kernel and olive oil. These should be mild in action and have no record of causing skin irritation. They cost more to use than some of the more powerful, synthetic emulsifiers but we believe they are worth the extra cost. At the time of writing, none of the emulsifiers available on the market is certified organic, but we are hopeful that this may change in the future with the introduction of new ingredients. Surfactants These are used to enable products to produce foam and to have a cleansing action. They are sometimes called 'foaming agents' and are found in all shampoos, shower gels, bubble baths, etc. As with emulsifiers, surfactants can be mild or strong, gentle or aggressive and from natural sources or synthetic. Once again, organic body care companies should only use surfactants extracted from natural plant material, and choose those which are known to be mild and gentle. Examples of the surfactants we use are Cocamidopropyl betaine, extracted from Coconut oil, and Decyl glucoside, which is extracted from corn. Unfortunately, at the present time no certified organic surfactants are available for use. Preservatives Any personal care product containing the range of ingredients described above has the potential to support the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds, and can also deteriorate through the process of oxidation. Responsible manufacturers must therefore look for ways to ensure that such contamination and deterioration does not take place during the expected life of the product. Some High Street brands achieve this by using preservatives which have been linked to the formation of formaldehyde, a known irritant and carcinogen. Others use high levels of ethanol (alcohol) which has been shown to have a drying effect on the skin in long term use. One UK organic body care company has found that by using a range of plant extracts taken from citrus seeds, rosemary and myrrh resin in combination with tiny amounts of a food grade preservatives such as Sodium benzoate and Potassium sorbate, it is able to achieve good product stability and safety whilst minimising exposure to synthetic chemicals. Occasionally, in formulations with particularly high levels of organic ingredients, a stronger preservative may be required in which case a tiny amount of Phenoxyethanol may be used. Although this is a synthetic ingredient, it has an excellent safety record and is very well tolerated. It is also on the list of permitted preservatives for use in cosmetics certified as organic by the Soil Association, and is approved under the Nordic Swan mark scheme that measures the environmental and health impact of cosmetic ingredients. Research is continuing into this area in the hope that one day it may be able to avoid the use of all non-plant sourced preservatives. Alexandra Gubbins from Green People, a pioneering UK company in the field of organic body care. At Green People we firmly believe that consumers have a fundamental right to know every ingredient in the personal care products they buy, and remain opposed to the use of blanket descriptions such as 'Parfum'. We will continue to give full ingredient disclosure not only on our product labels, but also in our catalogue and on our website http://www.greenpeople.co.uk View the original article and many more at http://greenpeople.co.uk/features.aspx Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Gubbins
Organic Soaps - Chemical Free Soaps for You and Your Family There are a variety of soaps out there available in the market. However, most of these soaps are made of synthetic materials and chemicals and hence may not suit all the skin types. Comparatively the organic soaps are more preferred since they are safe to use and have no side effects. Made from all natural ingredients, these soaps are suitable for all skin types. Most people are very conscious about their skin and appearance and hence they make every effort to keep their skin glowing and good looking. There are a number of various other skin products which claim to enhance the looks but then experimenting with too many chemical products can lead to skin problems like skin irritations, dryness, uneven skin tones and acne. Organic soaps contain natural and organic products like natural oils which are extremely beneficial. The natural extracts from plants like lavender and jasmine and a combination of the various natural oils also give these organic soaps therapeutic value. Since these soaps have no side effects one need not worry about skin irritations, dry skin and other skin problems. As a matter of fact these natural ingredients make the skin better and more beautiful. These soaps are specially recommended for those who suffer from acne as a part of skin therapies and treatments. With natural colors and scents the soaps look even more attractive. These organic soaps are also beneficial since they promote a clean and a green living. These soaps are available in recyclable containers and the liquid bath soaps come in refillable containers. Apart from all this these soaps are easily available in the supermarkets, skincare clinics, spas and salons. Another thing about these organic soaps is that they can be ordered online and they are very affordable. In a broader sense these organic soaps also help in doing their bit to lessen the global warming. You can buy Organic Handmade Soaps from online stores and get great discounts. Click here to know more about Organic Handmade Soaps Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Thomson
Natural, Organic Face Creams Need No Animal Testing! Finding a truly organic face cream can be difficult. The USDA sets standards and inspects farms providing organic foods. Those farms may also provide the ingredients for skincare products. But it's hard to determine whether or not that is the case. What you and I expect when shopping for organics might not be the same as the cosmetic company's definitions. Most companies add some type of sunscreen to their product. While sunscreens fit the technical definition of organics, there is a great deal of controversy concerning whether or not they are safe. Here's what the companies should provide. They should provide safe plant-based oils and extracts, purchased from growers who do not use chemical pesticides. They should not add artificial preservatives, colorings or fragrances to those good ingredients. They should go easy on essential oils, which are concentrated plant fragrances that can cause allergic reactions and neurological problems. The ingredients should not be tested on animals. There would be no need for animal testing if companies used only non-toxic ingredients. That provides a clue about what the cosmetic companies have been selling us all of these years. If it burns or damages an animal's skin, logically it would not be good for human skin. An organic face cream should contain the protein keratin, because the nutrient is needed for the construction of new cells. The keratin should be derived from sheep's wool, not from animal hooves, poultry beaks or other byproducts. The best form is Functional Keratin. It is the only form that is fully usable by the skin's cells. It is a supplement grade, rather than a cosmetic-grade protein. Functional Keratin has been shown in clinical testing, with human volunteers, to provide numerous anti-aging benefits. To be included in an organic face cream, the manufacturer should be able to trace the wool it comes from to trusted farmers. Honey is often found in natural skincare products. Some varieties provide numerous benefits. Manuka honey for example has natural antibacterial and antioxidant activity. If the bees gather their pollen in a polluted environment, the honey will contain impurities. There are still some unpolluted areas on the planet, far from industry and shipping lanes. The South Island of New Zealand is an example of a good location for gathering honey. Manuka is usually included in night creams, under eye gels and deep cleansing masks. It gets its name from the Manuka bush, which is native to New Zealand. Regular use of an organic face cream containing Manuka honey and Functional Keratin will help to reduce acne breakouts and stimulate the skin's immune system. After a few weeks of daily use, it will improve the skin's firmness. Under eye gels containing those ingredients will reduce bags and dark circles. All of these benefits have been proven in clinical studies. Of course, many of the products on the market just aren't that good. Take the time to evaluate the ingredients and the manufacturer before you buy an organic face cream. That's the best thing you can do. Valerie Rosenbaum is a knowledgeable author on the subject of natural, anti aging skin care products. She prefers products that are loaded with natural ingredients that nourish the skin's ability to heal itself. The products she uses and recommends reduce fine lines and wrinkles with Phytessence Wakame, Functional Keratin & Cynergy TK. To learn more visit her skin creams website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Rosenbaum
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