Hello everyone!  My name is Laura Black and I am pretty new to Diva Cafe, but I have been enjoying the discussions very much.

I notice there is a lot of focus on Breast Cancer Awareness this month, so I thought I would throw in my two cents worth.

I just did an article on my site about Paraben and other unnatural ingredients that are commonly found in skin care products.

It turns out that about 60% of skin care products will absorb into the skin and go into the bloodstream.  One of the most common ingredients in skin care products (lotions, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, lubricants, toothpaste, sunscreen, cosmetics, kids skin care products, etc.) is paraben.  Paraben is a preservative usually found in the form of methylparaben and propylparaben.

Doctor's are finding paraben in breast cancer cells and tumors.  Paraben has been linked to breast cancer.

What's worse is that children have larger pores than adults, so their absorption rate is much higher.

There are a lot of really good replacement skin care products you can find that do not have paraben, artificial fragrances, colorings or any of the other stuff we do not want in our bodies.

It is so important that we take better care of ourselves and read the labels of what you buy.