This is very interesting Montrose, CA (The Open Press) August 18, 2008 -- Millions of people
around the world go from one dry skin care product to another looking
for relief. They say a product just didn’t work for them, or that it
was working but isn’t anymore, and go searching for something else. But
rarely do you hear anyone say the product they were using was actually
making their skin worse. In fact, that is often the situation. What
they need is a skincare product that doesn’t exacerbate the skin problems they already have or cause new ones.

Is it really true that the precise products we’re using to address our
skin problems are either causing them or making them worse? Absolutely.
Traditional skin care products commonly contain ingredients known to be
irritants that compromise the integrity of the outer layer of the skin
and cause it to itch, dry, and crack. It can even result in eczema.

Here are a few major chemical ingredients to watch out for:

Proplyene glycol - Used in skin care products to facilitate the
absorption of other ingredients and prevent the product from melting or
freezing, propylene glycol is also used in antifreeze, as a fluid in
hydraulic presses, a coolant in liquid cooling systems, and to kill
bugs. It is also a common ingredient in moisturizers, cosmetics,
fragrance oils, toothpaste, mouth wash and even food. The Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) warns us to avoid skin contact with propylene
glycol and says it can damage the liver and kidneys. It is also
suspected to cause damage to the respiratory tract and the immune and
nervous systems. Nevertheless, it’s in an alarming number of personal
care products – including many of the skin care products that are
probably in your bathroom right now.

Mineral oil and other petroleum products – They coat the skin with a
slick film that makes your skin feel soft and supple. But it’s not your
skin you’re feeling, it’s the mineral oil. Underneath that slick
surface, you have clogged pores that can’t release toxins, can’t slough
off dead skin cells, and can’t absorb moisture from the air. That’s
what the mineral oil is actually doing. It also fools the skin into
thinking it has adequate moisture and the body stops producing it’s own
moisture in the quantity necessary. In a nutshell, the skin basically
becomes dysfunctional and can no longer do its job as the body’s
largest organ. To top it all off, a recent study found that mineral oil
promotes the growth of skin cancer tumors.

Sodium laurel sulfate and it’s weaker cousin, sodium laureth sulfate -
You’d be hard-pressed to find a face or body soap, shampoo, laundry or
dish detergent or even a toothpaste without it. It is a common
ingredient in skin care products – including those for dry skin and has
been proven to be a skin irritant. Any skin care product that irritates
the skin will compromise the integrity of the skin’s surface – which is
where dry skin and other skin problems begin.

These aren’t the only dangerous chemicals in skin care products but they are among the most common.

Unfortunately, chemicals are hard to avoid. Even if you do your best to
get natural products, it’s hard to completely eliminate them,
especially since most of us live in fairly polluted environments and,
if nothing else, we’ll absorb harsh and toxic chemicals from the air.
To really be safe, check out shielding lotion. A good shielding lotion
bonds with the outer layer of the skin to form a new protective layer
that locks out chemicals. It also helps the body retain natural
moisture.

When choosing skin care products, make sure they do not contain the
above ingredients. Do a little research on your own, and then select
natural skincare products
free of harmful ingredients. But don’t forget the shielding lotion – no
matter how wisely you shop to avoid chemicals in your household and
personal care products, you can’t avoid air. For the very BEST in Premium Swiss Skincare visit my website HERE