Throw Away Your Toxic Cosmetics

If you are reading this, you have taken an important step in making your lifestyle just a little more healthier. Many of us using Douvall’s natural argan oil products are looking for a natural and healthy way to take care of our skin. Using a skin care products that has no carcinogens or lead is very important, however, what happens if everything else you apply and ingest is not natural?

Have you looked at the ingredients in your shampoo lately? Or your lipstick? Even your toothpaste which is directly ingested? Do they say “natural”? More often than not, you have to double check what you are buying, because labels can be deceiving. There are carcinogenic toxins and chemicals in most of your beauty products. The FDA has not required cosmetic companies to implement safety and health regulations.

What is the point of trying to look more “beautiful” if it means putting your health at stake, thus causing your skin to age faster and absorbing cancer causing chemicals?

Researchers have found that women wear about 515 chemicals daily on their body. What is applied is absorbed into our system in less than 26 seconds. Our skin is what we as a society take care of the most because we feel more confident with a healthy glow, rosy cheeks, and clear skin. The fact that we are told to drink two to three liters of water a day, is to keep our body and skin moisturised and balanced. Therefore, we should strive to keep our skin healthy and the natural way is the only way you will see a permanent long term change.

If you are a man, and you are trying to be conscious of what you put on your body, watch out. A lot of products cause a hormonal imbalance, which many decrease the amount of testosterone in your body.

Let’s go together through a list of common ingredients found in pretty much all non organic skincare products:

Phthalates is a chemical that harshly interferes in the hormonal production. The guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/phthalates-plastics-chemicals-research-analysis )  wrote the it was linked to asthma, ADHD, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, autism spectrum disorders, reproductive and neurological damage, a decrease in male fertility and premature delivery. This chemical can be found under the name “fragrance” and acts as a binding agent.

Lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc and chromium are found in lipsticks, foundation, eyeliner, nail color, blush, eye drops, whitening toothpaste. Exposure to these metals have strong effects on your health such as reproductive, immune and nervous system toxicity. A certain level of metals is necessary to regulate the functions of the body, however an accumulation of them can have severe consequences.

PEG Compounds,Polyethylene glycols, or PEGs are petroleum based compounds that are used for thickening, soften and gelatinize cosmetics. These are found in most cream based products. It is a carcinogen, that harms the nervous system and human development and have been found as a cause for cancer.

Petrolatum, also called Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil. used as a refiner, with a melting point close to body temperature, petrolatum softens upon application and forms water repellant film around the applied area, creating a barrier which does not allow the skin’s natural evaporation process of moisture and foreign properties. This ingredient causes infection.

Parabens, are not unheard of. We see on our products “paraben free” more and more. They are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics. What you put in your body will remain for a very long time. Feels odd to preserve your body in an unnatural way right ? Parabens have been found to be a Category 1 priority substance as they prevent the cycle of the hormonal functionment. They closely resemble estrogen, and have thus been linked to breast cancer cases, reproduction, and immune system. 

Other ingredients to look out for are : Quaternium-15, BHUT, sodium hydrozymethglucinate, methanamine, Butylated Compounds, Carbon Black, Hydroquinone, Homosalate, Formaldehyde, MEA, DEA, TEA, Coal Tar and the list goes on and on.

Your body is a breathing living organism therefore putting ingredients on your cells that infringe on their natural functioning can have very important long term effects on you that can take years to get rid of. If you live in a city, you are already breathing in pollution, and you find black particles on your face and your hair at the end of the day. It is important to do everything in your power to lessen the aging of your body cells and to boost their functionality.

If you like to use body scrubs in the shower, or when you wash your face, watch out for the beads used to exfoliate your skin. Many of these microbeads are made of plastic.

Can you imagine, you are rubbing plastic into your pores and cells almost everyday, and rinsing them out into our waters.

  Not only is this terrible for the environment, as the sea creatures and alrea have to now live with this plastic. Some creatures mistake them for small fish eggs and ingest them, thus causing them to be unable to digest them and therefore die. These plastic beads are then absorbed in the fish’s bloodstream which, therefore end up on our plates. It’s a never ending cycle. Watch out for your toothpaste with beads in them as well, as you are immediately ingesting them, and they can get stuck in your gums. Try alternatives like Sugar scrubs, or coffee scrubs. 

Exfoliating is important for a strong and supple skin.  Here are a few recipes to try:

Argan Face Scrub

Ground Oatmeal – 1 Tsp

Argan Oil – A few drops

Grind into a coarse or fine powder. Add oil to thicken the past to your preference

Argan Lip Scrub

Raw sugar – 4 tsps

Argan Oil – 1 Tbsp

Coconut Oil – 1 Tbsp

Rose Petals – 2 Tbsps

Honey – 1/4 Tbsps

Using a mortar, crush together. Apply to your lips and scrub in circular motion. wash off with warm water. Refrigerate the excess.

Argan Body Scrub

Argan Oil – 1 Tbsp

Vanilla Extract – 1 Tsp

Coconut Oil – 2 Tbsps

Espresso Coffee Grounds – 1 Cup

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Scoop out and refrigerate.

Switching your lifestyle can be difficult if you are so used to a beauty product you love, but take a look at it’s ingredients, and ask yourself if it is worth destroying your body just for looks, when you can look and feel better with all natural, vegan, cruelty-free products. Sometimes they are pricier, albeit, your body will thank you in the long run.

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