I've got a challenge for you. Take a look at the ingredients in some of your body products and cosmetics. Then take a look at the list below. These are common chemicals found in our everyday body products and the health risks they pose:
Dyes: Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33
What It Is: Coal tar
Health Risks: Carcinogenic
Where It's Found: Hair color, medicated shampoos
Fragrance, DEHP, DHP, DBP 5, Dibutyl Phthalate
What It Is: Phthalates
Health Risks: Sperm damage, infertility
Where It's Found: Nail polish, shampoo, deodorant, lotion
Hydroquinone
What It Is: Hydroquinone
Health Risks: Can cause a skin disease called ochronosis
Where It's Found: Skin whitener
Isobutene
What It Is: Propellant made from petroleum processing
Health Risks: Carcinogen
Where It's Found: Moisturizer, shaving cream, foot spray, breath freshener
Lead acetate, thimerosal, mercurius solubilis, mercurius sublimates, mercurius corrosives, mercuric chloride
What It Is: Lead and mercury
Health Risks: Found in higher levels in women with breast cancer; neurotoxin
Where It's Found: Hair color, wound treatments, artificial tears
Nano zinc oxide
What It Is: Nanoparticles
Health Risks: The safety of nanoparticles has not been tested, but they can cross the blood/brain barrier and move along nerves.
Where It's Found: Sunscreens, lotions
Petrolatum
What It Is: Derivative of petroleum
Health Risks: Endocrine disrupter; carcinogen
Where It's Found: Lotions
Placenta
What It Is: Placenta, placental enzymes, placental extract
Health Risks: Filled with hormones that upset your own balance and increase estrogen
Where It's Found: Skin and hair conditioner
Polyethylene glycol (PEG, PPG, Cocoate), propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene mineral oil
What It Is: Petroleum byproducts
Health Risks: Carcinogen; liver and kidney effects
Where It's Found: Lotions
Prefixes: Ethyl, Methyl, Butyl or Propyl
What It Is: Parabens
Health Risks: Endocrine disrupters that mimic estrogen; linked to weight gain and breast cancer
Where It's Found: Lotions and shampoos
Triclosan, Chloro, Phenol, Irgasan
What It Is: Triclosan
Health Risks: Endocrine and thyroid disrupter; promotes antibiotic-resistant bacteria; bioaccumulates in the body
Where It's Found: Antibacterial soap, shampoo, facial cleanser, toothpaste, deodorant
3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA), bexophenome-3 (Bp-3), homosalate (HMS)
What It Is: Sunscreen chemicals
Health Risks: Estrogenic activity; enhances the potential for pesticides to penetrate the skin
Where It's Found: Sunscreens
Scary stuff, isn't it?? The second part of the challenge is to stop using these chemical-filled products, a little at a time, or go whole hog and ditch them all! It's your health ... and your life. There are lots of natural alternatives available, including my Abundance Naturals line.