Look Before you Slather

So, you were wondering why I don't just use the cheap stuff. There are some good cheaper alternatives out there that are pretty allergy free. I'm thinking here of products like Cetaphil. The problem is, they are full of things that aren't healthy, such as Propylene Glycol and Dicaprylyl Ether and well, petroleum. Cetaphil is basically petroleum jelly with some chemicals added. The truth is, I'm just not into loading my body with petroleum products and chemicals, such as mineral oil, because what goes on your body also goes in it. I cannot rationalize slathering my body with the stuff. If I wanted to do that, I guess I could go swim in the Gulf off Louisiana.

Here's a good site that outlines in a really clear way some of the problems that plastics and petroleum can cause: http://www.ecologycenter.org/erc/petroleum/body.html.

Basically, these incredibly unnatural products cause cancer, disrupt our endrocrine systems and our brain function and so on and so on. They are in pretty much every drug store and department store beauty product. It's cheap, and its bad. Look before you slather, that's all I can say.

No Wen

Not recommended. At a friends suggestion I tried the "conditioning cleanser" Wen to help with my dry, dry hair. It's a glycerin-based, non-lathering cleanser. No soap, no striping of the hair. Sounded good, and it did help with the dryness, but it also gave me a exzema on my scalp that caused much empbarassment and took many months to clear up. This is because it contains the preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (related to isothiazolinone) both of which are allergens known to cause skin irritations, including chemical burns. Not to mention Dimethylamine (basically methanol and ammonia) and Butylene Glycol. Nice one, eh?

Do this instead? This "revolutionary" cleanser is really just glycerin watered down with aloe and some other herbal waters with added wheat protein (for body) and panthenol (to seal the hair surface and add shine - basically B5acid). So skip the Wen and make your own. Good vegetable gylcerin is available for a few dollars at any health food store. Obviously, you can buy aloe juice there too, but did you know you can also buy pantothenic acid and wheat protein? http://www.organic-creations.com/. I think I'll give it a try....

Hyaluronic Acid a Go Go

Recommended: Now Foods (http://www.nowfoods.com/) the vitamin company, has been making some basic beauty ingredients for years, though without much market presence and with some pretty ugly labels. I've been buying them online from a vitamin retailer. But then the other day at Whole Foods.... there they were, repackaged and with some new products. What I'm talking about are the Hayluronic Acid Firming Serum and the Hyaluronic Acid Creme, both of which are terrific (and I don't react to them.) The cream is an avacado oil, shea butter based night cream with soluble collagen and, of course, hyaluronic acid, which helps to bind moisture to the skin (or something like that). The serum is basically aloe with hyaluronic acid. Can't really go wrong with that if what you need is moisture (and I do). There is also a related moisturizer that is a thinner version of the cream for day use. Great!

Avoid if allergic to milk: What's not great is the company's Wrinkle Rescue Moisturizer from the same line. It says "restorative lift and toning" on the label, but alas, it caused the dreaded contact dermitis. I'm not sure which ingredient is the culprit, but likely it's lactoperioxidase, which is apparently cow's milk derived. Even using it on my hands makes me itch all over. Boo.

Now Foods site: http://www.nowfoods.com/