6 Skin Care Ingredients You DON'T

Want Touching Your Skin

It seems incredible, but many skin care products are loaded with ingredients that actually harm your skin over time.  In this brief article, I will outline a few of the most harmful.

Time to open up your cabinet and grab your lotions, creams, and cleansers!  I think you'll be shocked to see how many products rely on these ingredients. 

(Don't get discouraged!  For every ying, there's a yang, right?  Don't miss the ingredients that will reveal the naturally perfect skin, just under the surface.

Mineral Oil

Mineral oil is included in thousands of skin care products.  You can find also find it re-named as liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, and petrolatum (yum!) on product labels.  Why do so many companies use it?  It's dirt cheap!  After all, they have celebrity endorsements to pay for!  (Heaven forbid we would use that money to research a better product...I'm ranting...sorry...)

Okay...back to mineral oil.  The idea behind adding "mineral oil" is to create a barrier between your skin and the rest of the world, supposedly protecting your delicate skin from the weather and pollutants that can speed up aging. 

I'll be fair.  Mineral oil does do a great job creating the barrier.  In fact, it does such a good job, that your skin is suffocated.  Without the ability to "breathe" your pores get clogged up and can't eliminate toxins (a basic function of the skin).  This leads to acne flare ups and irritation.  Long-term use of mineral oil products can cause chapping, dryness, and promote wrinkles.

Instead of mineral oil by-products, look for products using plant-based oils.  Babassu oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil extracts...these all rest comfortably on your seat, maintaining the delicate balance of protection and breathability.  Click here to learn about these healthy oils.

Dioxane

Dioxane is a synthetic derivative of coconut.  Most substances contain high concentrations of 1, 4-dioxane, which is easily absorbed into your skin.  On January 1st, 1988, The State of California, under proposition 65, listed the substance 1,4-dioxane as a chemical known to cause cancer.

This known cancer-causing chemical is being "easily absorbed" into your skin on a daily basis...for years.  Youch.

Fragrances

Ask any dermatoligist or skin-care-professional, and they'll tell you to avoid skin care products (especially facial products) that contain fragarences.  Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body?  Your pores are like a giant sponge, soaking in whatever you put on top of it.  Most fragrances are produced from ingredients that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

Obviously, you don't want to smell.  Instead of slathering scented creams all over your face and body, choose a few spritzes of a body spray or perfume.

Parabens

Manufacturers use parabens (also called methyl propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben) as a perservative so the product can sit on the shelf longer.  Long touted as safe, recent studies have started poking holes in this belief.  Some studies showed allergic reactions leading to Rosacea.  A breast cancer study revealed that parabens were found in removed tumors. 

These studies are currently being hotly debated.  As numerous organizations begin to re-test and duplicate results, many companies are choosing to switch to natural ingredients that can serve the same purpose, and skip the contraversy. 

Side Note: Personally, I use Xtend Life's natural skincare products (and dietary supplements).  Their products are wonderfully refreshing on my skin.  I actually look forward to washing!  If you're interested, you can check out their skincare for women here.  (Are you a manly man?  They also have "rough and tough" products for rugged men who still want clean skin.)

Alcohols

Already top on the ingredient list, alcohols dry out and strip away the skin's natural acid mantel.  This makes you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds, and bacteria.  Look for the following on your labels:  ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl, alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and SD alcohol.

A better alternative to alcohol for skin cleansing is Kaolin, an extract from a New Zealand clay.  Read more about why Kaolin is better than alcohol for skin cleansing.

The "Secret Miracle Ingredient"

The last ingredient you should be wary of is the "secret miracle ingredient".  This ingredient is touted as a new miracle, "recently patented".  When you look on the label, it just says "AmazingXYZ" or some other undecipherable clever name.  Be warned.  If you cannot find detailed information on their website discussing what's inside that ingredient, stay away!

You aren't looking for their recipe, you just want to be able to see what you're putting on your face.  If I can't read specific studies, research, and details on the ingredients listed, I get suspicious.  What are they wanting to hide?  Couldn't they just list what's inside this so-called miracle patent?  It's MY face, so I want the info.

That's one reason I started using Xtend Life beauty products.  Their website is overflowing with more scientific information than I could ever swim through.  Where the ingredient is found...how it's used..what the studies showed...all answered in detail for every product.

Even if you're not in the market right now for skin care products, I still recommend browsing around their site.  The information will be well-worth your while.  That way, when you are looking, you'll know what to look for in a good product and what you should leave on the shelf.