TRY AN EXPERIMENT… Line up all the haircare and skincare products you use each morning and count the number of ingredients listed in the small print.  It may surprise you to realise the number of different chemicals and unspecified fragrances you may use every day. A growing number of us are switching to organic foods to avoid the effects of pesticides, genetic modification etc. Yet we appear content to apply creams and unguents to our skin that are full of chemicals, despite the fact that our skin absorbs as much as 60% of everything it touches which then  gets absorbed into our bloodstream. Hence what we put on our skin may be even more crucial than what we eat. Over time our bodies will have absorbed a substantial quantity of these synthetic chemicals, some of which accumulate in the cells where they can remain indefinitely producing adverse changes in cell structure.

PARABENS?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives that are usually used in combination with methyl-, propyl-, and butylparabens in order to be most effective. They are known to cause irritations to sensitive skin types. They are found to cause heart tissue problems over extended periods and are also known to have oestrogenic effects in the body and are under discussion about their influence in breast cancer.

PEGs/POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS?

Polyethylene Glycols are commonly used synthetic emulsifiers and combine water and oil phase in the skin care products. They are very problematic chemicals as they have been found to open the pores of the skin and facilitate environmental toxins to enter the body more easily. Examples of these environmental toxins are DDT, DDE and they have the ability to influence the endocrine and reproductive systems.

SLSs?

 Sodium laurel sulphate and similarly, sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) are common detergents that are used in most shampoos, Toothpastes, bubble baths, shower gels and other cleansers. They are known as surfactants, that is substances that can reduce the surface tension of a liquid and thus allow it to foam or penetrate solids. They are  also industrial grade detergents, or degreasers.

So why is a dangerous chemical like this used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple - it is cheap. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved. the eyes readily absorb SLS, destroying delicate tissues there. the American Journal of Toxicology has found that SLS irritates skin tissue, corrodes hair follicles, and impairs the ability to grow hair. It also enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain. Many sufferers of scalp complaints have eased their conditions simply by using a SLS-free shampoo and many users of sls toothpastes have found their mouth ulcers disappear when they switch to an SLS free brand.

 Do not believe that just because a product is labeled as "natural" it is free from SLS or SLES. Most common brands of "Natural" or "Herbal" shampoos and cleansers still use these harmful chemicals as their main active ingredient - check your labels!

Another such chemical is propylene glycol. Its industrial use is as anti-freeze, but it is also included in hair conditioners, deodorants, cosmetics, body lotions, skin creams and toothpaste. Increasingly, it is being added to human and pet foods because it acts as a humectant, helping to retain moisture. When used in skin creams it glides on smoothly, drawing moisture to the outer layers of the skin, giving the appearance of moisturizing the skin. Material safety data sheets, which give handling instructions for hazardous chemicals, state that propylene glycol is implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage and liver abnormalities; it also causes eye irritation, skin irritation, nausea and headaches. The American Academy of Dermatologists showed that propylene glycol was a primary irritant to the skin even in low concentrations.

Often, so-called natural products contain SLS and propylene glycol. Adding essential oils and natural herbs to these harmful chemicals destroys any therapeutic properties of the natural ingredients.

The reality of modern living is that many of us are suffering from the adverse effects of a highly chemicalized lifestyle. Some of these poisons affect delicate organs and glands, whilst others are stored in the fatty tissues of the body. As more poisonous chemicals are absorbed, sensitivities increase in their severity, resulting in often chronic debilitating diseases.

Symptoms often include headaches, nausea, fatigue, depressed immune responses and joint pain, to the more severe, such as increases in birth defects and problems, attention deficit disorder (ADD), emphysema, asthma, skin complaints, cancers and multiple sclerosis. As Dr Epstein sums up, the problem is that the process is so gradual that the cause is not established.

Alcohol
A colourless, volatile, flammable liquid produced by the fermentation of yeast and carbohydrates. Alcohol is used frequently as a solvent and is also found in beverages and medicine. As an ingredient in ingestible products, alcohol may cause body tissues to be more vulnerable to carcinogens. Mouthwashes with an alcohol content of 25% or more have been implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancers.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid
An organic acid produced by anaerobic respiration. Skin care products containing AHA exfoliate not only damage skin cells, but the skin’s protective barrier as well. Long term skin damage may result from its use.

Aluminium
A metallic element used extensively in the manufacture of aircraft components, prosthetic devices and as an ingredient in antiperspirants, antacids and antiseptics. Aluminium has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Animal Fat (Tallow)
A type of animal tissue made up of oily solids or semisolids that are water-insoluble esters of glycerol with fatty acids. Animal fats and lye are the chief ingredients in a bar of soap; a cleaning and emulsifying product that may act as a breeding ground for bacteria.

Bentonite
A porous clay that expands to many times its dry volume as it absorbs water. Bentonite, commonly found in many cosmetic foundations, may clog pores and suffocate the skin.

Collagen
An insoluble fibrous protein that is too large to penetrate the skin. The collagen found in most skin care products is derived from animal skins and ground up chicken feet. This ingredient forms a layer of film that may suffocate the skin.

Dioxins
A potentially carcinogenic by-product that results from the process used to bleach paper at paper mills. Dioxin treated containers sometimes transfer dioxins to the product itself.

Elastin of High-molecular Weight
A protein similar to collagen that is the main component of elastic fibres. Elastin is also derived from animal sources. Its effect on the skin is similar to collagen.

Fluorocarbons
A colourless, non-flammable gas or liquid that can produce mild upper respiratory tract irritation. Fluorocarbons are commonly used as a propellant in hairs prays.

Formaldehyde
A toxic, colourless gas that is an irritant and a carcinogen. When combined with water, formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant, fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde is found in many cosmetic products and conventional nail care systems.

Glycerin
A syrupy liquid that is chemically produced by combining water and fat. Glycerin is used as a solvent and plasticizer. Unless the humidity of air is over 65%, glycerin draws moisture from the lower layers of the skin and holds it on the surface, which dries the skin from the inside out.

Kaolin
A fine white clay used in making porcelain. Like bentonite, kaolin smothers and weakens the skin.

Lanolin
A fatty substance extracted from wool, which is frequently found in cosmetics and lotions. Lanolin is a common skin sensitizer that can cause allergic reactions, such as skin rashes.

Lye
A highly concentrated watery solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Lye is combined with animal fats to make bars of soap, which may corrode and dry out the skin.

Mineral Oil
A derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil. Mineral oil forms an oily film over the skin to lock in moisture, toxins and wastes, but hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out.

Petrolatum
A petroleum based grease that is used industrially as a grease component Petrolatum exhibits many of the same potentially harmful properties as mineral oil.

Propylene Glycol
A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In skin and hair products, propylene glycol works as a humectant, which is a substance that retains the moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. Material safety data sheets (MSDS) warn users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
Harsh detergents and wetting agents used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and auto cleaning products. SLS is well-known in the scientific community as a common skin irritant. It is rapidly absorbed and retained in the eyes, brain, heart and liver, which may result in harmful long-term effects. SLS could retard healing, cause cataracts in adults, and prevent children’s eyes from developing properly.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)
SLES is the alcohol form (ethoxylated) of SLS. It is slightly less irritating than SLS, but may cause more drying. Both SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic formations of nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with other ingredients. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing.

Talc
A soft grey-green mineral used in some personal hygiene and cosmetic products. Inhaling talc may be harmful as this substance is recognized as a potential carcinogen.

We at the Beanbag

do not believe that it is possible to be 100% chemical free and live in the modern world. We can however take responsibility for our health by following the advice of experts and eat as much organic food as possible, preferably raw or freshly cooked. We can also begin to read food and product labels, avoiding those that contain harmful ingredients and instead use safer and ecological alternatives to conventional household and personal care products.