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Skin Care

from Fitness & Nutrition News

Although I am not a skin care professional, I have learned a lot over the years from experts in skin care like Bea Skinner and Marie Bertrand and this article shares that information with you. I have also learned that women, and now a number of men, are spending lots of money on skin care products. Guess which industry spends the most money for TV and magazine ads and has as much as 1,000% mark up on its products? You guessed correctly, the skin care industry.

You have probably heard many times that the skin is the largest organ of the body and that is the only organ that we need to nourish and protect from both the inside and the outside. What you may not know is that only about one percent (1%) of the nutrition from supplements gets to your skin. So, although I always tell people about the health benefits of nutritional supplements, we also need to be talking about skin care products.

But, there is a problem with most skin care products, many people have allergic reactions to them. I know there was only one commercial product my wife could use. The others would make her skin break out. The reason has to do with parabens, the preservatives most skin care products have in them. The only time I want formaldehyde on my skin is when I’m in the funeral home. My wife was lucky, she found a group of products that did not contain parabens or chemicals used for preservation. I’ll talk more about that later.

First let’s talk about why we need skin care products. By the way, we are not talking about cosmetics. That is a whole different subject, although there are concerns about preservatives in cosmetic products also.

One of the primary concerns is aging which is brought about by lack of moisture, caffeine, smoke, sun exposure, soap, and even skin care products.

Some of the symptoms and action steps to repair and protect are:

Symptoms of Skin Problems	Steps to Repair & Protect
Fine lines and wrinkles – crow’s feet & the #11 in your forehead	Exfoliate, fiber, and protect
Pigmentation disorders & sun exposure	Exfoliate, brighten, protect
Loss of firmness and elasticity	Fiber and thicken
Thinning skin	Fiber and thicken
Lack of radiance (glowing)	Exfoliate and brighten

Some of the undesirable ingredients used in skin care products include:

Mineral or Petroleum Oil – can block pores
Witch Hazel – contains alcohol, which can be an irritant
Collagen – cannot penetrate the skin
Cold Cream – contains mineral oil and beeswax
Silk Powder – causes sever allergic skin reactions
Animal By-Products – used animal fat from restaurants and dead animals
Peanuts – called hydrolyzed vegetable protein, can prove fatal
Lanolin – from sheep sweat, chemically it is a wax
Royal Bee Jelly – all marketing
Exfoliates – some contain ground up plastic and sea shells
Talc – may contain boric acid or zinc oxide and irritate lungs

Most women (and some men) use a process twice a day of cleansing, hydrating, and protecting/nourishing. In addition they use polishers, masques, and special products for blackheads, blocked pours and eye nourishing. Many of the products available on the market today contain undesirable ingredients listed above. Also, just because the product says “organic” does not mean the absence of formaldehyde producing preservatives.

I will never use soap again.

Soaps contain lard, lye, and fats (tallowate) and ingredients to help a bar keep its shape that can clog pores. Most bar soaps have a pH 7 factor or higher, increasing the presence of acne causing bacteria. Soaps that are advertised for oily or acned skin may contain even harsher ingredients. Shampoos, conditioners, and body moisturizers may also contain undesirable ingredients.

I use a shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner (without the harsh ingredients) and follow it with a moisturizer. I use a cleanser followed by a daytime protective emulsion for shaving. Soap has been removed from all of my skin and body care processes. There are also a number of companies producing skin care and body care products that are still using animal testing. The National Anti-Vivisection Society’s (NAVS) book on “Personal Care for People Who Care” contains more information on this subject.

When you eliminate the undesirable ingredients in skin care and body care products, there are a limited number of products on the market. To discover the products our clients are using successfully (including the pricing and packaging information) or to learn more about correctly applying skin care products, send an email to gail@freedomnow.net with “Skin Care Products” in the subject.