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Personal care in an ethical home

Reasons to choose natural and organic body care products.

Natural skin and hair care products offer a more ethical and greener alternative to the plethora of synthetic toiletries available these days.  The beauty industry is big business, with companies constantly creating supposedly miraculous new wonder products that it's claimed can help us look younger, smell nice and feel great.  The concern is that the majority of these body care products are made from a mixture of artificial chemicals, that can actually do more harm to our health than good.  If you eat organic foods then it makes sense to be equally as aware about the ingredients of your skincare products and cosmetics.

The human body has the ability to absorb 60% of what we apply to our skin, and 80% of what we put in our mouth is absorbed, so toothpaste is an important consideration too.  More and more products are being developed to meet our demand for products that are essentially designed to combat nature, such as 24 hour antiperspirant deodorant and whitening toothpaste.  Ask yourself whether you really need all these products, and look for natural or organic alternatives.

There are a number of commonly used ingredients found in toiletries and cosmetics that are best avoided - read labels carefully, or buy certified organic skin care products.

 Some chemicals to avoid include:

-Triclosan - A powerful anti-bacterial agent used in toothpastes, also found in household cleaning products.  Some countries have issued health warnings regarding its use in personal care products.

-Parfum - Made from artificial musks, which can accumulate in body fat with the potential to affect health.

-Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - A controversial but very common ingredient, used as an emulsifier and detergent, such as in shampoo and body wash.  It's thought to cause dry skin and irritation.  Another issue is that it can be produced from palm oil, which although a natural resource, is not environmentally friendly because in order to obtain it huge areas of rainforest is being destroyed, endangering the habitat of urang utans.

-Parabens - Used as preservatives.  Can cause skin irritation and are thought to be xenogestrogens, which interfere with the hormonal system.

-Methylmethacrylate - Has been linked to skin disorders.

-Mineral Oil - A very common ingredient that is derived from petroleum.

Deodorants:

There have been several reports in recent years highlighting the potential health effects of using certain types of deodorant.  In particular, aluminium chlorohydrate, an aluminium salt commonly found in roll-ons, has been linked to breast cancer.  Another concern is that traces of ingredients have been found in babies.  Aerosols are full of butane, propane and other chemicals that I can barely pronounce.  Their use has been associated with lung damage and skin irritation.  Many people believe that it is unnatural to stop perspiration and choose to use a natural deodorant rather than a synthetic antiperspirant.  Again, read labels and look for aluminium-free natural alternatives, fragranced with essential oils.

Natural alternatives:

There are some excellent natural and even certified organic skin care and hair care products available, which are not only better for your health and the environment, aren't tested on animals and don't come in excess packaging.  The laws regarding labeling of toiletries and cosmetics are not as strict as for food, so be sure to read ingredients lists carefully or buy only certified organic products to be sure that what you're buying is really as green as it claims to be.  Many women choose to buy cotton wool and feminine hygiene products made from organic cotton, while others use a menstrual cap or even washable sanitary towels.  Online stores can be great places to find quality hair and body care products made from plant-based and natural ingredients.