THE CLEAR SKIN DIET
Many skin care products claim to make you look younger, reduce the signs of aging, or return your youthful glow. However, did you know that these same products may actually be contributing to the aging process, causing allergic reactions, and worsening acne or eczema? Below are listed some of the most common chemical additives that you should avoid when purchasing any skin or hair care products.
For more information on how to achieve beautiful, clear skin, check out the book The Clear Skin Diet by Dr. Alan Logan, ND, FRSH and Dr. Valori Treloar, MD, CNS, FAAD (Cumberland House Publishing, 2007). In this book, you will learn about the link between diet, lifestyle, and acne. I have personally formulated over 50 recipes in the book according to the anti-acne, nutritional guidelines that are discussed in the book. To be linked to Dr. Alan Logan's website, please click on the following link: www.drlogan.com/books.asp
Click here to receive a sample of those recipes.
Contact me for a complimentary consult to find out how you can achieve clearer skin, using a combination of diet, lifestyle changes, supplements, herbs, and facial rejuvenation acupuncture for skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and others.
MINERAL OIL
Mineral oil is a preservative derived from petroleum. It is used because it is an extremely cheap ingredient that extends the shelf life of a product by 3-5 years. However, it cannot be absorbed by the skin and becomes a layer on top of the skin, preventing the skin from the ability to breathe. Basically, it sits on top of the skin and wraps it like plastic wrap. As a result, pores can become clogged, leading to blackheads, acne, and skin eruptions. It also leaves a greasy after-feel on the skin that cannot be rinsed off with water-based cleansers.
SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE (SLS)
This is the substance that causes a product to ‘foam’. It is a harsh detergent used in shampoos, toothpastes, lotions, and many other skin care products so you get the lather and suds that many people associate with cleanliness. It is a very popular ingredient that is even found in some ‘natural’ products as a coconut derivative (such as cocamide DEA or cocamidopropyl betaine). However, even when it says it is derived from coconut, it is still produced synthetically using chemical agents. SLS is such a strong detergent that it strips the hair and skin of its natural oils so that the hair and skin become dry. It may also irritate and damage the surface layer of skin, causing the skin and hair to crack or become inflammed. SLS is frequently combined with the chemicals TEA or DEA, both of which can form carcinogenic substances.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
A substance derived from alcohol that is commonly used in moisturizers as a humectant (a substance that holds moisture in cosmetics so it has a soothing effect on the skin). However in doing so, propylene glycol also repels moisture from the skin, preventing the skin from obtaining any moisturizing effect. In addition, propylene glycol is the main ingredient used in anti-freeze.
PARABENS (Methylparabens, ethylparabens, propylparabens)
These toxic, allergenic, synthetic chemicals are ubiquitous, found in virtually all personal care products, including some ‘natural’ products. They are preservatives used to extend the shelf life of the product but is an estrogenic chemical, meaning it imitates and potentiates the effects of estrogen on the body, contributing to health conditions associated with excessive estrogen exposure, such as breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and declining sperm counts.
SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S REALLY IN THEM?
