created, you will need stabilizers and preservatives to hold it together.” To keep their lotions, shower
gels, and baby products safe, Weleda uses essential oils, which provide a natural preservative action.
While writing this book I tested and studied ingredients in hundreds of cosmetic products. Too
often, when thoroughly reading the ingredients in a 72 percent “organic” hand cream, I discovered
that methylparaben was shyly hiding at the end of the list of ingredients, almost blending in the
luscious floral design. The ingredients list further revealed triethanolamine and fragrance (unlikely to
be naturally derived), both printed in very small, all-capitalized letters, making it very difficult to
read. There was plenty of blank space on the label permitting a larger type, but the company usually
chose not to attract attention to synthetic bulk in their “organic” creations.
Our skin eats anything that we put on its surface. I bet you already know that junk food, with all its
flavor enhancers, preservatives, synthetic fillers, and highly processed ingredients, is not good for
our bodies. When you use beauty products loaded with chemical ingredients, you are feeding your
skin highly processed, artificial junk food. If you try eating healthfully, why use junk beauty products?
Allergies:When Pink Is Not Pretty
Although experts say that only one in ten people has ever developed an allergy to a cosmetic
product, I have yet to meet a woman whose skin would happily accept anything applied to it. Most of
us have experienced a pink spot or an itch after using a new foundation or a facial treatment. For most
of us, something as minor as itching is not a reason to panic.
Contact dermatitis is the most common skin disorder. It can be an irritant reaction (most commonly
caused by irritating substances) or allergic reaction (caused by allergens, less common but more
severe). Irritant contact dermatitis happens when harsh chemicals directly injure the outer layer of
epidermis and irritate the skin. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when the immune system reacts
against a specific chemical that it considers foreign and harmful. While irritant dermatitis flares up
almost immediately, an allergic reaction can develop even after you have used a cosmetic product for
some time. Lips, eyes, ears, neck, and hands are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies.
Symptoms of cosmetic allergy include itchiness, redness, swelling, mild fever, and blistering—
definitely not pretty!
Green Fact
Pimples, redness, itchiness, and rashes are all signals that our body rejects certain ingredients in cosmetic products.
It may take a while to figure out what causes the allergy. You use about a dozen products on a daily
basis, among them makeup, moisturizers, cleanser, toner, sunscreen, and antiaging serum. How do you
go about finding the cause of the problem? While strong irritants such as fragrances cause a reaction
within seconds, weaker irritants such as preservatives may take up to ten days to trigger an allergic
response.
Some cosmetics are labeled “allergy-tested” or “hypoallergenic,” but do not let this fool you.
“Hypoallergenic” means that the manufacturer thinks the product is less likely to cause an allergic
reaction. To justify this claim, some companies simply do not include fragrances or pack the lotion
with fewer preservatives. The claim “dermatologist-tested” on cosmetic products only means that a
skin doctor has checked the ingredient list to see if the product will generally cause allergenic
problems. Other label claims that are meaningless include “sensitivity-tested” and “nonirritating.”