Do You Read Labels? The first ingredient of any product is what makes up the majority of that product. For example if the first ingredient of your cleanser and moisturizer is water, than the majority of your cosmetics nothing but water. That is why it is important to know what is in your products. Are you interested in knowing what you are applying to your skin? Just as there are healthy and unhealthy foods, the same applies to skincare products. Here is a list of skincare ingredients to avoid. *MINERAL OIL (baby oil) - A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum, mineral oil can attract dirt and causes blackheads and eruptions, it blocks natural immune barrier of skin. It can accelerate free radical damage, thus speeding up the aging process, because it causes toxins to build up in the skin. *DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine) cause the product to foam holding dirt in suspension to washed away, also to balance pH. It is found in bubble baths, shampoos, soaps, body washes and facial cleansers. They may contain hormone disrupting chemicals that are know to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. * PARAFFIN WAXE – Wax is widely used in cleansing creams, eye creams and moisturizers. Waxes clog pores creating blackheads and whiteheads. They also smother the skin, which over a period of time, creates an enlarged pore problem. * LANOLIN - A yellow, semi-solid, fatty secretion from sheep's wool is widely used in skin and beauty care products. It can cause an allergic reaction in some people, as well as enlarged pores. * PETROLATUM - This familiar semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons is derived from petroleum. Literally, "paraffin jelly" or "petroleum jelly" - it is not absorbed by the skin and suffocates pores. All petrochemicals pollute our water and destroy marine life - avoiding them is essential for humans, animals, fish, water, land and air. * ACETONE - Used in nail polish and nail polish removers, this colorless, volatile liquid is often used in astringents, fresheners or clarifying lotions. It is extremely toxic and will dehydrate the skin while speeding up the aging process. * BORAX (Sodium Borate Boric Acid) - Used in baby powders, eye creams, skin fresheners, and protective creams as a preservative- it is rapidly absorbed by the skin. And it is still widely used, despite repeated warnings from the American Medical Association. * ALCOHOLS SUCH AS ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, SD ALCOHOL 40, ETHYL ALCOHOL- Alcohols dissolves the body's own natural moisturizers and strips the skin of its own protection, leaving it vulnerable to infection. Alcohols destroy the skin pH balance and since they absorb water they speed up wrinkling of the skin. They can cause headache, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting and coma. * FD&C- When this abbreviation precedes the name of a color, it means that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has certified it as safe for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food. D&C colors are usually synthetic, coal tar colors; they're toxic and should be avoided when at all possible, They are carcinogenic, and cause skin sensitivity and skin irritation. * FRAGRANCES (synthetic musks) they give the product a pleasant scent. They are found in most beauty and personal care items. They may be carcinogenic, toxic, allergic reactions, bio-accumulation in human and fish! * METHYL, PROPYL, BUTYL AND ETHYL PARABENS. They extend the shelf life of the products by inhibiting microbial growth. They are just about every skin care and hair products made today. They known to be toxic, to give allergic reaction and to irritate skin, hormones disruptor, found in some fish also. * PROPLYLENE GLYCOL (PG) it is a surfactant/ wetting agent and solvent. It is found in make-up, hair product, lotion, aftershave, deodorant, mouth wash and toothpaste. It is used in antifreeze for the same function. They can break down cellular structure (skin) It can also cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. *SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) OR SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) It is a hash detergent, degreaser and surfactant/ wetting agent. It is found in cosmetics, tooth pastes, about 90% of all products that produce foam. I can cause permanent damage to children's eyes, skin irritation and potential carcinogen. *TRICLOSAN It is antibacterial chemical. It is found in dish washing fluids, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams and tooth paste. It is known hormone disruptor, suspected carcinogen, skin irritations, can bio-accumulate and cause “super-bugs” *UV FILTERS (OXY-BENZONE,OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE). A UV stabilizer and filter UVB light. It is found in sunscreens and foundations. They possibly harm human cells, estrogenic effects, transexualisation in male fish. I challenge you to read labels, to find out what is safe and effective and would benefit you and your skin the most. The skin is the largest organ of our body - a barrier between us and the "outside", and our first line of defense against pollution, chemicals, and the germs and dirt of everyday life. Our skin is also a delicate filtering system, allowing substances to enter our bodies and even our bloodstream (as an example, think of the many medications that are administered through the skin), and helps us eliminate toxins from our systems. It's important to make sure that the lotions, soaps, creams and powders that we use on ourself and especially on our children are as natural and healthy as possible. Many of us have dry skin, and most lotions, salves, and oils contain high percentages of mineral oil or other petroleum products. Unfortunately, mineral oil does not absorb well into the skin, and in fact clogs pores and makes it difficult our skin to eliminate toxins. Mineral oil is also a non-renewable resource; it is a by-product of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil. Given these facts, it's preferable to use natural vegetable oils as the base ingredient in natural lotions, salves, and moisturizing oils. Many products also contain colorants, fillers, and fragrances that unfortunately do little except irritate sensitive, delicate skin. Synthetic ingredients and fragrances can also exacerbate eczema, acne, and rash. Unscented, all-natural products are the safest things to use on our family. Aromatic plants and oils have been used for thousands of years, as incense, perfumes and cosmetics for their medical and culinary applications. Their ritual use were an integral part of the tradition in most early cultures because of their religious and therapeutic roles . Natural aromatics and perfume materials were one of the earliest trade items of the ancient world, being rare and very prized. ADDITIVE AND THEIR NUMBER CODES A handy supermarket guide  Photocopy and keep with you when shopping   NUMBER FOOD ADDITIVE NUMBER FOOD ADDITIVE 100 Curmerm, Turmeric 250 Sodium nitrite 101 Riboflavin 251 Sodium nitrate 102 Tartrazine 252 Potassium nitrate 104 Quinoline yellow 260 Acetic acid, glacial 110 Sunset yellow FCF 261 Potassium acetate 120 Cochineal, Carmines 262 Sodium acetates 122 Azorubine 263 Calcium acetate 123 Amaranth 264 Ammonium acetate 124 Ponceau 4R 270 Lactic acid 127 Erythrosine 280 Propionic acid 129 Altura red AC 281 Sodium propionate 132 Indigotine 282 Calcium propionate 133 Brilliant Blue FCF 283 Potassium propionate 140 Chlorophyll 290 Carbon dioxide 141 Chlorophyll-copper complex 296 Malic acid 142 Food Green S 297 Fumaric acid 150 Caramel 300 Ascorbic acid 151 Brilliant black BN 301 Sodium ascorbate 153 Activated vegetable carbon 302 Calcium ascorbate 153 Carbon blacks 303 Potassium ascorbate 155 Brown HT 304 Ascorbyl palmitate 160 Carotene, others 306 Tocopherols concentrate, mixed 160(a) Beta-Carotene 307 Alpha-Tocopherol 160(b) Annatto extracts 308 Gamma-Tocopherol 160(e) Beta-apo-8' Carotenal 309 Delta-Tocopherol 160(f) Beta-apo-8' Carotenoic acid ethyl 310 Propyl gallate ester 311 Octyl gallate 161 Xanthophylls 312 Dodecyl gallate 161(8) Canthaxanthin 317 Erythorbic acid 162 BeetTed 318 Sodium erythorbate 163 Anthocyanins 319 tent-Buty1hydroquinone 170 Calcium carbonate 320 Butylated hydroxyanisole 171 Titanium dioxide 321 Butylated hydroxytoluene 172 Iron oxides 322 Lecithin 181 Tannic acid 325 Sodium lactate 200 Sorbic acid 326 Potassium lactate 201 Sodium sorbate