Absorbing chemicals through your skincare

Why should we be interested in natural skin care? Our skin works hard for us.

It’s the largest organ in our body and provides a number of essential functions including protection, the regulation of body temperature and the creation of Vitamin D from sunlight.

There are 3 layers to skin – the epidermis, dermis and cutaneous layer.

For many years it was believed that these skin layers did an admirable job of keeping nasty chemicals at bay, but some sections of the scientific community have started to understand that this is far from the case.

Many now argue that when any chemical comes into contact with the skin it can be absorbed, with the exact effects dependant on a number of factors including the size of the molecules of a particular substance, duration of exposure, and health of the skin.

While the scientific debate continues, there’s no denying that at its most basic, chemical absorption can irritate, sensitise and destroy skin tissue.

Irritation might take the form of eczema or dermatitis.

Sensitising skin by frequently using harsh chemicals can make it much more prone to chemical irritation in the future. And destroying skin tissue prematurely ages skin.

The list of chemical ingredients found on some skincare products is longer than Paris Hilton’s shopping list, however a couple of the more common (and more easily pronounced) include parabens and mineral oil.

Parabens are one of the most widely used preservatives worldwide, regularly found in skin care products, cosmetics, toothpaste and shampoos.

In various studies they have been linked to everything from dermatitis to breast cancer.

Mineral oil is a by-product of petroleum and is a common ingredient in cosmetics, baby lotions and moisturisers. Suggested effects include disruption of the skin’s natural ability to rid itself of toxins, premature aging and damage to cell function.

The long and short of this is that if any skin care product contains an ingredient you don’t recognise, or can’t pronounce, it’s probably a synthetic additive, and you just can’t be sure how much of it you’re absorbing.

Our skin is designed to protect us from nature, not from chemicals and additives.

Why take the risk? Choose natural skin care products like Little Innoscents and stop irritating your skin.

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29 Comments

- - ella12 said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    2:12 pm
I definitely prefer natural skincare, yay!

- - mum888 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    7:27 am
I agree with this topic. One of the ingredients I dislike in any skincare is strong fragrances and harsh ingredients. In fact some brands love to put as much fragrance as possible to identify their name or products but simply do no justice to my skin as makes it more irritating and /or drier . It’s important to check ingredients in all beauty products before purchasing to be on the safe side .

- - mom81879 said
  - 16 Nov 2015
    1:11 pm
Sometimes, it’s good for our skins to absorb things. But in the case of harsh chemicals, it’s best to avoid them, full of poisons

- - mom57665 said
  - 15 Jan 2015
    2:24 am
I always wonder How much yucky chemicals I’m actually putting on my skin with every beauty product I use. Ah the harsh reality of it all.

- - mom62624 said
  - 13 Jan 2015
    11:24 am
Thanks for sharing this wonderfully informative article; I now use natural skincare everyday and it was the best decision I ever made, my skin has a healthy radiant glow.

- - mom107723 said
  - 11 Jan 2015
    2:49 am
All natural products i have found to work better, recently i have tried organic peat anti-ageing and it is a beautiful moisturising cream.

- - mom117219 said
  - 07 Jan 2015
    2:47 pm
Yes I love natural products than chemicals

- - meimei said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    11:45 am
That’s right must choose natural skincare and I’m not used much cosmetic in daily life.

- - keeleynme said
  - 01 Jan 2015
    10:29 pm
Myself and my children are very lucky to have good skin that isn’t sensitive.

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 27 Dec 2014
    12:58 pm
there is so much to worry about these days

- - tam_watters said
  - 23 Dec 2014
    7:50 pm
Since falling pregnant I have become so much more aware of what is going into my body.

- - mom93821 said
  - 14 Dec 2014
    8:46 am
Thanks for sharing this interesting article; plain and basic Vitamin E crème is great on skin.

- - mom67443 said
  - 12 Dec 2014
    5:22 pm
Thankyou, I was aware of harmful chemicals being used in many products but to use these chemicals in baby lotions is very alarming. Us the customer deserve to know and understand what is being put on our skin and in our foodWent to get Jimmy from over the road. That guy stopped me and said they are looking for u. All about $ I say.
- mom94125 replied
  
  18 Oct 2015 , 9:45 am
  lol sorry i don’t understand that last part really
- - mom94125 said
  - 06 Dec 2014
    9:55 am
yeah but the companies that make this stuff should be held accountable in regards to their research about the chemical’s effects

- - christial said
  - 30 Nov 2014
    2:03 pm
I’ve got really bad hand eczema from working and even natural remedies sting like crazy!

- - mom57665 said
  - 25 Nov 2014
    11:51 pm
even suncream has cancer causing chemicals and lipstick!!!

- - cloverstorm said
  - 18 Nov 2014
    4:01 am
It’s a bit of a worry that these chemicals are so prevalent in many of our everyday products.

But then again, I find it odd that people get so up in arms about certain things but are rather blase about eating hormone filled meat or using their cars so much & causing pollution that we all then in turn have to breathe in.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 16 Nov 2014
    9:53 pm
Thank you for the article. It was an interesting read, however I think it is useful if consumers weren’t just told about parabens and all the other things but really how to identify things on packaging, which I find a lot of people are challenged by including sometimes myself.

- - mom92217 said
  - 15 Nov 2014
    1:31 pm
Got to be so caRueful these days

- - rachkap said
  - 14 Nov 2014
    2:19 am
A very informative article – thanks