Beautify yourself without risking your health with dangerous toxic ingredients. We share the chemicals to look out for in your cosmetics and skincare, why to avoid them and how to help your body to eliminate toxic substances.
Just like our liver and kidneys, the skin is a detoxification organ, helping to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body.
The skin provides a barrier that protects us from cold, infections and parasites (as well as holding us together!), but we are not hermetically sealed like a Tupperware container, and the porous nature of the skin cells means we absorb up to 60% of what we put on it.
More than skin deep
Toxic chemicals that are found in beauty and skin care products have been linked to many health issues including skin allergies, cancer, birth defects, reproductive problems, allergies and autism. We know that it is impossible to reduce your exposure to chemicals right down to zero, but where there is a choice, it’s best to be informed, and this will enable you to protect yourself and your family as much as possible.
No thanks! Here’s our guide to help you avoid the worst cosmetic nasties
Parabens (watch for: methyl, butyl, ethyl, propyl) are common cosmetic preservatives, and they disrupt our hormone balance by mimicking oestrogen. They have been found in biopsies of breast cancer tumours, and increase the expression of many genes that are usually regulated by the natural estrogen estradiol. Lab research has even shown parabens to cause human breast tumor cells to grow and increase in number. We’ll certainly be limiting our contact with these ingredients.
Phthalates (watch for: DBT, DEHP, DEP and ‘Fragrance’) are toxic chemicals found in many products including synthetic fragrances. They are industrial materials, involved in the flexibility of plastic and they make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates have been linked to birth defects, low sperm count and increased allergic response.
Phthalates (watch for: DBT, DEHP, DEP and ‘Fragrance’) are toxic chemicals found in many products including synthetic fragrances. They are industrial materials, involved in the flexibility of plastic and they make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates have been linked to birth defects, low sperm count and increased allergic response.
"Phthalates are toxic chemicals in many cosmetic products. Watch for: DBT, DEHP, DEP and ‘Fragrance’"
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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are lathering agents and detergents – so think primarily about your shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths. Known to cause skin irritation and allergies, these foamy ingredients produce a carcinogenic by-product called 1,4-dioxane. Because it is technically a contaminant, 1,4-dioxane doesn’t show up on labels, but is likely to be present when SLS and SLES is listed.
"Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate in shampoos produce a carcinogenic by-product"
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So we’ve given you the bad news, but don’t worry, we’re not here to frighten you to death! If you’ve been using products with some of these ingredients (as probably most people do several times per day), then here are some easy ways to support your body’s natural ability to deals with toxins:
- Drink plenty of filtered water (1.5-2 litres per day).
- Make a few cups of herbal tea per day, ideally cleansing ones that support the liver such as nettle, fennel, dandelion and green tea.
- Include cleansing superfoods in your diet such as Organic Burst Wheatgrass, which is rich in alkalising minerals and contains lots of fibre.
- Organic Burst Chlorella is the ultimate detoxification helper because it has been shown in numerous studies to remove alcohol, heavy metals, chemicals and environmental pollutants from the liver.
How to get going with Organic Burst Wheatgrass and Chlorella
Start with 1tsp wheatgrass stirred into a glass of water every morning before breakfast for a week. You can then introduce chlorella. Taking either 1tsp or 4 tablets of our chlorella, as well as the wheatgrass each morning will increase the detox effect. Squeezing lemon juice into your green drinks is a fantastic addition to add a fresh, zingy flavour, increase the nutrients and support of the liver. Once you have been taking your greens for a couple of weeks, you can go for a booster dose by either taking an extra teaspoon of wheatgrass in the evenings before bed / adding a teaspoon of chlorella to a spinach and banana smoothie / or taking 8 chlorella tablets a day.
Start with 1tsp wheatgrass stirred into a glass of water every morning before breakfast for a week. You can then introduce chlorella. Taking either 1tsp or 4 tablets of our chlorella, as well as the wheatgrass each morning will increase the detox effect. Squeezing lemon juice into your green drinks is a fantastic addition to add a fresh, zingy flavour, increase the nutrients and support of the liver. Once you have been taking your greens for a couple of weeks, you can go for a booster dose by either taking an extra teaspoon of wheatgrass in the evenings before bed / adding a teaspoon of chlorella to a spinach and banana smoothie / or taking 8 chlorella tablets a day.
"Organic Burst Wheatgrass and Chlorella help your body detoxify chemicals from cosmetics."
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If you have found that elimination of chemical nasties in your cosmetics a change in diet have helped your skin, we’d love to hear your story - leave you comments below, post on our Facebook and tag us @organicburst on Instagram and Twitter. We may share the best ones!
By Organic Burst Nutritionist Claire Marlow
Claire Marlow BA (Hons), DipIONFdSc, mBANT is a nutritionist at Organic Burst. Her interest is in restoring one’s control of their state of health, believing that there are too many people, especially in big cities today, ‘surviving’ rather than ‘living’. Claire has been featured in many publications such as Marie Claire, Women’s Fitness, Top Sante, Now, Natural Health, Daily Express and more.
Claire Marlow BA (Hons), DipIONFdSc, mBANT is a nutritionist at Organic Burst. Her interest is in restoring one’s control of their state of health, believing that there are too many people, especially in big cities today, ‘surviving’ rather than ‘living’. Claire has been featured in many publications such as Marie Claire, Women’s Fitness, Top Sante, Now, Natural Health, Daily Express and more.
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