Tea Tree Oil

Who hasn’t heard of tea tree oil?  Lot’s of products even those manufactured artificially contain this essential oil in order to help remedy a number of ailments including pimples, dandruff, lice, boils, eczema, psoriasis and even yeast infections.  It is a common ingredient in creams, shampoos, lotions and soaps.  But how much do you really know about tea tree oil?

Tea Tree oil is distilled through steam from a plant called Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to Australia.  It was originally used as a substitute for tea, hence the name.  The medicinal part of the plant is its leaves which contain antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

The Australian Aborigines used Tea Tree oil to cure burns, skin cuts and infection by grinding the leaves and applying the crushed leaves directly onto the infected area.

Today tea tree oil is used in a wide array of personal care cosmetics.  One of the most well known applications is to help minimize and remedy acne or pimples.   Researchers in Australia noted during a study that people who experience mild to moderate acne found a significant improvement after application.

People who suffered from dandruff also benefit from tea tree oil.  The same study also extended the research to dandruff sufferers and found that dandruff was controlled after 4 weeks of continuous use.

Tea tree oil has been around for centuries and researchers are finding more ways to utilize this product.  This oil is used in diluted form as allergic reactions can be experienced when used in its full strength.

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The Cancer That Is In Your Home Right Now

More aptly, the killer that is in your home right now and you might have used it this morning, dousing your family’s bodies with carcinogens without you even knowing it! If you haven’t had the chance to examine your skincare products closely—perhaps doing a little research about all those scientific terms that only the manufacturers could understand– then you might be a victim of consumer misinformation. Don’t fret though, since you are not alone.

When it comes to our families, we should know that safety should always come first before anything else. The problem is, due to the kind of life we are living now where stopping to smell the flowers is already considered a crime, we rely on the things we hear and see through media. More often than not, media tends to be a manipulating tool. Whenever there is manipulation, expect deceit to be in close proximity as well.

We have seen its effects, not only to our bodies but to the environment as well. To humans, if we are lucky, we get as little as a rash but to a compromised, vulnerable body, you get cancer—the most deadly condition to date. As we go suffering from these so-called “skincare products”, the environment has its own set of problems to contend with due to the usage of these chemical laden products. For one, most of these chemicals are nonbiodegradable which means their composition wouldn’t normally breakdown. Although they won’t clog your sewage system as they are miniscule in size, just imagine what it can do to our underwater friends. It’s like putting poisonous gas in the air you breathe. Here’s a list of commonly used skincare products at home:

·    Alcohol
·    Mineral makeups
·    Mineral oil
·    Synthetic colors and fragrances
·    Talc
·    Triclosan

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Nanotechnology Being Used In Products Despite Toxicity To Humans And Environment

When the nano technology was first introduced in the early 1980s, most of the people were amazed by this spectacular idea. Share holders invested a lot of money in nano based industries because they knew the next growing business is nano technology.
‘Nano’ means extremely small or mathematically it means one billionth (10-9) of a meter, so Nanotechnology is that knowledge and ability that can construct potent devices by engineering a single atoms until they are molecularly sized.
After only three decades the industries working on this technology is so much enhanced that we are fascinated at how technology is advancing and how efficient we can use the resources around us to make life easier. Nanotechnology is being used every day to develop new electronics and cosmetic products. However, are we really being environmentally friendly by producing and using these products?
The more the particles become small, the more it is a threat to human defense system. Today many leading multi-national cosmetic companies are manufacturing these nano-particle contained products that can be toxic to humans and their environment. Some bizarre facts about the harmful effects of nano particles are listed below:-
1.    In 1997, an Oxford scientist discovered that nano-particles found in sunscreen created free radicals that had damaged DNA.

2.    In 2004, British scientist Vyvyan Howard published initial findings that had indicated gold nanoparticles might travel through a mother’s placenta to the fetus.

3.    In early 2002, the University of California in San Diego revealed that cadmium selenide nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, may cause cadmium poisoning in humans.

4.    In 2002, CBEN (Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology) indicated that nanoparticles accumulated in the bodies of lab animals and fullerene could easily travel through soil and be absorbed by earthworms. This is a potential link up in the food chain to humans.

Nanotechnology may appeal as the wave of the future and advancement in skincare with the allure of warding off signs of aging but consumers must understand the damage these nano particles can do to the human body.

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Be an Eco-Chic Today!

When you hear the word eco-chic, you know that it has something to do with the environment and trendiness. The term indeed is for the environment but we hope it will last forever since trend, by definition, is a fad—bound to come and go.

Environmentalists still believe that environmental consciousness should be embedded deep within us. Everyone should make an effort to adjust their lifestyles according to what is right for the environment since it’s already showing signs of distress, and we are the ones to suffer if things get out of hand. Because of the overwhelming response to the environmental call, the concept of eco-chic was born.

Eco chic is not all about clothing and cosmetics, it encompasses all aspects of one’s life, even to the way you eat. From as simple as eco bags to as grand as designer furniture, eco chic must have it all just as long as it’s green and very environment-friendly. The idea behind this is to instill savviness in eco practices and hopefully encourage others to do the same. It is meant to bring out the beauty in saving the world and add a little spice into it. Trendsetters call it “being green without sacrificing style”. Basically, being an eco-chic involves a whole lot of lifestyle changes.

However, there’s a downside to this eco-chic practices, one of which is the tendency of people buying eco-chic stuff just to be “in” when in fact, it defeats the purpose of sustainable living. One should remember that embracing ecofriendly practices means consuming less and to consume less means to buy less too.

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Placenta: Is It Really Good for Your Skin?

Placenta usage for your skincare needs is still a debatable issue and an ongoing one. Manufacturers claim that they are as natural as it can get while critics stand firm in their belief that the product is not only unethical but poses a real health risk as well. Unfortunately, placenta creams are virtually flying off the rack these days as more and more users come out to attest to the product’s effectivity. Apparently, it also made a rift in green communities worldwide.

The main ingredient in placenta creams is of course, placenta, particularly the ones coming from cows and humans. It undergoes purification process and then extracted to be formed in creams, lotions and soaps. They are so effective they earned high praises from its loyal users. Placenta, by the way, is the lining of the womb that comes out along with your child when giving birth. In a nutshell, the placenta acts as the nutrient supplier to your developing child inside the womb. Naturally, a placenta is expected to be rich in nutrients by the time it comes out but do take note that it also acts as toxin reliever for the fetus inside since he or she is still unable to do this on his own.

Placenta is indeed natural since it is not man made but what shakes critics the most is that manufacturers claim their products to be natural when in fact, it is already processed and mixed with chemicals to stabilize the product and make it more attractive to use. Also, studies have found that placenta-based skin care products can be heavily laden with hormones triggering hormonal surge to humans making it very unsuitable for children’s use.

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Minimizing Your Cosmetic Health Risks

You and I both are aware on how intricately woven these issues pertaining to cosmetic health risks are. If we take them at face value, it is easier to see warning signs but with the constant evolution of cosmetic products, it becomes harder to distinguish the good from the bad. For me, the best way to prevent cosmetic health risks from touching our lives is to avoid using them all together. Sadly, this is something that is easier said than done. So, we resort to the next best thing, minimizing. Here are some ways to somehow lessen harmful cosmetics’ impact to our health:

·    Always read labels. This is done for you to know what things were used in manufacturing the product. Labels are required by the law so more or less, they are dependable.
·    Hypoallergenic doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. It only lessens the chance of you having a reaction to the product when applied.
·    Always do a patch test when you’re about to use a new brand/ product even if it looks harmless.
·    Cosmetics expire too. Take note of their expiration date since most of the time, they are not indicated accordingly.
·    Avoid using spray cans whenever possible. Healthcare authorities are concerned about the risk of inhaling the chemical particles when they are used by the consumers. When this happens, it may trigger a reaction within the lungs.
·    Cosmetics can be very harmful for your children too. Place it somewhere that’s not within their reach.
·    Not everything that the manufacturer claims is true. Be very weary when you hear a good sales pitch. Instead, do your own research and use your own gut-feel.

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Do Without Cosmetic Testing on Animals

In an effort to bring cosmetic products that are safe for humans, animals suffered tremendously worldwide. These animals were killed, mutilated and tortured just to make sure that your cosmetic needs are met accordingly. But, seriously, can we afford such cruelty?

Every year, animals are bought in batches by cosmetic companies and taken into testing sites. From then on they will be the main objects for measuring levels of toxicity, skin irritation and eye tissue damage in which the key ingredients may incur. These are very painful procedure and some of these animals actually die during the process itself—if they do, lucky for them, their bodies will just be thrown out back to the wild but those who unfortunately, survived these experimentations are left to live with the damages for the rest of their lives. These tests are simply inhumane, not to mention, they could never be accurate since these laboratories are not testing a human reaction, only that of an animal. In short, animal experimentations are not essential to cosmetic products since they can still cause adverse reaction when applied to human skin.

Organizations for animal rights never said that the war against cosmetic testing would be easy; especially when cosmetic companies find it easier to butcher these animals than seek other testing alternatives that won’t use live ones. Aside from the cosmetic products we apply directly to our skins, these animals are used for testing household cleaning agents as well. Just imagine what these animals would have to go through just to ensure that these products are safe for us to use. On the other hand, animal rights activists strongly recommend banning those companies who still practice these procedures and go for organic and natural products instead since these products don’t need to be tested anymore.

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Sunscreens, Cancer in a Bottle?

Most people use sunscreens to avoid the harmful effects of the sun on the skin.  Indeed prolonged sun exposure can actually induce the early appearance of freckles and wrinkles.  But a study published in the British Medical Journal reports that sunbathers who use sunscreens with higher SPF have a higher risk of developing skin cancers.  This is because a chemical called Oxybenzone which is a standard ingredient in high SPF sunscreens can cause more harm than good.

Oxybenzone’s job is to filter ultra violet light on the surface of the skin, converting it from light to heat.  Once heat is absorbed in the skin, it has the potential to damage cells.  Once light is converted into heat, it can cause basal damage to growing cells which causes malignancy in growth and cause cancer.  Scientists at the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in New York say that sunscreens are very effective in preventing sunburns and cancers like Carcinoma but not against Melanoma.

PABA or para-benzoic amino acid which works in the same way as Oxybenzone also has similar effects.  For sunbathers and sun worshipers it would probably be better to use the old and tried tested method of applying tin oxide which reflects the sun’s rays rather than absorbing it.  It is also widely used in wound dressings and is safe.  Calamine lotion which has a Zinc oxide base is colored pink and washes off easily can also be used as a substitute for PABA or Oxybenzone based sunscreens.

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Collagen in Cosmetics, A Scam??

Collagen is one of this century’s cosmetic hits.  Most cosmetics with collagen as an ingredient tout their products for making the skin smoother, healthier and more supple.  But the sad fact is, collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein.  This means that no matter how it is applied, it is too big a molecule for the skin to absorb.  Which further means that the collagen in your lotion, toner, shampoo or conditioner is just for “advertising” purposes and has no effect on the body at all.

Collagen is a natural substance found in humans.  It is the “glue” which holds our muscles, tissues, organs and bones together.  Without collagen, our bodies would literally fall apart.  But another gross fact about collagen in cosmetics is that it is derived from animal skins our ground up chicken feet!!!  Collagen from these sources too cannot be “rebuilt” in order for our skin to absorb.

When applied to the skin, collagen forms a layer which may disrupt oxygen transport which can suffocate the skin.  It can also cause blocked pores which can result to bad acne breakouts and rashes.  When ingested collagen is poisonous and can cause serious health effects.

Collagen and another similar compound called Elastin is also a common ingredient in cosmetics.  It has a similar effect to collagen and is as damaging to the body.  The sad truth is that, cosmetic companies manufacture products with collagen and elastin and advertise these products as healthy, when in fact these ingredients only add on to the price with no positive physical effects on the skin and body whatsoever.

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Natural Organic Facial Care

Our skin is the body’s biggest organ and is sometimes the most neglected.  Whoever said that beauty is only skin deep must be very beautiful indeed because our skin is sometimes the best indicator of what is going on in our body.

Our skin is susceptible to infections like acne, rashes and other skin ailments.  Most skin care products contain chemicals which do not only do more harm than good to our skin but to our environment as well.  However, there are herbs which help alleviate pimples and rashes and can help our skin look young and fresh looking.

Aloe is a very good herbal medicine for acne and wrinkles.  Aloe contains alpha hydroxy acid which nourishes the skin and reduces wrinkles.  Aloe also soothes skin irritated by acne.  For best results wash the face with warm water and vinegar.  Apply aloe to skin and leave over night.

For a severe acne break out, use tea tree oil.  Mix the tea tree oil with a carrier like unscented white lotion or jojoba oil.  For best results clean the face an pat dry.  Apply the mixture twice daily.  Some people may be sensitive to tee tree so a skin test is recommended.  Apply on a small spot and wait for 24 hours.

For puffy eyes, you can use the old stand by of cucumber slices or chamomile tea.  Let the chamomile steep in a cup of hot water, let cool and then soak some cotton balls.  Apply on puffy eyes.

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