Do you really know what you are putting on your skin, spraying on your body or brushing on your teeth?
Everything you apply to your skin, scalp or other body parts is absorbed by the body's bloodstream. So what exactly are you 'consuming'? Many products are jumping on the wellbeing bandwagon by labelling themselves 'organic', but a product needs to be Certified Organic and contain no artificial preservatives, parabens etc. to be truly good for you. If a product is genuinely natural, it will have a short shelf-life and you should be able to eat it!
More than a third of personal care products contain ingredients linked to cancer. The aluminium in deodorant may be linked to breast cancer, according to a UK study, so try an aluminium-free alternative or 'body crystal'. Check the packaging of your creams, sunscreens and cleansers, if they contain methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, isobutyl paraben or E216, look for more natural alternatives. And avoid sodium lauryl sulphate in your shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and body washes, it contains 1,4-dioxane, which is suspected of causing damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. As for cosmetics, try those made from rock minerals which are devoid of nasty fillers such as talc, alcohol, dyes, mineral oil and petroleum, and won't irritate the skin.
There are many natural substances and plant extracts that humans have used for millions of years, such as chamomile for shiny hair and oats for exfoliating dead skin cells. Cleopatra bathed in milk, and the Ancient Greeks rubbed their hair and bodies with olive oil. Our bodies work synergistically with many of these basic substances, so why complicate things by introducing products concocted in laboratories with synthetic ingredients and fragranced with aroma chemicals?
Many of the beauty products that are advertised on television, or which are filling your bathroom shelves right now, have only been on the market for a very short time. Of the nearly four million synthetic chemicals in your environment, less than one percent of these are known well enough to be able to ascertain their safety. And while some of the products you use every day to shave, wash, moisturise, deoderise and clean your teeth may not be carcinogenic by themselves, the more you combine and layer them, who knows what affects they could be having?
Despite what the big beauty companies tell you, there are no magical shortcuts to beauty! Rather than focusing on a myriad of products and superficial beauty, it's a good diet, exercise and sleep that's going to help you look younger for longer. Remember: the most attractive look is always someone who glows with natural health.
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