Detox Your Skin!

DETOX YOUR SKIN! 

I'm Fabulous Cosmetics clients comprises highly trained specialists (and a few pets who provide incredible moral support). Among our eclectic group is certified estheticians,  makeup artists, naturopaths and cancer patients. Though we all comes from different walks of life, we share one important common denominator: We love helping people detox!

So many people want products that marry purity + effectiveness + style, but many do not have the time or resources to ensure they're making the smartest investments in their health and beauty products.

The average American woman uses 11 skincare and beauty products before she leaves the house, every day. If you are using conventional products, this equals 12 potentially toxic loads applied directly to your body. The skin is an organ of digestion, and the same way it digests nicotine through a patch, it absorbs these toxins into your bloodstream, where your circulation propels them into contact with every single cell.

By entering through the skin, these toxins also bypass the detoxifying bacteria, selective cellular barrier, and sensitive immune system in your gut, meaning they can be deposited and even stored throughout your tissues before your liver has a chance to metabolize and detoxify them.

On the other hand, your morning ritual could be 12 opportunities to nourish your cells with plant-based non-toxic phytonutrient and antioxidant-rich shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, oils, toners, moisturizers, foundations, eye shadows, lipsticks, blushes and perfumes.

You've probably seen variations of this list before, but to recap, here are 10 of the most problematic (and frequently used) ingredients to watch out for:

1. Parabens—These are known hormone disruptors and estrogen-mimickers.
2. Fragrance—There's actually no way to know what "fragrance" is. It's usually a proprietary blend and it's a way that companies often hide potentially harmful substances. Unless you 100% trust the brand, avoid it.
3. Phthalates, including “dibutyl phthalate” in nail polish. These are known hormone disruptors in men and pregnant women.
4. BHA (aka butylated hyrdroxyanisole). Banned in Europe, this substance has strong evidence of being a carcinogen and a hormone disruptor.
5. Boric Acid or Sodium borate. Also restricted in Europe and known to disrupt male hormones.
6. Heavy metals—especially lead in dark hair dyes and mercury in some skin lighteners. Lead is a naturally occurring element in the ground and so many plant-based products may contain minute amounts of it. Ideally, all manufacturers test their botanical sources for heavy metal contamination, especially botanicals from overseas. High levels of heavy metals in the body disrupt biological detoxification processes and are linked with higher rates of everything from Alzheimer’s to cardiovascular disease.
7. PEG aka “polyethelyne glycol” or “Carbomax Sentry.” PEGs are frequently used in household products and cosmetics and are often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen.
8. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers like Bromopol, DMDM Hydrantoin and Quanterium-15. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen used commonly as a preservative.
9. Preservatives that end in “-thiazolinone” like “Methylisothiazolinone,” for example, are skin irritants and there's some evidence that they may be neurotoxic.
10. Triclosan and triclocarban in antimicrobial soaps can disrupt thyroid and reproductive hormones.