Making the Move to Natural Skin Care

By Sally Shultis, naturopathic practitioner

This article was first published in the May 2009 issue of Fusion.

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Last month we had a general discussion of the chemicals that go into most of the personal care products on the market today.  This month, I want to begin introducing you to healthier ways to take care of your skin using products that will improve both your skin and your overall health. 
First, I would like to review two of the most common ingredients (chemicals) in personal care products. People see “sodium lauryl sulphate” and “propylene glycol” listed so often they do not notice them anymore, but there is a lot to know.

¨ Sodium lauryl sulphate is used in everything form engine degreaser to toothpaste (chances are that most products in your bathroom list this ingredient).  It can mimic estrogen, is an endocrine disrupter, and can corrode hair follicles and impair hair growth.  This chemical can cause cataracts in adult eyes and can keep children’s eyes from developing properly.  It slowly builds up in the heart, liver, lungs, brain and fat cells.

 
¨ Propylene glycol is used in anti-freeze, as an airplane deicer, in pet food, cosmetics, and much more.  I even saw it in the ingredient list on a dessert I was going to but in an organic grocery store!  Propylene  glycol inhibits skin cell growth.  It had been shown in animal testing to cause kidney and liver abnormalities.  The most notable side-effects are gastro-intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache, vomiting, and depression.

Our skin shows signs of aging due to the foods we eat, the products we put on our bodies, our stress level, environmental pollutants, hormonal imbalances, and our thoughts and emotions.  Some of these factors, such as environmental pollutants, are beyond our control.  Some, such as hormonal imbalances, are influenced by genetics.  Doesn’t it make sense to focus on the factors that we can control, if we want to keep our skin looking healthy and young?

Let’s start with what I consider the easiest factor to change - the products we use.  When I decided to eliminate chemicals from my personal care products, the first thing I did was search for an organic provider.  I knew that Young Living’s products were completely chemical free—you can actually swallow the toothpaste and  mouthwash without worry!  I also knew that these products contained therapeutic-grade essential oils that would nourish my skin and encourage it to regenerate, reducing lines and wrinkles as it did.  (Editor’s Note: YLEO skin care products are useful in many ways; I am currently using the Sandalwood cream and grapefruit essential oils to keep skin cancer at bay.)

Depending on your resources you can slowly change your products or change them all at once. To start with, I ordered Young Living’s toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo, and the Art Skin Care kit.  When my order arrived, I went through my cabinets and threw away ALL my old personal care products.  This was difficult for me because I hate to waste, but I knew I needed to stop all the chemical use.  After all, these are the products that harm not heal.  I also threw out all my perfumes as these are very toxic too.  Why do you need perfume when you have essential oils?  Not a day goes by without a compliment from someone about the way I smell.  Wrinkle-free and smelling good due to natural products—sure beats worrying about the effects of chemicals on my health!

Next month: recipes that teach you how to blend your own specialized skin-care products.