Saturday, November 23, 2013

DO YOU KNOW WHATS IN YOUR COSMETIC PRODUCTS?

Welcome to Vital Living 101,

I started this blog because I'm sure there are many people out here like myself who want to know how to live a healthier life, what really works, and amongst other things a place to share the good, the bad, the ugly no filter!

 On my journey to embrace HEALTHY living I've come across a plethora of interesting information that I can't wait to share . I think my first topic is very interesting so let me know what you think.

DO YOU KNOW WHATS IN YOUR COSMETIC  PRODUCTS?

I came across this article on cosmetic ingredients to avoid and was immediately concerned. A lot of these ingredients are in most of the products we use everyday and even in some of the organic products.Click the link above for more info on them. Here are a list of ingredients to start researching you may recognize a few :

SYNTHETIC OILS: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Paraffine,Vaseline (all made from Petroleum), and Dimethicone

SYNTHETIC EMULSIFYERS: PEG, RETH, and Polysorbates(followed by numbers as 20,70,80...)

SYNTHETIC ADDITIVES: Carbomers, Diethylphalate, EDTA, DEA, MEA, TEA, NDEA, Propylene glycol, forethylene glycol, and buthylene glycol.

SYNTHETIC PRESERVATIVES & ANTI-BACTERIAL AGENTS: Triclosan, Diazolidinyl urea, Phenoxyethanol, Parabens.

SYNTHETIC SHAMPOO INGREDIENTS: Sodiun Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate(SLS), Magnesium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, and TEA Laureath Sulfate.

Wow and the list goes on. I wasn't shocked that these are approved ingredients in everyday cosmetic skincare products, but be careful because some of them are also in the so-called all natural products as well! With all this manipulation and word play on ingredients and marketing (which is another topic I would like to discuss in the future) how can we really be sure if a product is good for you and your family? Not to mention as soon as one ingredient is labeled bad these companies change the name of it.Crazy right? Just think we are using several products with these ingredients in our daily regimen and also giving it to our families. There is no surprise all the ailments that are affecting our communities.

Knowledge is key, so once I came out of the matrix, I stopped completely from buying skincare products that are toxic to my health. It took me almost a year to mentally just let go of some of my favorite things, especially lip gloss (a girls best friend) and certain hair products. (Some products i still have and will keep for emergency use so they are not a total waste lol). This wasn't easy but it encouraged me to go back to the basics and really use some of the advice my grandmother has been giving me all my life. Shout out to my Grandmother Vivian who has been making her own skincare products since I was little. She has motivated me to make and use my own products, and I must say I have saved so much money!(I know my husbands happy with that!) The main thing in making this transition easy is to find products that are equally good but safe and healthy inside and out. It is important to embrace this new natural way of thinking and living and I'm sure you will love it as I do!

CHALLENGE: Take the list of cosmetic ingredients to avoid and let us know how many products you found that were good and bad in your home!

Here is my favorite organic product that keeps my skin soft and protected and is great for cold weather. It comes in over 20 fragrances here is the link. Check it out Whipped Body Butter


Please share any products good or bad with us to review, and some of your experiences.