Smoke Signals

We are continuing our series of blog posts on FDA approved chemicals that may increase aging. If you missed #1 you can find it here .  Yeah, it's true.    As you are selecting these products to aid your skin, they may in fact be the thing that is making you feel and look older.    FDA APPROVED INGREDIENT #2  Paraben Parabens are a class of widely used preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Chemically, they are a series of parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid. These CHEAP preservatives are commonly used to increase the shelf life of a product. They keep products looking and smelling great for longer space (than is natural). First introduced in the 1950s, parabens were to keep the product from spoiling by preventing it from being able to grow mold and or bacteria. Today, however, we have remembered to appreciate mold and bacteria.  And we know that all are not bad.  In fact if it ...

FDA APPROVED INGREDIENT #1 Sulfates Sulfate is a salt that forms when sulfuric acid reacts with another chemical. It's a broader term for other synthetic sulfate -based chemicals you may be concerned about, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Introduced in the 1930’s, sulfates revolutionized the health and beauty industry.  Sulfates were powerful, inexpensive and easy to acquire. Best of all, they were responsible for the foaming lather we’ve come to associate with being clean.  The effectiveness lies within their ability to lift the grease and grime off of skin and hair, dissolve (emulsify) it and then rinse everything down the drain. picture courtesy of beautybyearth.com Sulfates are powerful, cheap and everywhere  – not just in lathering shampoos, body washes, face cleansers and toothpastes, but also in household cleaners, laundry detergents and dish soaps. In fact, because they are so effective, sulfa...