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Skin Care Wake-up Call
by Myra Michelle Eby – MyChelle
Dermaceuticals
 Most
consumers believe that their favorite skin care products are safe.
They trust that manufacturers have their best interests in mind and
would not expose them to harmful ingredients. There is also a blind
faith among consumers that if a product were harmful, it wouldn’t be
allowed on the shelves. Moreover, “natural” is a label that is
perceived to be synonymous with the term “safe.” Yet, no pre-market
safety testing for cosmetics is required by the federal government.
Meantime, no legal definition for words like “natural” exists for
cosmetics. It is truly buyer beware.
One of the most interesting aspects of skin care
research shows that nearly 60 percent of the chemicals we put on our
bodies is absorbed through the skin. That means that chemicals,
additives, preservatives and other petroleum-based ingredients are
being introduced into our bloodstream every time a cream or lotion is
applied. What makes this figure even more startling is how many
consumers believe that their favorite skin care products are safe.
Why? Trust.
It is human nature to trust that people will do the
right thing. Consumers trust that manufacturers have their best
interests in mind when creating the next miracle cure. After all, the
advertising always promises youth, exuberance and a healthier glow.
How could these same manufacturers be putting harmful ingredients into
a product that promises such wonders? It’s called “the bottom line”
and many companies are more interested in that than in making sure
their ingredient lists are good for you.
As someone coming from the field of natural health, I started
MyChelle Dermaceuticals because I saw that too many companies
claiming to be “natural” and “organic” were, in fact, misrepresenting
their products by including harmful ingredients that were not only
ineffective and costly but also potentially toxic to our health.
Since the 1939 DuPont advertising slogan “Better
Things for Better Living Through Chemistry,” which eventually was
shortened to “Better Living Through Chemistry,” chemical preservatives
have been used to make products last longer on the shelves, while
other chemicals are being added to colorize products or improve their
“feel,” wetting and foaming ability.
Unfortunately, this lack of adequate pre-market
safety testing has been shown to be a critical oversight. Particularly
with regard to skin care products, chemical preservatives and wetting
agents commonly used in formulas to inhibit the growth of microbes and
bacteria or improve the texture and feel of products are also
extremely well absorbed through the skin. Some have been
experimentally shown to lead to adverse reproductive effects and have
been linked to cancer.
But in order to better understand which ingredients
may be harmful, you have to understand what some of them mean, and
which should be avoided.
Ingredients to Be Avoided in Skin Care Products
Here’s a list of some of the ingredients I recommend
you avoid when shopping for cosmetics and personal care products. You
certainly won’t see these in skin care products from MyChelle
Dermaceuticals!
Common cleansing agents such as sodium lauryl
sulfate and cocamide DEA should always be avoided. When your
skin’s protective natural proteins and oils are dissolved through the
use of cleansers that have such soaps and chemical detergents, this
can have a lasting, harmful effect on your immune system. In addition,
cocamide DEA is an experimental carcinogen, and sodium lauryl sulfate
can be highly toxic to the cornea. Petroleum by-products can cause
hormonal disruption, immune system degradation, and premature aging
when used on the skin. Ingredients to avoid are mineral oil,
polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds, propylene glycol, triclosan,
butylene glycol, and acrylics. Solvents, such as isopropyl alcohol,
propylene glycol and butylene glycol, penetrate your skin’s protective
coating and can lead to the breakdown of intercellular “mortar.” In
other words, instead of firming and toning your skin, products with
these ingredients can actually make it sag even more!
Another ingredient to watch out for is the
dreaded synthetic fragrance. These artificial fragrances, which
are often manufactured from petrochemicals, can irritate the skin
while also stripping away its natural protection. They can also be
quite allergenic and have been known to cause illnesses as mild as a
headache or as dangerous as asthmatic complications.
Synthetic colors are equally bad in that they
can be carcinogenic. Look for products containing natural coloring
agents instead.
Preservatives, such as DMDM hydantoin,
imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium-15, have a tendency to release
trace amounts of formaldehyde into the skin, having a toxic effect at
the cellular level. Formaldehyde can cause joint discomfort and many
other health problems.
Many seemingly benign vegetable oils, except
those that are cold pressed, used in skin products have a tendency
to turn rancid relatively quickly. Many free radicals are thus
created, setting up a carcinogenic environment in the skin.
Research has indicated that talc (when used
for feminine hygiene) can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. The use
of cornstarch is recommended in place of talc.
Many soaps, perfumes, nail polishes, mosquito
repellents and many other personal care products contain phthalates.
These chemicals soak into the skin and accumulate over time. They have
been linked with reproductive abnormalities.
The Paraben Factor
Manufacturers using parabens claim that the small
amounts present in their formulas do not present a danger to the
consumer. However, recent scientific data reveals the opposite,
suggesting that over time, parabens accumulate in the tissues of the
body. They can be so persistent in living tissues, in fact, that
offspring exposed to their harmful influences have a greater risk of
reproductive abnormalities. Watch out for methyl, propyl, butyl and
ethyl parabens. If you look closely at your creams, lotions, shampoos,
conditioners, hairsprays, cosmetics, and even toothpastes, you’ll
probably find at least one form of paraben listed. To add insult to
potential injury, because of the laxity of our current regulatory
structure, often only one or two parabens are listed when, in reality,
more have been included.
When I first encountered these ingredients, I
wondered what they were all about. Heck, I could hardly pronounce
these words. I looked at creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners,
toothpastes, mouthwashes, hairsprays, cosmetics, and on and on. To my
surprise, all of these had at least one form of paraben in it! The
solution is simple: dermaceuticals, like those produced by MyChelle
Dermaceuticals.
 MyChelle—
The Green Difference
After years of working in the natural and holistic
healing fields and learning the ins and outs of the trade, I decided
to start my own company and produce safe, effective skin care that
filled a gap larger than the Grand Canyon.
In addition to providing safe, nontoxic skin care,
MyChelle Dermaceuticals offers therapeutic, active ingredients to
boost the skin’s own immune system and the production of
youth-enhancing ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid (HA) and
collagen. The term “dermaceutical” is synonymous with active,
science-based skin care that offers a visible difference. For
instance, in our
Perfect C Serum we offer 17 percent L-ascorbic acid, which is
5 percent above the therapeutic dose recommended by scientific studies
to enhance the skin’s own collagen production. Anything less than 10
percent is ineffective for collagen production, although lower
concentrations offer free radical neutralizing potential.
MyChelle Dermaceuticals also offers an array of
natural fruit pulps, extracts and antioxidants to rejuvenate aging
skin on a cellular level. The refreshing aromas and experiential
treatments and serums provide an unparalleled experience in healthy,
natural skin care.
An Educated Consumer Is a Healthier Consumer
It is my belief that an educated consumer is a
healthier one, which is why I encourage you to always read ingredient
labels. We’ve all gotten so used to checking the labels on foods we
purchase to find out the cholesterol count, fat content and, of
course, the calories present per serving. I urge you to treat your
skin care in much the same way, and always remember that your body is
living and breathing because of the nutrients you provide in the way
of food, and also in the way of topical creams and lotions. When your
skin’s protective, natural proteins and oils are dissolved by using
products that contain too many chemicals, it can have a lasting effect
on your immune system. If you’re feeding your body healthy, also go
the health food route for your skin. Your body, inside and out, will
thank you.
MyChelle was created to provide active and effective skin care
products that are safe to both the end user and the environment. The
incorporation of natural, effective and skin-compatible ingredients
into the
MyChelle line of products is the major factor distinguishing it
from other skin care lines. In addition to creating nontoxic formulas,
MyChelle creates progressive skin care with unique ingredients new to
the natural skin care industry, setting higher standards and leading
the way to true, safe and natural skin care.
For MyChelle Natural Skin Care product information, click here.
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