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The Difference Between Artificial and Natural Fragrances

Many consumers donň€™t realize the hidden dangers lurking in product fragrances. This is because, in the U.S. as in many other countries, manufacturers donň€™t have to specify on product labels exactly what ingredients a fragrance contains. With many ň€śfragrancesň€ť now comprising complicated mixtures of hundreds of ingredients, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) not requiring safety tests of cosmetic products, this makes the exact composition of a ň€śfragranceň€ť a black box of many different, untested chemicals.In the worst cases, some of the chemical cocktails listed on product labels merely as a ň€śfragranceň€ť have been linked to allergies, skin reactions, hormone disruptions, birth defects and even cancer.This problem isnň€™t confined to just a few products, since about 95% of 3,000 the different fragrance ingredients now used consist of low cost synthetic compounds derived from petroleum.Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a top hazard in fragrance mixtures. These are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly added to plastics to increase their flexibility. Certain phthalate esters are also used in the manufacture of nail polishes, paint, adhesives and perfumes. In 2004, a joint Swedish-Danish research team found a strong link between allergies in children and the phthalates; this study was later published in The Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. Subsequent studies have also linked phthalates with birth defects, toxicity and damage to adult reproductive, adrenal, liver, and kidney organs. Although some manufacturers have removed these chemicals from their products, a recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group found phthalates in nearly three-quarters of 72 name-brand products tested.Artificial musks can also cause unintended side effects. These chemicals remain popular, however, since the price of natural musk, which is derived mainly from a gland of the male musk deer, has become prohibitively expensive. Of the three primary types of synthetic musk (nitromusk, polycyclic musk and macrocyclic musk), nitromusk is particularly dangerous as it has been linked to reproductive and fertility problems in women at high levels of exposure. Because of this, the EU has banned the usage of some nitromusks in cosmetics and personal care products, but in the United States, musk chemicals remain unregulated, and safe levels of exposure have not yet been set. Many synthetic fragrance components are considered allergens and can both cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks. But when the Environmental Working Group conducted a survey in 2005 of U.S. cosmetic industry ingredient reviews, it found that for about one third of all ingredients, allergen and sensitizer determinations were made inadequately.In contrast, natural fragrance ingredients such as essential oils are obtained entirely from plants. When properly prepared, they have not been associated with significant adverse reactions. However, natural ingredients tend to be more expensive than synthetic chemicals, resulting in fewer skin care product manufacturers using them.


Short Hair Curling With Curling Iron And Hot Curlers

Now you can change your look completely by using different hair styling products such as curling iron and hot curlers. Try out curling your straight hair as the curly style gives you a feminine touch.


Are You Implementing a Serious Skin Care Philosophy?

There are several ways to look at the subject. If you look at it from the viewpoint of a natural healthcare practitioner, you would not use anything on your skin that you would not eat. That may seem extreme, but there is logic to this viewpoint. The idea was first presented thousands of years ago, as a part of Ayurvedic and other traditional medical practices. Their theories had to do with maintaining healthy flow of the life force. While scientists have not been able to find proof of this life force, they have proven that chemical compounds penetrate through the skin"s layers and enter the bloodstream.

That makes the idea of using only edibles to care for your skin"s health seem more like a logical serious skincare philosophy, even from a scientific point of view. What ingredients will you find in most cosmetics on the market? Primarily, they are composed of petroleum-based oils and waxes, petrochemicals, plastics, artificial preservatives and chemical fragrances. Any of those can cause immediate adverse reactions including rashes, itching, redness and other irritation. Over time, petroleum=based oils clog the pores, aggravate acne, cause blemishes and contribute to a prematurely aged appearance.

If you are like most people, you do not want to look older before your time. There are wonderful natural ingredients that help delay and slow the march of advancing time. You just have to do a little digging to find them. One company has a serious skincare philosophy when it comes to delaying and reversing the affects of time. They placed no upper limit on the cost of researching, developing and testing natural compounds, many of which had been used for hundreds or thousands of years before the cosmetic companies took over. Here are some of the things that they came up with.

Scientists know that levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin decrease with age. This compound is one that is responsible for the skin"s firmness and "toughness". As levels become lower, the skin begins to sag and is more easily damaged. A serious skincare philosophy from hundreds of years ago suggested the use of wakame kelp for skin problems of all kinds and as a "beauty preserver". Modern researchers found that wakame inhibits the break down of hyaluronic acid. With regular use, the levels begin to approach those of a much younger person. As a result, the skin looks firmer and smoother.

Other ingredients that are good for the skin"s health and appearance include protein complexes, antioxidants, honey enzymes, plant oils and natural waxes. Together, these ingredients can prevent free radical damage, which is the primary cause of wrinkles. They can even repair damage that has already been done. Adopt a serious skincare philosophy. Look for those natural ingredients.






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