WHY ORGANIC?
"Beauty is a glorious gift of nature." Homer
What you put on your skin is absorbed through your skin. To be
more precise, the skin absorbs approximately 60% of any
substance applied to it. Hence the success of trans-dermal skin
patches prescribed by physicians to deliver medications.
Unfortunately, most of the skin care products mass produced for
the market today, even those claiming to be `all natural' and/or
`botanically based' products, contain harsh, toxic and even
possibly carcinogenic ingredients that actually contribute to
disorders of the skin and accelerate the aging process.
There is a growing concern from consumers about the ingredients
in the personal care products they use daily. In a recent study
by the US General Accounting Office (GAO), 125 ingredients found
in cosmetics are suspected of causing cancer. Twenty ingredients
have been implicated in causing birth defects. Twenty
ingredients may cause adverse neurological symptoms, such as
headaches and convulsions. Most of these toxic chemicals are so
inexpensive that they are used in extremely high concentrations
in many personal care products. These toxic chemicals provide no
benefits or nutrients to the skin. They are the inexpensive
alternatives employed to achieve the "feel" or "slip" to the
skin that occurs naturally using pure, nutritious, essential
oils and vegetable oils. The chemicals used to replace the
nutritious components are used in significant concentrations in
most skin care products. Their only purpose is to increase the
profit margins for the manufacturers. The health of the consumer
is completely disregarded.
The trend for natural products is growing because the educated
consumer is now demanding these for face and body care. Making
the decision to use only natural products is easy. Incorporating
this decision into your everyday life becomes more difficult as
you try to practice it. It is nearly impossible to find
completely natural and organic personal care products on the
commercial market. It is offensive to see large numbers of
chemically laden personal care products lining the shelves of
natural health and food markets. Marketed as "Natural", these
products contain harmful synthetic chemicals; however, few of us
have the time to peruse the ingredient lists of our moisturizer,
deodorant, body lotion and any of the other products we apply
daily. We trust that the products sold in these "natural health
stores" are safe for the entire family, and so we believe the
advertised claims on the bottles of shampoo, lotion, facial
care, etc.
According to industry estimates, on any given day a consumer
may use as many as 25 different cosmetics and personal care
products containing more than 200 different chemical compounds.
If a product claims to be organic and /or natural, its
ingredients should be easily recognizable as natural components.
Also, the ingredients should be listed in descending order with
the most prominent factors listed first.
Nature offers all that is needed for healthy, radiant and
beautiful skin.
"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
Aristotle
About the author:
Pamela Cronan-Maddox, an ovarian cancer survivor is the
visionary and president of The Alchemist's Apprentice,
www.alchemistsapprentice.com. The online apothecary is dedicated
to providing the finest 100% natural and organic skin care and
body care products for the entire family. Visit The Alchemist's
Apprentice for all your personal care product needs.
