Did you get your daily dose of...chemicals?

From the minute we wake up in the morning we start piling on the chemicals to our skin. In the beginning I thought  "whats the big deal?".."It's not like I'm eating it". Boy was I wrong! Our skin is our biggest organ and it is more permeable then I once thought. Just think about it, when you put alot of cream on..where does it go? It doesn't evaporate it goes into your body. When you first hear this it can be a tad overwhelming as you realize that you put cream on, make-up, sunscreen...even shampoo's, hair gels, dyes and nail polish all get absorbed into your body.

The great news is that for the first time EVER people are becoming educated on this issue and as a consumer focused society..what the people want- they get. As more people are choosing natural and organic options more are being created. However, you do need to become familiar with "greenwashing" this means that not all companies are honest in their claims. You need to become a little bit of a chemist- don't worry nothing to intense.

I often tell friends to avoid:

•  Parabens (methyl,ethyl, butyl, and the estranged cousin propyl) These are the nasty chemicals that act like bad estrogen and are linked to many diseases such as breast cancers
• Phthalates (dibutyl phalate (DBP), fragrance) These chemicals make plastics soft = bad for your health
• Parfum aka a nice word that allows companies to sneak in more hidden chemicals

So the key message is there are sooo many chemicals I can't keep track of them all. I just remember the three  I listed and consult the David Suzuki web-site which has a dirty dozen list. A great rule of thumb is if you can't pronounce the word in one breath- chances are its not good for you.

Here is a great video " The Story of Cosmetics" developed by the Story of Stuff and the Campaign for safe Cosmetics. I recommend you pass the video along to your friends and family so everyone can begin to shop safely.