Choose personal care products wisely

Cosmetics – You can’t imagine a world without it. They have been in use for centuries. We apply them all over our body – head , face , lips, hands , nails, almost on every part of our body. Since these are directly applied, there may be some effects on our body . As long as these effects do not cause any health problems , they can be ignored.

Many researches have been and are being carried out to assess the effect of the various ingredients , used in the cosmetics. There are regulatory bodies in each country, to address the issues regarding the safety of the ingredients , the process of manufacturing, packaging used in cosmetics. After extensive research, many ingredients have been identified as potentially harmful, and prohibited for use in cosmetics. A list of such prohibited ingredients can be found at www.fda.gov .

Before choosing a personal care product, it is better to check the label . The products which use mostly organic ingredients are better.

Skin care - Best way

Skin care is important , as it contributes to your looks. A glowing skin conveys your health and youth. Some changes take place in the skin , like wrinkles , dryness and age spots, mainly due to sun light. This change is associated with aging and you can delay these changes by staying out of the sun.

You can take care of your skin and maintain that young look, by adopting the following simple steps, according to the US Department of Health and Human services.

1. Stay out of the sun , between 10 AM and 3 PM. The UV (Ultra violet) rays of the sun is strongest during this period. The UV rays can pass through clouds and water also.

2. Use sunscreen : Use sun screen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Higher number indicates more protection. Also look for products with broad spectrum protection and also water resistant.

3. Wear protective clothing : Light weight, long sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts are better, when you are under sun. Use sun glasses which can block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. A hat with wide brim is a good choice to protect your head and face.

4. Avoid artificial tanning : Don’t use sun lamps , tanning bed, tanning pills and tanning make up. The color additives in the tanning pills may be harmful. Tanning make up products may not protect your skin from the sun, as they are not suntan lotions.

5. Check your skin often: Consult your doctor, if you find changes in the size, shape, color or feel of birthmarks, moles and spots.

Personalcare products - Use it safely

There are thousands of ingredients , being used to produce a wide spectrum of personal care products. They need not be and are not tested for safety, before they find their place on the beautiful shelves of the store. How to ensure that you are using the right and safe product

Here are some tips from the environmental working group :

FOCUS on the ingredients. Current law says manufacturers don’t have to back up their claims, so don’t trust marketing terms such as organic, natural and hypoallergenic. Read the fine print and check the ingredients.

TAME your soap. Strong soaps can strip away your body’s own natural skin oils. Choosing a milder soap can reduce skin dryness and your need for artificial moisturizers.

TURN UP your nose to added fragrances. Fragrances can cause allergic reactions, and products that claim to be “fragrance free” often contain masking fragrances that give off a neutral odor. Check the label to be sure.

LIGHTEN UP on dark hair dyes. Many contain coal tar ingredients that have been linked to cancer.

PUT DOWN the baby powder. A number of ingredients in common powder have been linked to cancer, and the FDA warns that they can cause lung damage if inhaled regularly.

BRUSH OFF the fluoridated toothpaste. Little kids eat toothpaste, and fluoride consumption has been linked to bone cancer in boys. There’s a reason for the poison control warning on fluoridated toothpaste, so wait until they’re at least six before giving it to them.

ABOLISH the nail polish, especially if you’re pregnant. It’s a product that routinely contains ingredients linked to birth defects and other problems. If you do use it, always paint nails in a well-ventilated area.

GO EASY on the perfume or cologne. They often contain phthalates and parabens, ingredients that have been linked to birth defects and breast cancer.

SIMPLIFY your life by using fewer personal care products. Doing so will reduce potential health risks associated with those products.

SEARCH for products at the Skin Deep website www.ewg.org/skindeep/.

Use the Custom Shopping List to find the personal care products that have the fewest health impacts.

Personal care products - How to choose ?

I have been using a number of personal care products, just like everyone else. A few decades back, there was not much option. A few brand names, each marketing a few products. But now , the scenario is different. There are thousands of products with so many brands. Just walk into a mall or supermarket. You will be pulled to the wide variety of products, in attractive containers with pleasant colors. How to choose the right one? Or safe one ?

Are all the products safe ? Do they perform , as claimed by the manufacturer? What are the ingredients and the process that go in to the product.? Will the use of it have any long term effect? Should I select a product, which is endorsed by my favorite actor ? or a super player ? Or should a settle for the one, which is constantly bombarded thru TV commercials ? The ads are made more and more attractive and every brand seems to be the only one and the ultimate one.

Before choosing a personal care product, it is better to check the label . The products which use mostly natural ingredients are better.

Beauty and safety can go together

I have read an interesting and useful article on use and misuse of makeup, from the Director of FDA’s office of cosmetics and colors. Iam reproducing it , as it is better to know these facts, before one goes about the make up.

Never drive and apply makeup. Not only does it make for dangerous driving, but hitting a bump in the road and scratching your eyeball can cause bacteria to contaminate the cut and could result in serious injury, including blindness.

Never share makeup. Always use a new disposable applicator when sampling products at a cosmetics counter. Insist that salespersons clean container openings with alcohol before applying their contents to your skin.

Never add liquid to a product to bring back its original consistency. Adding other liquids could introduce bacteria that can easily grow out of control.

Stop using any product that causes an allergic reaction.

Throw away makeup if the color changes or an odor develops. Preservatives degrade over time and may no longer be able to fight bacteria.

Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away all products you were using when you discovered the infection.

Keep makeup out of sunlight. Light and heat can degrade preservatives.

Keep makeup containers tightly closed when not in use.

Never use aerosol beauty products near heat or while smoking because they can ignite. Hairsprays and powders may cause lung damage if inhaled regularly.

Boost your self esteem

Good appearance can boost your self esteem. A healthy, neatly dressed , well groomed person always attracts people. This leads to a general positive outlook in life and success. Self esteem improves your performance in any activity, you engage in. When you feel good about yourself, you think better. Better thoughts lead to right actions.

Beauty care products or cosmetics aid in improving your looks. Cosmetics have been in use for centuries. Improved products hit the market, as the knowledge of the ingredients grows. And now , the trend worldover is to use products, made from safe ingredients. Organic personal care products score over the rest, as they use ingredients which are safe and nourishing.