Wishing it was spring? I am!

Well I have learned some new stuff and wanted to pass it on.

The first thing is about the plug-in gels. Do you use those? If you do, stop reading and go pull them out of the wall and throw them in the trash then come back. It really is that important to your health.

Basically what they are is perfumed formaldehyde once you learn how many things have formaldehyde in them it is no wonder we have so many more cases of cancer each year. From vehicles to personal care products, to carpeting to “make your house smell good” and more.

Of course, since manufacturers can call it any number of things it is hard to identify.

Also baby wipes, sadly a large number of them are filled with chemicals you would never use on you, much less a baby.

Here are some facts on one example of what to look for and why – compliments of the Environmental Working Group.

If your wipes contain – HYDROQUINONE who knows what that means right? And after all it is in Huggies Natural Care Wipes so that sounds safer right? Nope sorry.

Hydroquinone is in fact ranked a 10 or high hazard ingredient. The scale starts at 1 meaning things like water as an ingredient and 10 the highest or worst offender.

Why? Well for a number of reasons, it is considered to be a fragrance ingredient, and a skin bleaching agent (you also find it classified as an antioxidant and hair colorant).

So you will find it in anti aging products, and hair colors, skin fading and lightener products and more – and baby wipes.

It is a known human immune system toxicant (National Library of Medicine) and there is strong evidence that it is also a human skin toxicant (Cosmetic Review Assessments CRA); but allergies and immune toxicity are not the only concerns.

In fact the CRA says well it is safe IF you use it for brief discontinuous use and follow with a through rinsing.

Now when I have used baby wipes, I use them to clean up a mess, and be the whole cleaning and rinsing process. I do not use them to clean a baby’s bottom or hands and face, and then take them to a sink and do a full rinsing to clean the wipe off their skin.

Do you?

Also if you use a wipe with this in it on the face you need to be aware that this is a product that is both an eye and respiratory irritant. So if you have a child that is prone to sniffles, ear or sinus infections and you are “washing” their face with wipes you are adding to the problem.

It is also linked to cancer and to developmental and reproductive toxicity, neuro-toxicity, and endocrine disruption.

Some of the over the counter products that receive the BEST rankings on that 1-10 scale are:

Seventh Generation Unscented Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E (1)

Tushies Baby Wipes with Aloe Vera, Unscented (1)

Mother Nature Wipes Unscented Natural Formula Flushable Wipes (2)

Avalon Baby and Avalon Organics Flushable Biodegradable Baby Wipes (2)

Beauty products are supposed to help your skin look prettier…right? Nourish your skin, and help your body’s largest organ, your skin to be healthier and more attractive. HOWEVER, there are some scary ingredients in some products, so make sure your products do not have them. Here are FIVE to look for and to avoid.

One of the most common is a suds agent called Sodium Laurel or Laureth Sulfate this is actually a skin irritant that can cause drying and allergies. More importantly though when used it can be damaging to your immune system, and shows up in your heart, liver and lungs.

Propylene Glycol, now keep in mind folks that handle this in factories have to be trained and must wear gloves, because skin contact causes eye and skin irritations, headaches, nausea and vomiting. In addition, it is used in brake fluid and antifreeze. Hmm brake fluid, antifreeze and cosmetics, which one of these things DOESN’T belong?

How about the new buzzword in the media about Parabens, hmm I have heard that but why is it bad? On the other hand, is it good? Don’t you hate when the media runs with something and you are left just NOT knowing? Well according to the Environmental Protection Agency, these are antimicrobial preservatives. The EPA further states that they have hormone-disrupting effects.

Hair care products are another concern, PVP/VA Copolymer is harmful when inhaled. Not good since it is used in hairsprays and other styling products to help hold you hair in place. This comes from petroleum chemicals.

Synthetic fragrances, this is a sad one to attempt to explain because the laws are not designed to protect you, OR to give you knowledge of what is in a product in detail. On top of that, add the fact that catchall phrases, like synthetic fragrances, are allowed, concealing thousands of synthetic ingredients. Fragrance oils have been linked to birth defects, cancer, brain damage, respiratory problems, chronic skin reactions and environmental damage to list a few.

You do not tolerate mystery ingredients in your food do you?? Then do not tolerate it in the things you digest and inhale and spread on your skin.