The Hidden Dangers in Dry Skin Lotion

Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 6:26 pm  
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I personally was enraged after reading about this. It seems that dry skin lotion might be bad for a woman’s health. Recent studies have shown that many of them contain estrogens, which can penetrate the skin, enter the blood stream and stimulate the growth of “estrogen-sensitive” breast cancer cells. This is not really news to some of us, but it might be to you.

The reporter that I watched seemed genuinely surprised by the whole thing. So, I thought that maybe a lot of women never thought about where lotions, and the ingredients that they contain, end up.

The skin is a living organ. Oils, waste products, air and water (in the form of perspiration) pass out of it, through the pores. Chemical substances pass through it and enter the blood stream.

You have probably seen dermal patches for delivering a regular dosage of a drug. It was difficult, at first, for drug companies to come up with a system that would allow the drugs to pass through the epidermis, in large enough doses to be effective. Some of them are combined with alcohol, which makes the skin more permeable. Some molecules, such as insulin, are too large to pass through, but estrogen molecules are not.

Almost every dry skin lotion on the market contains one or more types of alcohol, which makes the epidermis more permeable. They are meant to be applied and left on, which gives them plenty of time to penetrate. So, you really don’t want your lotions to contain anything that you would be afraid to eat.

You probably will not see estrogen listed as an ingredient, unless it is a cream that is specifically designed to relieve menopausal symptoms, but you will see placenta and amniotic fluid listed. Both of those contain estrogen and other hormones. In some cases, you will see estradiol listed, which is simply a different form of estrogen. But, there’s another problem.

There are many ingredients in dry skin lotion that “act” like hormones, when they get inside the human body. Parabens, for example, are artificial preservatives that have been shown to have estrogenic effects and they have been found in breast cancer tumors.

The safest choice is to shop for all-natural skincare products that are free of artificial preservatives and added fragrances. Fragrance ingredients are a relative mind field. There are thousands of different chemicals used to create them and many of them are carcinogens.

If you want the most effective dry skin lotion, look for an ingredient called SYNERGY TK. It contains proteins extracted from sheep’s wool that are very similar to the skin’s own protein complexes. In studies, using human volunteers, it has been shown to improve moisture by over 20% and improve the skin’s ability to retain that moisture. There’s nothing else quite like it.

Bottom line, other ingredients are also beneficial including grape seed oil and passion fruit extract. You see, there are safe and effective natural alternatives. You don’t have to buy a dry skin lotion that is hazardous to your health. You have choices.

For more insight into safe and proven ingredients in natural skin care, visit my website today.

Laurel Levine
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/the-hidden-dangers-in-dry-skin-lotion-710327.html


Moisturizing Body Lotion Related Info

Cocoa Or Shea Butter? What’S The Difference?

Monday, July 5th, 2010 at 1:06 am  
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Cocoa and Shea butter are two of the best emollients around.  If you suffer from dry skin, like so many seem to do, you can’t go wrong with either one!  Moisture is moisture, I say, so how do you choose?  To make an educated decision, you have to look at the qualities of both and decide for yourself.  Some companies even combine the two in a lotion or body wash, for the best of both worlds.  In my estimation, the two are interchangable and equally moisturizing.  I have made lotions from both, choosing the shea butter for myself… but we shall get to that later.

Skin conditioning is of utmost priority for me.  I suffer from some of the worst dry skin in the winter, even suffering from it in the summer, especially as I get “older.”   Most people are open to using anything that will moisturize and keep them looking young.  I know from experience that both cocoa and shea butter are listed in many lotions and body washes.  I like to couple them in body wash with any oatmeal type ingredient. 

In the past, I have bought every kind of moisurizing butter available and in every scent imaginable:  mango, grapefruit, lime and coconut, banana, apple pie, etc.  Obviously the scent has nothing whatsoever to do with its ability to soften your skin.  The moisturizing elements within the body lotion or body butter are your key to longer lasting beauty and youthfulness.

I am going to outline here the history and uses of both cocoa and shea butter.  You can decide for yourself

COCOA BUTTER

Cocoa butter is the natural fat extracted from the cacao bean from South America and West Africa.  It has to be grown around the equator; no other location will do. Cocoa butter is used to make toiletries, skin care products, cocoa powder and chocolate. Cocoa butter has a delicious subdued chocolate odor, and has natural antioxidants that prevent products containing it from going bad, thus increasing their shelf life for up to two years. It is a favorite in the production of soaps, cosmetics and skincare products. Its emollient properties and its smooth texture make it a perfect ingredient for body butter and lotions.  Cocoa butter has been around for centuries. Known as the “ultimate moisturizer,” cocoa butter absorbs into the skin with ease due to its body temperature melting point.

The cocoa butter creates a shield against the environment, and it is very helpful in the alleviating of psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. It works by holding back the production of immuno globulin which is known to aggravate and accelerate the above mentioned conditions.

This butter will soothe the skin, relieve stress, and help you relax.  It is useful for pregnant women, when used in regular applications, as a formula to help prevent, and ward off stretch marks. The butter has a very nice smell also. It has been said that cocoa butter may also help to ease arthritis and even help to prevent heart disease. Wonderful claims I must say. I really had no idea just how good this butter was for my skin and body. I just enjoyed using it.

SHEA BUTTER

The benefits of Shea Butter have been enjoyed for centuries. Women in Africa have been using shea butter to smooth their skin and hair far longer than their Western counterparts.  Shea butter has tremendous benefits for hair and skin. It comes from the tropics of Africa from the nut of the Karite tree, where the fatty acids are extracted from the the nut container. The quality of the irremovable fatty acid is far more superior to that of the cocoa butter, but unfortunately it can take up to thirty years for a crop to yield the right quality of this fatty acid. It’s a wonder they can actually bring it to us at a reasonable price bearing all this in mind.  The women of Africa call it “women’s gold” as many on the continent depend on it for their livelihoods.

Shea butter is known especially for its cosmetic properties as a moisturizer and emollient. It is also a known anti-inflammatory agent, although we make no medical claims here! :-) Shea butter is reported by many as being effective at treating the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis.

Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection, although the level of protection is extremely variable, ranging from none at all to approximately SPF 6. Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling.  Africans have been enjoying the natural properties of Shea butter for centuries, and they have used it on their hair as a conditioner, and also on their skin for protection against the sun, and the harsh elements of their climate.

Shea butter is a luxurious moisturizer, which leaves the skin feeling silky soft. It works by stimulating the skin’s renewal process, thus revealing a more youthful, fresh skin. It is non greasy, and it is used in many expensive skin products. It is also a wonderful, natural conditioner that makes the hair vibrant, while also protecting it from dryness and preventing split ends. It is also the base of many essential oils.  Shea butter works by maintaining the natural oils in our skin, and it can also activate collagen production.

IN CONCLUSION

To wrap up our discussion, I have to say, given the info here, I must profess a penchant, a fondness for shea butter.  Given its natural SPF, healing qualities and richness of moisture, it seems only natural to choose it over cocoa butter.  Both leave you feeling silky soft… and while both are superior moisturizers and healing agents (again no medical claims here!), one can’t go wrong with shea butter! 

Please check out our extra rich body butter, goat milk lotions and goat milk soaps with SHEA butter (of course!)  http://neeneessoapshop.etsy.com  or www.NeeNeesSoapShop.com   THANKS!

1 John 4:7

 

Renee Vailes
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/cocoa-or-shea-butter-whats-the-difference-732458.html


Moisturizing Body Lotion Related Info

Dry Skin Relief Lotion – the Essential Facts You Must Know Before You Buy

Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 8:39 am  
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Looking for an effective dry skin relief lotion that is also safe and natural?  Here’s a look at what you will normally find in dry skin lotion and what you might want to look for, instead.

Inexpensive lotions contain petrolatum and mineral oil, derivatives of crude oil.  They do not actually provide moisture.  They may help to hold moisture in, but they can also clog the pores and cause blemishes. 

In more expensive dry skin relief lotion, you will find glycerin, a naturally occurring substance that improves the skin’s moisture content by about 5%.  In some of the newer lotions, you will find silicone oils, which have been shown to improve the skin’s moisture content, as well.

In some cases, you will find products that combine several of these different ingredients.  They are basically safe substances that are considered inert, but there have been instances of contamination with cancer-causing substances, due primarily to the manufacture processes that some of the companies use.  Although there have been cases where the poisonous compound DEG (diethylene glycol) was purposefully substituted for glycerin, because it is cheaper and chemically similar to glycerin.

Despite all of the “new and improved” products that you see on the market, we have had some of the ingredients for effective dry skin lotion for thousands of years.  They are vegetable and plant oils derived from foods, nuts and seeds.  It’s just that these natural oils cost more to include in a cosmetic. 

We have had lanolin for many years, as well, and it has always been a popular hypoallergenic dry skin lotion.  Lanolin is expressed from sheep’s wool.  It is basically sheep sebum or fat.  Another extract from sheep’s wool has recently been released.

The KERATEC Company in New Zealand discovered a way to isolate and extract the keratin, a protein, present in sheep’s wool.  The protein is very similar to the keratin that is found in the skin’s fibers.  It has been used to provide effective relief for dermatitis, a condition in which there is excessive dryness, redness and cracking.

When used as a dry skin relief lotion, it has been shown to increase moisture content by over 20% after the first application and the improvement remains constant a full 24 hours later.  Over 18 days, the dry skin lotion has been shown to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture, as well. 

No adverse reactions have been reported and everyone that has tried the dry skin relief lotion has been happy with it.  It can be combined with other oils, such as grape seed and avocado, oils that are similar to the skin’s own.  So, they penetrate deeply and quickly, without leaving a greasy feeling.

Shea butter is another effective ingredient for dry skin lotion.  The night cream that I use on my face includes Shea butter, avocado oil and the keratin manufactured by KERATEC.  Over the years, I’ve tried one dry skin relief lotion after another and nothing worked like this one.

Visit my website today to learn more about the natural substances that are excellent for keeping your skin young looking and healthy.

Rachel Hammond
http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/dry-skin-relief-lotion-the-essential-facts-you-must-know-before-you-buy-715534.html


Moisturizing Body Lotion Related Info

What is a good thick body cream similar to Bath and Body Works Body Cream?

Saturday, June 26th, 2010 at 7:40 pm  
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Hey everyone. Bath and Body Works changed the formula in their body cream and I had a allergic reaction. Problem is I used to love that stuff. Does anybody know of a good thick lightly perfumed body cream similar to that?

The old formula never gave me problems, just the new triple moisture and I don’t really have sensitive skin. I really need a thick creamy cream, lotions won’t do. Thank you!


Moisturizing Body Lotion Related Info

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