Guide to buying natural & organic beauty
We don't use any ingredients we believe could cause you or the planet harm. Here are 5 we avoid & why.
Many of the shampoos, moisturizers and other beauty products we use can have a detrimental effect, not only on our skin, but also on our long-term health. We believe that everyone should have access to full and transparent information about every product that we wish to purchase, so that we are fully empowered in so far as possible to decide if it is good enough for us and our family.
Unfortunately, there has been no world-wide move to make manufacturers of cosmetic products accountable for listing their ingredients. Although the list of harmful ingredients is ever-changing and very long, we should be sure to avoid these five commonly found contentious ingredients:
1. Parabens
98% of cosmetic products contain parabens. Parabens are endocrine disrupters, meaning they may disrupt the hormone balance in your body and are able to cause allergic reactions. British researchers found traces of it in twenty women who had breast cancer. Parabens are believed to act like the female hormone oestrogen, and high levels of oestrogen can cause some women to develop breast cancer. “The industry response is that these chemicals have been cleared for use by the relevant authorities (FDA and ECC) and have been used for decades. The link between smoking and cancer took 50 years to gain public support. Health concerns raised by the Parabens will hopefully be recognised sooner.”
2. Synthetic Colours
Many colours are used to make cosmetics look “pretty”, but synthetic colours (along with synthetic hair dyes) should be avoided at all costs, as many synthetic colours can be carcinogenic. They are listed as FD&C or D&C, followed by a colour and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6, or D&C Green No. 6.
3. Synthetic fragrances
There are often so many ingredients listed on some labels and many products indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since the label will simply read “fragrance” or “parfum” or “perfume” . Some problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper-pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting and skin irritation. They can also trigger asthma.
4. Phthalates
Phthalates are used to keep fragrance chemicals in solution. They are found in almost all fragrances. Manufacturers get away with listing them under the name fragrance or parfum. Phthalates are used to enhance fragrances, as solvents, and to denature alcohol. These chemicals have been researched and shown to enter the bloodstream, then concentrating in fat cells. They are extremely potent oestrogen mimics and some are 10 000 times more potent than oestrogen itself. Excessively high levels of oestrogen have been known to cause cancer. DEP is the phthalate found in the highest levels in humans, and a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives (December 2002) found that DEP is damaging to the DNA of sperm in adult men at current levels of exposure. DNA damage to sperm can lead to infertility and may also be linked to miscarriages, birth defects, infertility and cancer in offspring. Recent product tests found the chemical in every fragrance tested in the United States. Manufacturers are not required to list phthalates on product labels, so they are difficult to avoid, but phthalates have been banned by all the major organic certifiers in the world.
5. Mineral oil/Petrolatum
Also known as mineral oil jelly, liquid Vaseline, Paraffinum Lquidum and baby oil. It is extremely cheap hence it’s widespread use. It can cause photosensitivity and strips natural oils from the skin, causing chapping, dryness and premature ageing. It also prevents the elimination of toxins from the body and can therefore cause acne.
ARTEM LUXE organically cares for our skin and we ensure the safety of our customers by using 100% natural plant dye for our mulberry silk. We also give the promise to you that our farming is done organically at our safeguarded sericulture, without the use of harmful pesticides. We care for you & the environment.