Lasting Benefits of

Eco Friendly Products  

Natural ingredients have been a part of this world since the beginning.  In Egypt and China, plants have been used for thousands of years for their natural healing properties and today, a growing number of people who want to choose hair, skincare, and other personal products are following their lead.  In addition to being safer and healthier for the person, products made with organic ingredients are better for the environment. 

With some negative changes in the environment, air, water, and soil pollution has become a serious challenge.  While it might not seem like a big deal but as the number of people choosing eco friendly products, cleaning solutions, appliances, etc the level of pollution is increasing.  Organic products formulated for the hair and skin are made from natural ingredients, which means these products contain no preservatives or chemicals.  However, not only do these products work, but also, most work better than those containing non-organic ingredients do. 

For the environment, personal care products considered eco friendly are void of synthetic substances, pesticides, mineral oils, artificial dyes, animal byproducts, and other chemicals that wreck havoc on the skin but also the environment.  It is important when people purchase eco friendly personal care items that they make sure the label uses very specific verbiage such as “cruelty free”, “100% vegan”, or “100% organic”.  The ingredients would be mostly edible such as grapefruit, papaya, avocado, almond, apricot, as well as plant extracts and essential oils. 

Some of the specific ingredients that should be avoided at all cost when looking for eco friendly hair and skincare products include: 

• Mineral Oil, Petroleum, and Paraffin – These “oils” are actually byproducts of crude oil that are dangerous to the environment and when used for the hair and skin, they stop the body from absorbing essential nutrients and vitamins.  Worst of all, certain derivatives of mineral oil have been proven to cause cancer. 

• Parabens – This ingredient should never be listed on eco friendly hair, skin, or other personal care items, which is typically listed as ethyl, methyl, butyl, and propyl.  All of these have a petroleum base that causes irritation and new studies show there is risk of parabens increasing risk of breast cancer. 

• Phthalates – Another ingredient that should not be on a label for any eco friendly product is the same substance that comes from plastic, which is not only toxic, but also a carcinogenic. 

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate – Both of these chemicals are used in shampoo and dish soap to produce foam.  However, in-depth research shows there is also a direct link to an array of health risks such as damage to the immune system and cell membranes. 

• Isopropyl Alcohol – This last ingredient should also not be associated with any hair, skin, or other personal care item in that it causes the skin to dry out.  Because of this, premature lines and wrinkles are likely.  In addition, this substance is made with heavy metal salts that can get inside skin, which experts believe can lead to cancer.