The skin, is it just an outside layer to protect us from the elements or something much more important?
It is not a secret that our skin is our largest organ. Yes, that is correct, organ. Let that word sink into your mind. Many times, when we say organ we think of heart or kidneys or lungs and we forget that just as we need those our organs to be healthy we also need our skin, the largest organ, to be healthy.
The look of our skin is the mirror of our internal wellness. So many times we are treating the spots on our face and completely forgetting that this is only the symptom of something much more complex happening inside of our body.
Are there hidden dangers in cosmetics and skincare?
In these days of plenty, the world is filled with beauty products that are supposed to make us look younger and slow down the aging process. But if we look a bit closer, we will find out that the ingredients in many top cosmetic brands will do just the opposite. The promises of making us feel younger and have a glowing skin come with hidden dangers and very often, they actually accelerate the ageing process. Some of the most commonly found ingredients in beauty brands can lead to damage of our cells and slowing down the one process which is actually the real secret to youth and wellbeing, the autophagy. Yes, you can biohack your skin as well. But first let’s look at some of the ingredients that would be harming to our cells.
Formaldehyde
Found in deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams, nail polish, eyelash glue and hair gel.
This chemical is linked to allergies, eczema, headaches, airway irritation, eye irritation and much more. Possible other names can be formalin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl ura, quaternium-15 or hydroxymethylglycinate.
Mineral oil and petroleum
Found in lip balms, lipsticks, night creams, lotions and ointments.
Mineral oil doesn’t absorb into the skin as it’s molecular size is too big and therefore it just sits on top. Petroleum derivatives can coat the skin like a plastic film and thus limiting the skin to breath. The better solution is jojoba oil, candelilla oil, coconut butter, shea butter or avocado butter.
Oxybenzone
Often found in sunscreens, lip balms, moisturizers to protect against UV rays.
Oxybenzone has been found to cause allergic reactions, endocrine disruptions and Hirschsprung’s disease.
Parabens and phthalates
Found in deodorants, cosmetics, creams, nail polish, hairspray to prolong the shelf life of these products.
Parabens and phthalates can be dermally absorbed because of their fat-soluble nature. Due to their estrogenicity they are the cause of concern with regards to breast cancer. Stay away from these compounds and look for words like: “fragrance” or “perfume” free or simply look for products made from essential oils.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Common foaming agent found in shampoos, toothpastes, cleansers and other personal products.
SLS is one of the primary skin irritants used in body care products today. The lathering agent can destroy the lipid layers of our skin. Look for SLS-free products when you can.
Why do skincare ingredients matter?
Looking younger and feeling younger starts with the right diet and lifestyle but it doesn’t end there. We do need to be mindful of our daily routines as well and not compromise when it comes to the actions that we do so automatically like putting a deodorant on, applying a cream to our face or just brushing our teeth.
This should not scare you, but make you aware that not everything that looks shiny and says the right things on the front of the box is true. It’s all about the ingredients! When selecting our skincare and cosmetics, we must be as diligent to find the right products as we are when selecting supplements.
Our brands Young Goose, Alitura Naturals and Mythos meet all the criteria a biohacker considers important. Biohack your largest organ with peace of mind!