Hyaluronic Acid
August 31, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Hyaluronic acid is a component of connective tissue and found throughout the human body. Mainly found in connective tissues its function is to cushion and to lubricate.
Hyaluronic acid is included in skincare products, particularly moisturisers for its ability to hold water.
Known as a humectant, hyaluronic acid can draw water and hold up to ten times its own weight in water.
When applied to the skin it gives skin a fresh, plump look and can lessen the appearance of fine lines.
Moisturisers for men and women that contain hyaluronic acid are included in the Skinsaviour range.
Hyaluronic acid levels in the body are linked to both genetic and environmental factors. Deficiencies of both magnesium and zinc are linked to low hyaluronic acid levels. What has been discovered is that low levels of hyaluronic acid have been linked to a number of premature aging diseases as a defining characteristic.
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Nanoparticles and Sunscreen
August 28, 2009 by Jo · 1 Comment
Friends of the Earth have released a report detailing why consumers should be cautious when using sunscreens that contain nanoparticles.
There are a large number of sunscreens on the market that use nano size particles of the physical UV filters titanium and zinc. The size of the particles allow the product to be applied more easily and also provides better absorption into the skin leaving the user with no white residue.
“Consumers must be aware that nanomaterials are being put into sunscreens with very little evidence about their safety and efficacy”, said Ian Illuminato of Friends of the Earth.
Claims by manufacturers that using nano sized particles made the sunblocks more effective are dismissed by Friends of the Earth who say a 2007 report done by the Consumer’s Union concluded there was no correlation between using nano particles in an sunblock and effectiveness of the product as a sunblock.
The concern over nanoparticles is due to their ability to penetrate the skin.
“In the body, nanomaterials have much greater access to vulnerable organs and skin tissues”, states the report.
The report also calls for products to clearly disclose on labeling that it contains nanoparticles and pre testing for products before they go on the market. Research into the effect of nanoparticles on human health also needs to be encouraged.
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Online Skincare
August 27, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
E commerce market research company comScore has found in a UK study, that women between the ages of 25 and 54 were 30% more likely to visit retail shopping sites than any other demographic.
In the one month period of the study, 4.6 million mums living in the United Kingdom made an average of 52.6 visits per visitor and spent a total of 27.6 hours online.
James Gavin from comScore said as well as the internet being a research tool for shoppers people were becoming more comfortable about buying online.
“This is changing, however. As people become more comfortable giving out their credit card details over the internet and trusting the postal system it will become more of the norm”.
Online beauty sales are becoming widely excepted worldwide.
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Good Fats
August 26, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Essential fatty acids are just that – essential for our physical health and for healthy, glowing skin.
They are used by the body to help keep the integrity of cellular membranes, are involved in hormone production, fight inflammation and are involved in other integral actions that keep our skin healthy looking. Often a deficiency in essential fatty acids in our diets will show up as dry, rough and dull skin on our face and bodies. Bumps on the back of the upper arms can also signal a essential fatty acid deficiency.
People who suffer from inflammatory conditions such as eczema and psoriasis particularly need to make sure their diets have adequate essential fatty acids. So how do we make sure our diet is rich in essential fatty acids?
Include the following:
Cold water fish – Salmon, tuna, sardines are all good sources. Cold water fish have high levels of the omega 3 oils.
Flaxseed oil – you can buy the oil itself or include ground flax seeds in your diet – grinding them fresh in a coffee grinder is best. Keep flax oil and ground in the fridge to ensure freshness.
Walnut oil – walnut and flax seed oil can be used in salad dressings.
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
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Triclosan
August 24, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Tricolosan is used in many anti-bacterial soaps, acne products, skincare and personal products.
In the United States, the FDA classifies Triclosan as a drug and the EPA classifies it as a pesticide and a major risk to human health and the environment.
US classifies chloroform as a possible human carcinogen and questions about the exposure to chloroform
when antibacterial soaps containing Triclosan are used under the shower.
Triclosan is linked to a range of health effects including skin irritation, photo allergic contact dermatits
and increasing the susceptibility to allergic reactions.
Triclosan can also accumulate in fatty deposits and has been found in breast milk.
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SPF – What Do I Need?
August 23, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Every day of the year we need to apply sun protection so that accumulative sun damage doesn’t occur to our skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and possibly skin cancer.
A broad spectrum sunscreen covering UVA and UVB with a minimum SPF of 15 is essential.
The actual UVA protection depends on the active ingredients that are used.
Some factors to think about when you buying a sunscreen are:
- Are you exercising and therefore perspiring or going to be swimming?
Buy a waterproof sunblock and be sure to reapply.
If you do rub yourself with a towel – reapply the cream. - How long will you be exposed for?
The longer the exposure the higher the SPF needed. - Are you going to wear makeup?
Foundations and pressed powders can have an SPF included in the formulation.
This will increase the overall sun protection factor. - Is my skin oily?
Spray on sunscreen can be good for oily skin. Look for a lotion rather than a cream – some have a matte finish that can be helpful for oily skins. - Do I burn easily?
If you know your skin type burns easily, you will need a higher SPF . - Is the higher the SPF the better?
The SPF is just related to how long you can stay in the sun. So if you have a skin type that burns very readily you will need to use a higher SPF.
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Outgrow Acne?
August 22, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Regardless of your age , gender and skin colour, everyone experiences the same cause of acne.
Men are more likely to outgrow acne as their hormone levels stay fairly stable after puberty.
Women however, tend to have fluctuating hormone levels after puberty mainly connectined to the menstrual cycle and can experience outbreaks from the teenage years even through to their forties and fifties.
There are some basic guidelines for dealing with acne breakouts, regardless of your age.
- Wash gently in warm water twice a day.
- Use a cleanser that has no soap or detergentto leave the natural lipid layer intact.
- Don’t be tempted to scrub the skin or over exfoliate as this can stimulate oil production.
- Use a moisturiser that is non comodegenic which means that it will not block your pores and make the outbreak of acne more likely.
- Squeezing the acne should be avoided as it can cause scarring.
- Seek help from a dermatologist or doctor if your acne is severe as there are treatment options available.
- Acne can be lightly camoflagued with an anti bacterial concealer.
Most people do however, experience their worst acne in their tennage years and do grow out of acne.
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Kohl Pencil Danger
August 21, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Kohl pencil has traditionally been used in the Middle East and its use dates back to ancient Egyptian times.
Just think Cleopatra’s black rimmed eyes.
India and Pakistan are the two largest producers of traditional kohl pencils and the unregulated lead content has been found to be as high as 
% in some of the pencils tested.
Education is needed to inform long time users of traditional lead kohl pencils of the potential hazards which include not only lead poisoining but also eye allergies and infections.
Manufacturers should be encouraged to use alternatives to lead kohl with other black pigments.
Consumers should be aware of the large amount of kohl lead pencils exported worldwide.
If you use kohl pencils, check where the pencil has been manufactured and the ingredient listing if available. If you are not sure, buy a kohl pencil from a well recognised company .
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Cosmecutical?
August 20, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Cosmecutical is a term commonly used by marketers of skincare products to promote the idea their products had a more pharmaceutical type action than merely cosmetic.
Choice magasine took to task skincare companies using pseudo-scientific words such as dermo-clinical as they have no scientific meaning or basis and could mislead consumers.
Last week the TGA Therapeutic Goods Association of Australia
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Chemical Cocktails
August 19, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Exposure to a cocktail of chemicals used in cleaning products and cosmetics has been linked to birth defects and infertility in men by a leading U.K. scientist.
Profeesor Richard Sharpe of the medical research Council warned in a CHEM Trust report that hormone disrupting chemicals have played a role in the decreasing levels of reproductive health in men.
Low sperm counts, testicular cancer and penis malformation have all become increasingly common in the last few decades . Sharpe claims that the summation effect is the threat and not a chemical individually.
Sharpe said “Because it is the summation effect of hormone disrupting chemicals that is critical, and the number of such chemicals that humans are exposed to is considerable, this provides the stongest possible incentive to minimise human exposure to all relevant homone disruptors, especially women planning pregnancy, as it is obvious that the higher the exposure the greater the risk”.
CHEM Trust director Elisabeth Salter Green stated ” It is high time that public health policy is based on good science and that regulatory authorities have health protection rather than industry protection, uppermost in mind.”
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