Today’s Prescription for Wellness:

Increase your awareness of what ingredients are in the products you put on your skin. Some of them may not be as helpful as you may have thought!

The 7 ingredients listed below are often found in skin care products but and though they may help the manufacturers extend the life of their product or water down the products so they can produce more and spend less on the ingredients, none of these products benefit your skin.

Mineral Oil:An oil product derived from petroleum (crude oil) is a stabilizing ingredient used in many skin care formulas. Mineral oil forms a film on the skin, blocking the pores and interfering with the normal skin respiration. It not only dries the skin, but also contributes to blemishes.  Mineral Oil also leeches out free radical fighters: Vitamin A, C, and E from your skin.

Petroleum-Petroleum products such as Vaseline, etc. do not penetrate the skin, but sit on the surface blocking natural respiration, excretion, and absorption of other nutrients.

Wax (Beeswax,Carnauba,Emulsifying,Paraffin, and Candilla) Beeswax is a sticky sealant. It attracts pollutants, dirt, and bacteria and glues them on the skin as it scales the pores.

Solvent Alhohols-Many skin care products contain solvent alcohol in the form of propyl, isopropyl (petroleum derivitates) or SD Alcohol (especially denatured alcohol). The alcohols strip the “acid mantle” of your natural protective oils that hold in moisture and fight bacteria, causing your skin to produce more oil to replace what was destroyed.

Lanolin-An oily excretion of sheep, lanolin is a common lubrication ingredient in many skin formulas.  Extracted from wool, lanolin has been indicated as a cause of allergic skin reactions in sensitive skin. It does not penetrate the epidermis, so it also acts as a sealant.

Collagen-An animal product added to cosmetics as a moisturizing agent or inject directly into the skin, Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin and therefore clog pores.

Dyes, Perfumes, and other harmful ingredients - Artificial ingredients found in most cosmetics. Animal testing has been used to determine “safe” toxicity levels, however many of these ingredients can cause allergic reactions in many people.

Want to know the best things TO put on your skin? Schedule an appointment with Kathi Marshall today and not only will you walk out of KaiZen with your skin feeling more vibrant that ever before but also armed with information about how to keep that glow going for many many more days to come. Current Special: Hydrating Facial only $50 (Reg. $80).

KaiZen Wellness Experiment of the Day:

Look through all of your skin care product and set aside all the products that have any of the ingredients listed above. Trust us, it will be well worth it.

You have those product to help your skin, not set your skin back, damage your skin, and create more work for yourself and your body. Is a product questionable? Set an appointment with Kathi today, and she can assist you in guiding you on the right path to beauty products that make your look at your skin and say “WOW!”