**please note: this page is under construction.
what’s a paraben?
parabens are chemicals added to products for their preservative aspects to add shelf-life to a product and prevent harmful bacteria and mold from growing. Parabens can be absorbed through your skin. they are often used in cosmetics and body products. the most common type of parabens used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben and isobutylparaben. The concern with parabens is based on the amount of build up, or concentration of parabens in our bloodstream. the idea is, so many products have parabens in them that the constant contact with them can build up. they are endocrine-disrupting chemicals which mean they are hormone-mimicking chemicals. The body may treat the paraben like a hormone. parabens are the most common preservative. Parabens promote the production of estrogen and are increasingly linked to early puberty in girls.parabens have been found in breast cancer cells which indicates that parabens may act like estrogen. One of the most common preservatives is the group of synthetic parabens. Unfortunately, synthetic parabens cannot be metabolized like naturally occurring ones. They increase estrogen production, disrupt hormone functions, and cause DNA damage. although the more testing is needed to know the danger level of parabens, the best rule of thumb for them is to “use them in moderation”.
Parabens are directly linked to breast cancer and cause negative reproductive effects in both females and males. Because of the vast array of cosmetics women use, it is estimated that women absorb about 50mg of synthetic parabens every day. And here’s a dose of irony: parabens in skincare products promote skin aging.
nosey people society does not use parabens in their products. this not only removes the concern of whether they are cancer causing to our community but also reduces their exposure to them. yay!
What are Phthalates?
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Other phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in many products such as personal-care products like soaps, shampoos, hair sprays and nail polishes. containers for food and beverages can contain phthalates. human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are essential unknown. It has been shown that phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals. Researchers show that women have higher levels of phthalates in their system from the soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and other personal care products. The most common type of phthalates used are di-n-octylphthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate. one phthalate, Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), is an endocrine disrupter and can cause cancer. Can cause human reproduction or development. nosey people society does not use parabens in their products. this not only removes the concern of whether they are cancer causing to our community but also reduces their exposure to them. yay!
what is sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate and sodium stearate?
sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant which means it lowers the surface tension which between ingredients. this makes products better at cleansing and increases the products bubbles. because of this it is found in many household cleaners and self-care products. sodium laureth sulfate is similar but is slightly milder causing less irritation. It is so common, these are just some of the products, grooming products (shaving cream, lip balm, hand sanitizer, nail treatments, makeup remover, foundation, facial cleansers, exfoliants and lqid hand soap), hair products (shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, dandruff treatment, styling gel), dental care products (toothpaste, teeth whitening products, and mouthwash), bath products (bath oils & salts, body wash, bubble bath) creams & lotions (hand cream, face mask, anti-itch creams, hair-removal products & sunscreen). Currently the assessment is that it is not harmful if used briefly and rinsed from the skin like shampoo and soaps. For items that remain on the skin longer, you should not exceed 1% concentration. Minor issues with exposure is mild to moderate skin irritation. Products that use these chemicals are considered safe because they consider these products designed to be rinsed off after short periods of application. nosey people society does not use parabens in their products. this not only removes the concern of whether they are cancer causing to our community but also reduces their exposure to them. yay! SLS promotes the formation of a group of carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines. SLS also damages the epidermis and causes skin irritation.
do lotions have expiration dates?
an expired lotion doesn’t hurt or damage skin but the product won’t lock in moisture or hydrate as thoroughly. sealed and unopened bottle should be good for 3 years. you can determine the moisturizer’s smell or texture, but hey wouldn’t it be better. Can cause allergic reations, acne, skin infections, extremely dry skin, or even skin discolouration. Most lotions to have an expiration date on them and lets face it, most of us can’t remember when we bought a lotion exactly. the variables that cause a material to become bad are air, , water, light, heat, and bacteria. Many over the counter products have
what causes your body products to spoil?
There are many variables that cause a material to go bad. these include air/oxygen, water, light, heat, bacteria. air/oxygen will enhance the growth of microorganisms.
air/oxygen: it can cause oxidation which makes it “go rancid”. it can deminish the lotions potency or makes it change into something else. At best, the product will simply be less effective. Lotions in jars or other containers that need to be opened up to use are most likely to be oxidized. Product that have vitamin C or antioxidants become less and less effective. you can often tell if a vitamin c moisturizer is bad when it turns brown but this is not necessarily true. oxygen can also enhance the growth of microorganisms.
water: mold and bacteria can only occur in products that contain water this includes lotions and scrubs.
light: over exposure to light can also cause oxidation similar to air/oxygen.
heat:
bacteria:
What is the difference between rancidity, mold, and bacteria
mold and bacteria: can only occur in products that contain water this includes lotions and scrubs. Mold and bacteria can occur at any time. if you add a preservative to a product it will protect it from mold/bacteria.
rancidity: is the deterioration of oils and fats. oxidation, auto-oxidation, hydrolytic rancidity, microbial rancidity. Rancid ingredients can smell bad, change color or lose effectiveness. Rancidity is a sign of an ingredient that is past its shelf life. preservatives do not prevent a product from going rancid.
oxidation: is a form of rancidity
auto-oxidation: is a form of rancidity
hydrolytic rancidity: is a form of rancidity
microbial rancidity: is a form of rancidity
What is Handcrafted?
Hand