All throughout high school, I suffered from acne pretty badly. I tried to cover it as best I could with heavy makeup, and I had a standing appointment with a dermatologist every couple of weeks. I spent years on antibiotics (cluelessly killing all the good bacteria in my gut and making my skin worse), and I finally ended up taking several courses of a very powerful drug which dried my out my skin and made my hair fall out in chunks! I also distinctly remember my dermatologist telling me that it did not matter what I ate, because my diet did not affect my skin. Oh, that I knew then what I know now! It wasn’t until years later that I discovered that my diet absolutely does affect my skin and hair! I’m happy to report that with clean eating came clean skin. Sure, I still get the occasional pimple or two, but overall, my skin is now clear thanks to clean eating and natural, organic skincare products.
So for me, the “E”ssential list wouldn’t be complete without a section on caring for your natural beauty. While it’s true that it may not be essential to your health, I find it to be a lot of fun!
Once you’ve laid the foundation for health with the first 10 Essentials, you’ll be well on your way to emanating a happy and healthy radiance. Being the girly-girl that I am, I have always loved beauty products of all kinds – lotions and potions for both skin and hair alike. I have learned that not all beauty products are created equal. I learned that most of the skincare products I used as a teenager were actually contributing to my acne problems. One of the primary ways women are exposed to toxins each day is in their beauty and skincare products. Many ingredients not only cause irritation or acne, but they have also been linked to more serious issues like reproductive cancers. That’s why it’s so important to become a label reader – find out what’s in your favorite products and if it’s safe to be using them. Here are some dangerous ingredients you’ll want to avoid:
- Propyl and Methyl Parabens
- Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates
- Propylene Glycol
- Retinols
- Oxybenzone
- Formaldehyde
- DPB (Dibutyl phthalate)
- Toluene
These are just some of the many harmful ingredients that can be found in most conventional beauty products. If you have questions about the ingredients in your favorite products, you can check out the website www.ewg.org, type in your product, and it will give you a safety score for that product. Don’t worry if your favorite product gets a bad score. I can assure you that there is a safe, natural version that will work just as well if not better!
There are so many wonderful companies now that are creating high-quality products that are natural, safe, and very effective. Check out the Emanate Your Beauty section for more articles as well as specific products I recommend. Get ready to get your GLOW on!