Toxins in Cosmetics

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is our most important immune defense barrier and our largest organ for eliminating waste. Substances applied to the skin can get absorbed into the blood stream. Some experts say that up to 60% of substances applied to the skin can be absorbed into the blood stream.

Beware of so called 'natural' cosmetics
Many of the skincare products on the market call themselves natural but they are actually full of chemicals. Skincare products only need 1% of natural ingredients to call themselves natural! It is a misleading marketing trick but it sells and it is not illegal.

The hazards of petrochemical based cosmetics
There are thousands of petroleum based chemicals used in the cosmetics industry - mineral oils and mineral emulsifiers, artificial colours, perfumes and preservatives. Many of them are highly toxic and they can cause all kinds of health problems. Some of them can be absorbed into the skin and even into the blood stream. They can cause all kinds of health problems such as respiratory problems, skin rashes, premature ageing, headaches, cancer etc.

Fragrance on an ingredients label can mean that it contains of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many of them toxic or carcinogenic. They can cause symptoms including allergic rashes, headaches, dizziness, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Scientific studies have proved that fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, and irritability.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in cosmetics which are linked to health problems.  They are not always on the ingredients label as it is is not always legally required.  For more about phthalates click here.

Mineral Oils, Emulsifiers and Waxes

Mineral oils are detrimental to the skin, they coat the skin like plastic, interfering with the bodies healthy functioning, blocking pores and inhibiting the skins ability to eliminate toxins. Some of them sit on the surface of the skin, clogging the pores and making germs more likely to get in and toxins less likely to get out of your body. Mineral oils do not give any nourishment to the skin because they do not contain fatty acids and therefore have no affinity with the skin and cannot be absorbed by the skin.

Suvarna do not sell any products which contain mineral oils, waxes or mineral emulsifiers. We only sell products which contain cold pressed vegetable oils and fats such as shea nut butter and cocoa butter, and natural emulsifiers from plant sources.

These natural plant oils have an affinity with the skin. They can be absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin. They contain fatty acids which are deeply moisturizing, and have an abundance of healing, revitalizing properties and natural vitamins.

The following are some of the nasty ingredients to watch out for. Suvarna do not sell any products which contain any of these ingredients:

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

Sodium Laureth Sufate

Ammonium Laureth Sulphate (family of SLS)

Aluminium

Animal fat

DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine)

Dioxins

Elastin

Formaldehyde

Fragrance

Flourocarbons

Mineral Oil

Petrolatum

Padimate-0

Imidazolidiny Urea and DMDM Hydantoin
PVP/VA Copolymer

FD & C Colour Pigments
Toluene
Hydrolysed Animal Protein
Imidazolidinyl urea
Paraben preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl)
Paraffin wax/oil
Propylene Glycol - Used in antifreeze and also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners