Serving Size: 4.92 MB Servings Per Container: 1 In Your Body On Your Body For Your Home For Your Family Seeking Medical Treatment How to Detoxify Your Body Guide to Symptoms A Healthy House Values, Vision & Mission Background & History Staff & Advisors News & Upcoming Events Join Our Mailing List Contact Us Recommended Resources Index of Terms Works Cited This product contains 100% natural ingredients. Easy Pay Pal Donations TNTP Grade A Brain-food More Special Features Back to Index of Terms The product Facial Cleansers is in the following categories: Skin Care Products  |  Cosmetics  |  Personal Hygiene Products Facial Cleansers CHEMICALS CONTAINED: Conventional facial cleansers may contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate as a detergent and foaming agent, parabens and or diazolidinyl/imidazolidinyl urea as preservatives, and diethanolamine (DEA) and/or triethanolamine (TEA) as foaming agents or emulsifiers. Other commonly used detergents are cocamide DEA and cocamidopropyl betaine. Quaternium-15 is another commonly used preservative. Most contain synthetic, petroleum-based cleaning ingredients that can irritate the skin, and preservatives that can also irritate and cause other problems. Most also contain synthetic colors and fragrance. Most synthetic dyes and fragrances are made from petroleum by-products or coal tars (a carcinogenic liquid or semi-liquid from bituminous coal). Coal tars can contain benzene, xylene, naphthalene, phenol and creosol. HEALTH CONCERNS: Quaternium-15 can contain formaldehyde (a human carcinogen and irritant), and causes more dermatitis complaints than any other preservative, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are sometimes disguised as “derived from coconuts” or “coconut-based.” While that is actually true in some products, most of the time that ingredient is derived from petroleum. They may cause eye and skin irritation, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and other allergic reactions. It is a harsh detergent that is used because it is inexpensive. Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl) may cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrongenic and can be absorbed through the skin. One study found parabens in tissue samples from human breast tumors. Cocamide DEA and cocamidopropyl betaine are synthetic and may cause skin irritation. DEA is a suspected human carcinogen. DEA and TEA may cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of hair and skin. Both are ammonia compounds that can form cancer-causing nitrosamines if they come in contact with nitrates, which are often present in the products as impurities. Diazolidinyl urea and imidiazolidinyl urea must often be combined with other preservatives to be effective antifungals. Both release formaldehyde. Synthetic fragrances may cause a wide range of acute and chronic effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, watery eyes, other allergic symptoms, sensitization, nervous system depression and skin irritation. Nitrobenzene may be used in making synthetic dyes. Nitrobenzene can irritate eyes and skin at low exposure levels, and in larger amounts has damaged liver and blood in animals. Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Naphthalene is a possible human carcinogen that has been linked to cancer in animal tests, and exposure to large amounts may damage or destroy red blood cells. TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: There are many products on the market today that clean without harsh, petroleum-based ingredients, synthetic colors, or fragrances. Look for products that are unscented or are scented with pure essential oils. Read labels to look for certain ingredients: avoid anything with the parabens, the ureas, and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate. Here are some suggestions for all-natural facial masks that you can make at home. Before applying them, you want to moisten your face and neck with warm water. You then want to apply the mask, allow it to dry, rinse it off with warm water, and do a final rinse with cold water to close your pores. Peel and slice ½ cucumber and puree in blender. Mix in 1 T plain yogurt and apply. Leave on for 20 minutes. Puree 1 ripe avocado in blender. Apply as is or combine with: An equal quantity of sour cream or plain yogurt ½ C honey an 2 T peanut or olive oil 1 tsp honey and the juice of ½ lemon leave this mask on for 15 – 30 minutes Mix 1 T raw wheat germ with 2 T warm water. Add 1 egg yolk to form a heavy dough. Leave on for 10 – 15 minutes. Back to Index of Terms