Ingredients in Your Skin-Care Products? (12 ingredient to AVOID)

THIS IS THE GOOD INGREDIENT 

1. Vitamin C

Also known as: Ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate.

Good for: All skin types, except very sensitive skin.

What it treats: Sun damage, aging.

How it works: Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals, which form when the skin is exposed to sun, pollution, cigarette smoke, and other harmful elements. Free radicals damage collagen deep within the skin, causing wrinkles, blotches, and inflammation.

2. Salicylic Acid

 Also known as: Beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

Good for: Normal skin, oily skin.

What it treats: Acne, irritation.

How it works: Salicylic acid can penetrate the sebum that clogs pores, clearing blackheads. "When used on a regular basis, it can decrease the frequency and severity of acne eruptions," says Leslie Baumann, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami, in Florida. Avoid it if you have dry or sensitive skin or an allergy to aspirin. (It's in the same family as the pain reliever.)

3. Ferulic Acid

Also known as: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid.

Good for: Dry skin, normal skin.

What it treats: Sun damage, aging.

How it works: Usually combined with vitamins C and E, "ferulic acid helps stabilize them," says Barbara R. Reed, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, in Denver. This doubles their power as sun-protective agents and boosts their ability to neutralize free radicals.

4. Idebenone

Also known as: Ubiquinone, coenzyme Q-10.

Good for: All skin types.

What it treats: Sun damage, irritation, aging.

How it works: Idebenone is one of the strongest antioxidants contained in cosmetics. Its anti-inflammatory properties "help preserve collagen and elastin," which give the skin support and resilience, says Lisa Donofrio, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

5. Hyaluronic Acid

Also known as: Sodium hyaluronate.

Good for: All skin types, especially dry skin.

What it treats: Aging.

How it works: Hyaluronic acid attracts and seals water into the skin. "When you hydrate the skin from outside, you make fine lines less noticeable," says Susan Weinkle, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida, in Tampa. Avoid hyaluronic acid if you live in a low-humidity climate. It will sit unabsorbed on the surface of your skin and may actually dehydrate it, drawing out moisture.

6.  Green Tea

Also known as: Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

Good for: All skin types.

What it treats: Sun damage, irritation, aging.

How it works: "Green tea is one of the most potent forms of photo-protection," says Patricia Farris, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University, in New Orleans. "It protects against sun damage, and studies have shown that a product containing at least 5 percent green-tea extract may help prevent skin cancer" when applied before sun exposure along with sunscreen.

7. Niacinamide

Also known as: Nicotinamide.

Good for: Dry skin.

What it treats: Sun damage, irritation, aging.

How it works: "Niacinamide stimulates microcirculation and prevents water loss in the skin," says Reed. Additionally, says Donofrio, "deep in the skin, it increases production of ceramides, which are the glue that holds the cells together and prevents water loss." So it helps to hydrate, too. Translation: It gives skin a healthy, youthful glow.

8.Alpha Lipoic Acid

Also known as: Lipoic acid.

Good for: All skin types, except very sensitive skin.

What it treats: Sun damage, aging.

How it works: Alpha lipoic acid "helps with exfoliation and the stimulation of collagen, which may lead to a smoother appearance of the skin," says Ronald R. Brancaccio, a clinical professor of dermatology at the New York University School of Medicine, in New York City. Since it's a powerful exfoliator, avoid it if your skin is sensitive or prone to redness.

source: http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/what-ingredients-skin-care-products-10000001684994/page4.html

This is 12 bad ingredient and maybe more to AVOID

1. Fragrances: Who doesn’t like to smell nice?  Your skin care products should not contain fragrances. Many fragrances are produced from ingredients which are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

2. Parabens: methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben. Many skin care products (and moisturizing products) will use parabens as a preservative to increase the shelf life of the formula. The reason is purely economical (of course). However, studies suggest these preservatives may cause cancer and interfere with the body’s endocrine system, as well as causing allergic reactions and skin rashes.

3. Alcohols: ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol. Not all alcohols have the same properties, but these, which are commonly found in skin care products, are very drying and irritating for the skin. Alcohols such as these strip away the skin’s natural acid mantle, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. And these are some of the very same ingredients which marketing campaigns are telling you will ‘clear up’ problem skin!

source: http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/obtaining-beautiful-skin/

4. UREAS, formally known as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, are preservatives that have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis.Used as preservatives to prevent bacterial growth although ineffective against fungi. Known to be a relatively common cause of contact dermatitis.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: A detergent common in shamoos and cleaners, where it is relatively safe due to short contact time. If exposure is prolonged is likely to cause skin irritation, dryness and other damage. In fact, sodium lauryl sulfate is sometimes used as a model skin irritant in the experiments where skin protectors are tested. Avoid products with sodium lauryl sulfate unless time of contact with the skin is very short. 

5. Mineral oil: petroleum derived hydrocarbons; used as inexpensive base in some products (less today that in the past). Is moderately comedogenic. Mineral oil may also interfere with normal perspiration and other skin functions.

6. Synthetic Colors: Whether synthetic colors are completely safe or mildly damaging in the long run is unknown. Since they serve no useful purpose, they are best avoided (except perhaps when avoiding them means foregoing an otherwise great product). They are labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number, e.g. FD&C Red No. 6 or D&C Green No. 6.

7. Ethanolamines (Monoethanolamine aka MEA, Diethanolamine aka DEA, Triethanolamine aka TEA): common pH stabilizers; when exposed to oxygen/air form nitrosoamines, which may be irritating and/or toxic. The amount of nitrosoamines formed during typical use of skin care products with ethanolamines is unclear.

8. Nanoparticles: Nanoparticles are ultra fine particles that possess certain special properties due to their exceedingly small size. This may include the ability to accumulate in the body, possibly even via topical use, and the ability to trigger potentially harmful chemical reactions. As a result, some experts raise concerns about the use of nanoparticles is skin care and cosmetics. Currently, nanoparticles (such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles) are most commonly used in sunscreens

9. CHELATORS, such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials. They do not readily biodegrade in the environment.

10. SYNTHETIC POLYMERS, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer, come from petroleum and give viscosity to skincare products. They are highly processed and their manufacture creates toxic by-products.

11. QUATS, such as benzalkonium chloride, steardimonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, and cetrimonium chloride, give a positive charge to conditioners in order to prevent static. They are necessary for conditioners, but we have allowed only the mildest quats in our Beauty With a Conscience standard: guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hydroxypropyltrimonium oligosaccharide, and SugaQuats.

12. CHEMICAL SUNSCREENS, such as oxybenzone and octylmethoxycinnamate, have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives.

13.  1,4-DIOXANE, a chemical carcinogen, is created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (or any other -eth), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.

source: http://www.smartskincare.com/ingredients/harmfulingred.html

Why don't you look here1, here2 and see what is really in your skin care ingredient.