The first question a consumer often asks before purchasing a skin care product is "Is it natural?" This perception has come about because numerous natural companies have been misinterpreting safety data sheets. Of course the reason they do this is to make their cosmetic seem safer when in reality this may not be the case.
Usually this inaccurate data comes in the form of Material Safety Data Sheets that have been taken out of context. Unfortunately MSDS often use animal studies as a determinant of safety , This however is not accurate and does not follow that that the same adverse effects are inevitable in humans.
Using animals as a means of deciding whether drugs and chemicals are safe has no weight what so ever. Most drugs are metabolised entirely differently by humans then animals. Even within the animal family some species will have no health affects while others will be killed by the same substance.
Thalidomide, a drug prescribed for morning sickness in the 60's was tested on animals prior to release and deemed safe upon animal testing but soon after was found to cause birth defects in humans. Aspirin also causes birth defects in monkeys amongst many other animal species but is safe in humans.
With the massive amount of inaccurate information flying around the internet is it any wonder that consumers are going natural but natural does not mean safer for allergic skins.
Lavender oil which is frequently used in baby products and liberally in adult cosmetics is considered by most people to be fantastic because of its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender however makes the skin more prone to burning from UV rays and also causes pigmentation, a condition that women pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to get rid of. Of course natural companies will not tell you that by using their lavender product that they will give you pigmentation. You are only told how fantastic it is and not what the long term consequences of use are.
Lavender and Tea Tree Oil have also been dubbed gender bender chemicals. Both of these natural oils have been shown to induce breast development in prepubescent boys. The report inThe New England Journal of Medicinefound that use of personal care products was a strong contributor to this phenomenon.
Lavender also is associated with contact dermatitis and allergies. Lavender contains Coumarin (makes you burn quicker), Geraniol, Limonene and Linalool; all of which are listed of the EU regulated list of contact allergens. Not a good choice for those with hypersensitivities. Of course this information about natural products is hidden from consumers in an attempt by natural companies to get a competitive edge over their synthetic counterparts.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is hailed as being terrible for your skin and there is no doubt it can dry your skin and cause problems. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is the benchmark for irritancy, it is what everything else is compared to. However replacing SLS with other surfactants does not mean you will not have an allergy. The newest breed of surfactants are derived from sugar and so are deemed natural, the fact that SLS comes from coconut another natural souce is not mentioned of course by natural companies. The Glucosides come from sugar and yes they are natural, but don't use them if you have allergies. I have seen first hand people who look like they have been burnt from a couple of uses. Decyl Glucoside which is commonly used has a pH of 11. Yes you read that correctly. It is so alkaline that Citric Acid must be added at the end of formulation to bring down the pH so it does not burn your skin.
Do not rely on safety data sheets as an indicator of safeness. What causes an allergy in one person does not in another. Education however is the best knowledge you can have as it allows you to have choice and not be misled by hyped up advertising.
