Paraben-Free Hair Care Products and Cosmetics Are YOUR Health Concern
Have you ever taken a close look at the cosmetics, lotions, and hair care and skin care items in your own bathroom? Likely the words "natural" and "organic" jump out at you from many of the labels.
More and more women are becoming concerned that their so-called natural, nontoxic hair care products and cosmetics could indeed be toxic. For several years now, the scientific community has been raising red flags about parabens and their health effects, especially on women. As far back as 1998, researchers reported: "Given (parabens') use in a wide range of commercially available topical preparations, it is suggested that the safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed...." But so far, it hasn't been and parabens are still in wide use. The Problem With ParabensOpponents say parabens, particularly butylparaben, disrupt normal hormone functioning by mimicking estrogen. Scientific evidence suggests exposure to estrogen and substances that behave like estrogen may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.Even more troubling, parabens are being used in products like lotions, deodorants, and make-up that stay on the skin for long periods of time, being absorbed directly into the body. Some scientists are concerned that parabens could migrate through the skin and into the bloodstream, bypassing the gastrointestinal system, which normally breaks down and eliminates toxins from the body. So why would all these companies who are trying to convince us that their beauty products are natural and healthy continue to use an ingredient that has come under such scientific scrutiny? The companies that use parabens defend them, saying they've been in use 70 years and are approved by such bodies as the World Health Organization and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel in the US. While it's true there have been no studies that prove beyond a doubt that parabens increase the risk of cancer, the debate continues over whether the preservative should be in use at all until we know for sure that it's safe. Paraben-Free Hair & Skin Care ProductsSome beauty product companies are not waiting for the scientific evidence to slowly roll in – they're acting now to create nontoxic hair care products, lotions and cosmetics that use natural alternatives to parabens.One company, Therapeutic Technologies, has responded to concerns about possible negative effects from long-term exposure to parabens by formulating paraben-free hair care products. Their shampoos and conditioners contain a natural preservative from Italy – one that prevents bacteria without the potential health risks. 
According to Sean Campbell managing director of NOe Cosmetics™ (Natural Organic edible Cosmetics) Up to 60% of whatever we place on our skin goes into our blood stream. Given that we already have on average 91 chemicals in our bodies that don’t belong there, many of which are often triggers for some of the illnesses that affect us, the implications of lathering ourselves with more chemicals doesn’t make a lot of sense.
NOe Cosmetics™ offers skin care products that are 100% Organic actives and free of petrochemicals, dyes, preservatives, additives and paraben. Other forward-thinking manufacturers are turning to essential oils such as caraway, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, rose, sandalwood, and tea tree, which when distilled, are potent enough to act as natural antiseptics, antifungals and antibacterials. Parabens have also been replaced with grapefruit seed extract and Vitamin E in certain nontoxic hair care products and cosmetics. So some companies really do understand the meaning of the words "natural" and "organic" and know how to create beauty products that live up to today's health standards.
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