Sunday, March 21, 2010

What's that Ingredient: Silicones


What's that ingredient?
#2: Silicone
Hair and Skin

If you haven't seen my video on parabens, please watch it here:

Non-Soluble:
Dimethicone
Dimethiconol
Phenyl Trimethicone
Amodimethicone
Cyclomethicone

Soluble:
PEG-modified dimethicone
Dimethicone copolyol

HAIR:
When it is humid outside, your hair picks up moisture. It loses moisture when it is dry outside. Silicones will prevent this from happening. Silicones are almost like a type of plastic for your hair. They coat the hair shaft and prevent anything from getting in or out. While Silicones do make your hair feel shiny, silky, detangle, and prevent UV rays from effecting hair, they build up over time and can cause breaking, drying, and tangling.
Silicones are not water-soluble, meaning they do not dissolve in water, and for this reason, they will not come out unless one uses a shampoo with a surfactant in it. Unfortunately for me, I have given up Sulfate shampoos, and have Dimethicone in my hair due to a poor choice on my part (lack of research beforehand). So what did I do? Coco-betaine, another mild surfactant, has been said to do the job of removing a silicone but less harshly. It is found in the Burt's Bees line of shampoos. However, I have used the shampoo once, and I can still feel the effects of the silicone on my hair. Now I have to use a sulfate to get it all the way out (hopefully)

For information on types of sulfates, if they are water-soluble, and how to remove them, please refer to this chart:

(Please refer to the chart on this site to see which silicones are water-soluble and what will remove them from your hair).

Skin
Dimethicone is the most common silicone found in facial products. Lots of moisturizers have Dimethicone, as well as makeup primers. Just like silicones do to hair, they make your face silky and smooth. I used to tell my boyfriend 'Hey, feel how smooth my face is!' Yeah...that's because of Dimethicone.
Silicones in makeup still act as a barrier. They allow makeup to go on smoothly and increase the staying power of the makeup. It creates a "hydrating barrier" by preventing water from entering or exiting. Products with silicone in them will not allow your skin to BREATHE. Can you imagine going for a run with a silicone-based moisturizer or makeup primer on? Your sweat is getting trapped in your pores! And silicone ITSELF clogs pores! It makes pores look smaller by clogging them up and causing breakouts (for some people - myself included). Products with silicone will also fill in wrinkles and reduce the appearance of fine lines, therefore being popular in (non-natural) anti-aging products.

While I am in no way telling you what products to use and not use, I hope that you make the healthiest and most natural choice for your skin and body.

If you have any questions, please email me at: iluvjesse@me.com


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Parabens

What's that ingredient?
#1: Parabens

If you haven't seen my video on parabens, please watch it here:

Most common types:
methylparaben:
reacts with UVB and causes increased aging and sun damage
ethylparaben
propylparaben
gutylparaben

Less common:
isobutylpraben
isopropylparaben
benzylparaben

Parabens are the most widely used preservative in the cosmetic world. While they do protect against bacterial growth, they are still harmful. Parabens are rapidly absorbed into ones body and metabolized. Although they are excreted, they still leave a lasting effect due to the fact that they mimic the hormone estrogen and damage the nervous system. High levels of parabens have been detected in breast tumors.
Parabens are also found in food. Food is a necessity to live, and therefore I believe that the nutritional properties of a food item makes up for the fact that it might have parabens in it. While food is a necessity to live, body products are not; they are not required and are only around to make an individual look better or, if the products are natural, TRULY improve ones skin.

It is important for there to be some type of preservative in all products, especially natural ones. (Just NOT parabens) Without preservatives, there is more likelihood that bacteria will form.

Alternative types of parabens:
Grapefruit seed extract (most common)
phenoxyethanol
Potassium Sorbate
Sorbic Acid
Tecopherol - Vitamin E
Retinyl - Vitamin A
Ascorbic Acid -Vitamin C
Tetrasodium EDTA
Disodium EDTA
Calcium Disodium EDTA
Cosmocil CQ

While I am in no way telling you what products to use and not use, I hope that you make the healthiest and most natural choice for your skin and body.

If you have any questions, please email me at: iluvjesse@me.com