Good - and Bad - Chemicals for Your Skin

We often forget what we put on our skin - especially women with make-up and all that jazz - gets absorbed into our body.  And we sure cannot depend on protection from the bad stuff - it's out there! - and some of it is pure toxins.

But wait, there is GOOD stuff - some of which we cannot even pronounce - that is GOOD for the skin!  I found an article in Body and Soul magazine with a list of scary-sounding beauty boosters that will actually  benefit the skin.  Here's their list:

Ascorbic Acid
It is Vitamin C.  It helps to keep products from spoiling, so if you see it on the label its ok.  Vitamin C also stimulates the production of collagen, which slows as you age, and helps to minimize fine lines.

Butyrospermum parkii
This is the "real" name for Shea butter - well, thank heavens.  Shea butter provides easily absorbed moisture and can also heal minor blemishes and reduce inflammation.  (I found a pure shea soap that is just heaven!  I have been using shea oil on my skin for the last few years, it's wonderful!)

Cera alba
Another name for Beeswax.  This helps make products more uniform in texture.  It also allows skin to seal in moisture naturally and has antibacterial properties. 

Hyaluronic Acid
It's a sugar compound that occurs naturally in skin cells.  (Again, whew!  Sounded like something needed in a car battery!)  This boosts firmness, combats aging and wrinkles and plays a role in cell turnover, which promotes radiant healthy skin.  (Stocking up on this one!)

Panthenol
This is none other than Vitamin B5.  It offers deep-penetrating mositure to heal and fortify skin and hair.  Additionally, it ma help repair skin tissue and fight certain types of dermatitis.

Retinol
This is good old Vitamin A.  This will boost long-term hydration, penetrates deeper layers of the dermis to improve texture, and also aids in evening out mottled pigmentation.  (Ready to dip all of me in this one!)

Tocopherol
Hurray another Vitamin - E this time.  The article says it may slow the aging process by fighting free radicals and protecting skin against sun damage.  It can also help smooth out skin overall.

So these are good to see on the labels of your products.  Always best to start any list with the good stuff, right.  So here are just a few of the uh-oh's you want to avoid.  I'm skipping the info on the research done to tell you why they are bad (forgive this omission - if you really need to know this bad stuff, google it).

BAD GUYS:
Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate - or DLS
Triethanolamine (TEA)
Parabens
Propylene Glycol
Phenoxyethanol
Imidazolidinyl urea
PEGS
Petroleum - yep, that includes famous old Vaseline.  As a general rule look for ethanol or petro in the names of chemicals you don't know - these come from the petroleum industry and sure as heck weren't meant for your skin to drink in any more than you'd want to find them in your juice  or coffee.

If you haven't discovered the website Skindeep.com do check it out.  You can find a rating of most every personal care product as to the toxins found in it. 

Have you found any natural means for skin care or products that you would recommend?