Topical Poisons: Do You Know What You're Putting on Your Skin?

A recent ShopSmart report revealed that many popular beauty products contain ingredients that should earn them "hazardous" stickers rather than shelf space at your local drugstore.

Here are two examples:

NARS Duo Eyeshadow Windstar: Before you dust your lids with these NARS neutrals, check the label. They contain Triclosan, an antibacterial compound that has been linked to skin irritation and possible endocrine disruption.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash: The title is misleading; this wash contains two compounds that can produce 1,4-dioxane, itself potentially irritating. 

What to do about it?

Privilege "USDA Organic" or "Premium Body Care" emblems over "dermatologist recommended" claims when shopping for cosmetics and beauty products.

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Contest! Free Set of GR8SKN Products!

Right on the heels on Shannon Wilson's contest over at Raspberry Kiss is our very own give-away. Enter below for a chance to win a set of GR8SKN products. For more information about the product set check out our products at gr8skn.com/our-products/

Rules:

• For a chance to win a set of GR8SKN products, simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Those using multiple accounts to enter will be completely disqualified.
• This giveaway is open internationally
• The giveaway will run from Monday July 21st 2014 to August 21st 2014
• Once the giveaway is over I will contact the winner via email. The winner will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen

Good luck--contest ends August 21!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are Bio-Cyborgs

We've all seen science fiction movies—some cornier than others—in which people have robotic arms or facial features welded from metal. Although this may be an exciting vision of the future, our current biology is pretty amazing, too.

There are about 100 trillion bacteria living in your body. Number sound big? It is; bacterial cells outnumber your own cells 10-to-1. You house a veritable microbiome.

While this statistic may disgust you, those bacteria are crucial to your health. In fact, Dr. Martin Blaser links disruption of bacterial balance to the onset of many diseases—from allergies to celiac disease. He condemns over-prescription of antibiotics as a major cause.  

Although most of us don't have the MDs necessary to control antibiotic prescription, you can help maintain your internal ecosystem by consuming probiotics. See this blog post to learn more!

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Fightin' Free Radicals

Here at GR8SKN, we throw around the term "free radical" quite a bit. (See this Facebook post if you don't believe me.) But how many of us actually understand what free radicals are—or how they can hurt you?

"Free radical" is a general phrase used to describe very a reactive atom or molecule. (In chemistry language this reactivity results from unpaired elections.) You might compare free radicals to preschoolers with nothing to do; they interfere where they shouldn't—like with your cellular function.  

Enter our cellular baby-sitters: antioxidants. Vitamins E, C, and Beta-Carotene (a precursor to Vitamin A) keep the free radicals occupied and prevent potentially damaging chain reactions.

So how do you "hire" some of these babysitters? Load up on fruits and veggies. As you probably remember, GR8SKN products deliver topical Vitamin A, too.

Tri-Part Skin Defense

It's the Fourth of July, you've smeared sunscreen on your face, and you think you're ready to hit the barbecues. But the sun is only one of three threats against which you need to protect your skin. We'll begin with the most obvious.

1.) UVA and UVB radiation.

These acronyms describe two different wave-lengths of ultra violet solar radiation: UVA rays are slightly longer than their UVB counterparts. Nevertheless, because both can cause premature aging, sunburn, and skin cancer, it's crucial to protect against them using an effective filter like Screen!

2). Dryness.

You may not think about it on a daily basis, but your skin is your first line of defense against pathogens. In order for it to maintain this "barrier" function, it must be properly hydrated. It is particularly important for the stratum corneum—the topmost layer of your skin—to retain moisture. You can help by using daily moisturizing agents—like Hydrate.

3.) Cellular Mis-communication

The components of your skin, like any defensive unit, need to communicate; when this doesn't occur, processes like skin renewal suffer. For example, as people age, cell-to-cell communication in the epidermis decreases, which inhibits cellular replenishment. Some cosmetic ingredients—like yarrow extract—can help reestablish communication.  

Don't let this infringe on your hot-dog-eating, s'mores-making celebrations. Just be mindful that holistic skincare doesn't end with your SPF 30!