INCIs - Do you care what`s in your toiletries ?

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mrboilwash

mrboilwash

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Since we have a lot of talk about detergent`s ingredients and skin problems on AW, I was wondering if anybody else reads the INCI lists of toiletries.

I don`t understand them all, but at least I know what I don`t want to see on the list.

My #1 pet peeve is anything with mineral oil (Petrolatum, Paraffinim Liquidum)
I think mineral oil was eligible back in the days when it replaced whale oil, but totally dated today. I prefer vegetable oils which can actually penetrate into the skin and don`t mind their limited shelf life.

No Triclosan, Aluminium or animal ingredients for me.

Have no problem with Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Silicones. (Silicones at least add some value to a product whereas Mineral Oils don`t)
I still accept parabens or even formaldehyde releasers (which are very rare to find in the EU today) in rinse-offs but not in leave-ons.

So what do you think ?
 
I don't use any over the counter...

I started about 8 years ago usuing Weleda Calandula Soap.

As soon as I towel off, Organic Coconut Oil as a moisturizer.

Green Tea and Bamboo Shave Cream

Tom's of Maine Roll on Deodorant Calandula or LemonGrass Scent.

I also installed a Chlorine filter on my shower and change the filter every six months.

For me, there are just too many toxic ingrediants in commercial everyday products.

Just remember your skin is the largest organ in your (on your) body.
 
I don't know what's in them and I mostly don't care. Conventional products (those with the evil chemicals) tend to work for me, while the "green" products just disappoint. Example: lip balm. I tried the stuff from Weleda, which was recommended for its natural ingredients by a leading magazine, and was disappointed. Now am back to using Blistex Lip Relief (which got a read flag in the same test because it's got... chemicals... in it) and it's perfect - no shine, dosen't just sit on my lips but sinks in and makes them wonderfully soft.

 

The only green products I like are body and face scrubs because they just rely on mechnical action, rather than chemical. Same goes for cleaning products like powdered scrubbing agents, by the way.

 

 
 
I'm very careful to what's inside the stuff I buy, but especially WHERE they are made and WHO makes them!
I think that the current European regulation is stringent enough so I don't really worry about the composition.

And since I don't believe in organic stuff and as somebody else said so called "natural" products most of the time have lackluster performance I try to use wisely "classic" products, keeping an eye on the ethical and environmental performance of the company I'm buying... and of course local comes first all the time! There's no way I would ever buy something from Dove (Unilever) that makes its stuff in India! Sure I'd buy from with closed eyes stuff from Vidal (Conter) that has plants here in Italy or house products form Guaber that is located here in the province of Bologna
 
dj-

"I think that the current European regulation is stringent enough so I don't really worry about the composition. "

oh the LUXURY. In the US it is just mass corruptions at this point in history. Companies who know they can't meet the common sense laws set to protect everyone, so they are constantly trying to weaken or eliminate laws so they can cheat.

The Fairness Doctrine(to protect our media), the Glas Stegal Act(to protect our banking), the EPA, and the DOJ.

These are just some of the laws or bodies of laws that the massively corrupted corporatist republicans have damaged. And our country is suffering as a result.
There is nothing special about Polyester Criminal degenerates.
 
That's so bad to hear!
But honestly I'm glad that that the regulations are stringent, plus there is a nation-wide campaign now to raise awareness in the composition of all household and beauty products!

It is like "skin irritation, bad effects? Call your doctor and notify about product XYZ to take action!" and similar!
I must say I never had to but I'm glad that there is so much awareness and interest to the point that even a shampoo has an expiry date and the composition is listed for everything, with things that might be allergens listed separately (like geraniol or limonene)
 
I read the ingredients very carefully and I tend to avoid anything that is full of unnecessary chemicals.

My skin also reacts quite dramatically to certain ingredients found even in completely natural cosmetics and soaps.

As a result I only use one brand of shower gel which is free from loads of stuff and only a shampoo that's similarly uncomplicated.

I've washed my hair with a popular brand of organic natural shampoo and turned bright red everywhere it touched my skin. It would typically take about 45 min for that to go away.

I even bring my own products to the hairdresser/barber as otherwise it ends in me having a major skin reaction. Of course, they all act like I've OCD or something which isn't nice.

I have to be very careful with toothpaste and mouthwash too.

A couple of formulas of very common brands cause interior of my mouth and lips to crack and peel! All the mucous membranes just react very strongly to it.
I had huge problems when I was in the US because the same brands I normally use had different formulas and I reacted to them.

I also can't put on any deodorants that contain alcohol. I would literally have to run into the shower and wash them off as they actually burn!

I forgot my own deodorant once and a guy threw me a can of a very common brand of aerosol deodorant. My armpits went bright red and burned and I was in agony trying to wash it off!

I don't use moisturisers or anything like that because they'll invariably irritate my skin or give me spots ... That and I don't need them. My skin seems to be naturally able to keep itself in great shape.

I also react to about 80% of shaving gels and foams so again, I need to be very careful.

The nightmare that is super sensitive skin.

On top of all that I also sunburn ridiculously easily.
 
I'm of the opinion that it's more important to eat the good stuff, like organic extra virgin olive oil, avocados, krill oil, etc., than to apply it externally. But certainly there's something to be said for protecting the skin after its natural oils have been stripped away by cleaning. I know my hands tend to take a beating just from working around garden and doing home repairs, and often I have to resort to scrubbing them with dish detergent to get them clean. So occasionally I have to resort to some sort of lotion to help the dried out and cracking skin. Recently I started using "Work Hands", but the jury's out on how effective it could be. Extra virgin olive oil probably would work just as well!
 
contents, reading the labels.

Multi use= Baking Soda- Sodium bi-carbonate.

 

several uses= Apple Vinegar- Distilled Vinegar, Water, Natural Flavor, Caramel Color.

 

body soap=Yardley of London Bath Soap- Sodium Tallowate, Water, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin (not happy about this one), Fragrance, Oat Kernel Flour, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, colors.

 

Dish soap= is green friendly, but I don't have the bottle anymore (I use it out of pump dispenser) This stuff can last me a year and a half.  I only use a few drops each time.  I let vinegar and baking soda heavy stuff.

 

Tooth Soap= which comes in bar form from the UK.  Don't know the ingredients

 

Deodorant= Coconut Oil, cornstarch, Sodium Bi-carbonate, beeswax, vitamin E

 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil= Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Great for rubbing on hands and softening skin if need be.  Though apparently, it can dissolve condoms, so....it kind of takes that virgin part seriously.

 

I try and use green friendly pest deterrents.  I found this wonderful ant bait formula using boric acid and sugar.

 

With all the fruits and vegies I eat, there is always the occasional fruit fly.   And a quaint dish of apple vinegar and drop or two of dish soap does the trick. 

 

The only unchecked product I  have remaining is this funky dollar store hand soap in a pump bottle.  Frankly I don't like it.  It feels like it is rough on the hands.  I just haven't got around to finding an acceptable alternative.

 

no microwaving, no cooked food, no alcohol, no illicit drugs, no caffeine (coffee), of course no smoking.  A lot of those rules have been in force all my life.

 

But I did ditch the cooked food thing a year ago in addition to most dairy.

The microwave was quickly dismissed in 2011, when I learned how dangerous that is.  We all knew you shouldn't be hanging out around it when its in operation, but had no idea the FULL extent of how bad it is to microwave.

 

Another house rule=  Anything that is toxic, needs to be stored outside the house envelope.  So things like paints, car wax, green friendly paint thinner, caulk, etc. , store outside because even when they are in storage, they are off gassing.  In a tight 230 s.f. house. that makes a difference.

 

As for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">official</span> ingredient names.  Sometimes you need to break it down and you find out it is something very simple.

 

I'm almost 47. 

I still have a thick head of hair that still has its natural color. 

I have a full beard with some gray. 

I've had few health issues in my life.  

I have all my teeth and in good condition.

My cholesterol level, last I checked, was 160.  

I could lose a few pounds and raise my Tri-glycerides.

I have few facial wrinkles and people always seem to think I'm a young 30s.  What ever, I'm not ageist.

 

Whatever, we could all die tomorrow.  Fukushima is more precarious than ever. 

And how many nuclear plants are still in use in the U.S. ? 

 

Fast forward 5:18

 

 

[this post was last edited: 11/17/2013-14:53]

 
Generally, I read labels...

...and I read INCIs just because:
1) I want to know what I use
2) I don't like the thought of applying mineral oils on my skin

For toilet products, I use Weleda: expensive (but there are offers online) but simple and quite effective and without synthetic fragrances, which I cannot stand (no: not even in laundry detergent or fabric conditioner).

I have a very dry and sensitive skin, and Weleda's hand cream works better than any other I have used before, the face moisturiser is the most pleasurable to use and I especially like the salted toothpaste that does not contain surfactants (absolutely useless in a toothpaste).

Detergents (shampoo and bath foam) are synthetic-based, but nice to use.
 
I`ve tried some store brands of the natural products that carry the "Ecocert", "Natrue" or similar label and also found the moisturisers to perform very good compared to the normal stuff.

However I really missed the synthetic fragrances so I tend to stick to the "green washed" brands. This way I can avoid at least some of the nasties and still have all the fun.
 
lol

I appreciate the compliments and acknowledgements, dj-gabriele.  I wish more of my brethren could be as enlightened.   I don't do classism.  And I don't like the idea that there is suffering in the world.

 

"Microwave oven are dangerous again?! "

 

I'm sure you didn't mean that to sound that way.  It sounds cute. 

Like the stuff one sees on TV is reality, and anything that conflicts is some quaint idea, not to be taken seriously.  Oh, that is funny.

 

They've ALWAYS been dangerous, and  not just because of the magnetic field they create when in operation.

Once again, Since at least the early 90s, the food industry, and perhaps the appliance manufacturers suppressed information about the real threats, so that they could make money on microwave ready foods. 

Criminal corporatists AGAIN !  They have NO RIGHT and no place in our government.  As if making a monetary profit were more important than the health of everyone. 

 

"Everybody has his own opinions but something like that can't be heard on a forum where the main subjects are appliances."

 

hehe.  But it is. 

If a product is in deed strong, it will be able to withstand inquiries.  NO ONE and nothing is above reproach.  Especially those who think they are.  I always say, when someone resists questioning, you question them even MORE.

 

It's only the corrupted who can't handle scrutiny.  And they don't count.

 

Dealing with truth is some of the hardest things we humans have to do sometimes in life.  In order to affect change in your life, you have to start with the truth.

 

I'm certainly not afraid of trolls.  

Those who feel their worlds are being threatened with new information. 

As you can tell by my other posts, I don't mince word when it comes to something I know.  If I don't know or am estimating, I say so.  If someone doesn't like that, THEY have a problem in their own mind.

 

And don't get me wrong.  I love our wonderful engineers and product creators who have dedicated their lives to making the plight of humans "better".

That is what we humans do.  They are not the problem, even when a product that is faulty is created.  After all, how many times did Edison try before he succeeded?

 

The problem lies with the corporatist opportunists who manipulate, lie, and scheme so that a petty game of classism is dangerously played out.  We don't need that.

 

 

Question: If I'm an "eco-freak" (someone who lives their life with natural, sustainable products and ideas), what does that make yourself and others who are not?

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 11/17/2013-14:56]
 
Yes there is.

Microwaves: 

Not only bad because of the electrical fields they create when they are in operation.
ALSO
They change the composition of the food and create poison AND destroy vitamins and nutrients in food.

 

Simple experiment- Look what putting a live animal in a microwave will do. vs. the same amount of time in a large covered skillet.

 

One creates permanent internal damage and death. 

The other- possible burns or scalding that would heal.

-

Cooked foods are bad enough.
There was a time in our history to cook when sanitation issues were over bearing. Those times are long passed.   

This info. is so clear. 

And it reveals what most of us are getting sick of- the STINKY, selfish behavior of criminal corporatists, trying to keep the truth from getting out. 
smiley-yell.gif


 

Remember, just because you didn't hear about on fox (not) news or cnn, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  Those types of media outlets are biased propagandists.  They are not credible sources. 


rustyspaatz++11-17-2013-18-12-26.jpg
 
"Cooked food is bad enough"

Perhaps you mean over-cooked food. There is some evidence that suggests that the excess Carbon may lead to an increased risk of some cancers (Note that I didn't say cause because this is not definite. There are too many factors in our lifestyle that can lead to these outcomes).

 

Not cooking foods - especially meats is incredibly dangerous for your health. There is a reason our life expectancies have increased so much in the last few centuries. Raw meats often contain bacteria and other creatures that are dangerous to your health - and this increases the load on your body. No, you can't become immune to them since they are living creatures like worms. 

I'm not saying that you should light your meat on fire, but cooking it safely lends to far better health - you can steam meat, slow cook it, fry it or roast it. 

 

I can understand not cooking (or particularly, steaming) vegetables, since this often extracts nutrients and the like from the vegetables. I think its bad enough that it ends up being far healthier to drink the water used to steam the vegetables than to eat the vegetables themselves! 

 

As for the soaps discussed above in this thread, I believe that if you are using any soap, you should actually be thoroughly rinsing it off before you leave the shower and dry off rather than quickly rinse and dry. That way you take away much of the dangers of what you put on. 

And my tip for those who think they might be doing bad things to their body, you might wish to up your intake of water. Increasing your water intake so the "waste" is clear ensures that your body has enough excess water in it to flush out the bad things, keep cells happy and ensures you are able to sweat out any bad stuff, if need be. Apparently, this is also a cheap way to increase your "beauty' without the need for expensive cosmetics. 
 
Your link isn't working.

Well anyway, I'm not going to be in that microwave, so the comparison is with a live animal is nonsense. A piece of meat in a microwave needs less time than in a skillet. That's the whole idea behind it.

As for vegetables, scientific research has shown that there are more vitamins left in vegetables shortly cooked in a microwave with just a bit of water than cooked or steamed vegetables. And they don't change the composition of the food, that's a lot of bogus. Broccoli from a microwave is still broccoli!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/Microwave-cooking-and-nutrition.shtml
 
I hate to throw a wrench in things, but I personally don't care what is in my toiletries (to an extent), as long as they serve their intended purpose. I want a body wash that smells good and doesn't irritate my skin (Suave seems to be a good choice), a shampoo that removes the excess oils from my hair, leaves it soft and smells good. (I typically use Selsun blue dandruff shampoo), a facial cleanser that removes the excess oil and dirt, doesn't dry my skin out, and doesn't cause me to break out in a rash (I'm using Noxzema right now), I want an antiperspirant/deodorant that keeps sweat down, doesn't need to be applied every hour, and doesn't cause me to break out in hives (I use Dove for men). I use lotions occasionally, and most do fine, but I have tossed a couple that made me itch. That is all I look for in Toiletries/bath products, and I don't have an unlimited budget to spend on eco friendly products (most are significantly more expensive).
 

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