Reading Labels - Which ones do you read?

How much time do you spend reading labels?  Most people spend an enormous amount of time reading food labels.  They need to know how many calories the product contains, how much sugar, how much sodium, is it gluten free, or dairy free, and they focus on what goes into their body.  This is a great practice.

However, a lot of these same people do not take the time to read the labels on their skin care products, clothing,  or their household cleaners.

Our skin is our largest organ.  It breathes and absorbs environmental elements.  Some of these elements are absorbed by the simple act of breathing and others are absorbed because of a direct application of products to our skin.

Do you know what you are putting on your skin? Is it good for you?

If you don't know the answer to these questions, chances are the answer is NO to both.

I look for products that are botanically based, free of petroleum and mineral OILS, Parabens, and animal by-products.

Our skin recognizes plant based products as food and is nourished by plant based products.  Mineral oils and petroleum products are made out of the same basic substances that fuel and lubricate our automobiles. These products sit on top of the skin and create a barrier on the skin's surface which in turn inhibits the skin's ability to breath.

The beauty industry has a number of products on the market that contain these ingredients and these multi-million dollar corporations do not readily disclose the ingredients' list of their products.  We as consumers have to take the time to research the products to be sure what we are using is actually beneficial to our skin, the environment, and in no way subjects animals to testing, or even worse, to become a direct component in our skin care product.