A study conducted at Rutgers University discovered some alarming results when they applied four commercially available moisturizers to the skin of mice pre-exposed to large doses of UVB.
After several months of daily monitoring, the researchers found that the number of mice with tumors was not statistically different in the treated groups in comparison to the control groups (most likely due to the UVB exposure). However, there was a significant increase in the rate of tumor formation and the overall number of tumors. The scientists also prepared a custom blend moisturizer without certain ingredients and found that the melanoma rates were significantly lower.
One of the suspect ingredients was Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is found in many skin and body care ingredients as well as shampoo and toothpaste. You’ll be pleased to know that our facial moisturizer (becoming of Age Wrinkle Repair Complex) and our Body Butter do NOT contain harmful SLS. In fact NONE of our products do!
Of the four creams, Eucerin fared the best, however there was still a 24% increase in tumor rates. The other creams tested were Dermabase, Dermovan and Vanicream. Industry experts agree that further studies will be needed to conclude that the creams would have the same effect on humans exposed to regular sunlight.
Sources:
“Moisturizer use linked to skin cancer,” by Guy Montague-Jones, 18 Aug 2008
"Tumorigenic Effect of Some Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams when Applied Topically to UVB-Pretreated High-Risk Mice." Study by Yao-Ping Lu, You-Rong Lou, Jian-Guo Xie, Qingyun Peng, Weichung J. Shih, Yong Lin and Allan H. Conney. Published in Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2009 Vol. 129
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Need a New Year’s Resolution?
How about making a commitment to eliminating as many toxic chemicals from your personal care regime as possible? A large swell of opinion is moving toward the reality that we are bombarded from multiple sources with small (legal) amounts of toxic chemicals in everything from our deodorant to our toothpaste. No ONE chemical can be blamed, rather it is the cumulative effect of breathing in, ingesting and absorbing (through our skin) NUMEROUS chemicals which build up in our system. A few years ago that meant maybe foregoing deodorant and using baking soda as toothpaste. Not so any more! Samantharoma is one of many small (and a few large) businesses that are living proof that it IS possible to Live Clean AND Go Green. It’s better for you, it’s better for your planet. So this year consider taking the plunge (not the polar bear kind) and begin eliminating toxins from your body wash, deodorant, lip balm, lotion and skin care. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much better you’ll feel!
The article excerpted below highlights three worrisome ingredients that dominated the headlines in 2008 but remember it’s not just one product or one ingredient. That’s a great start but many – MOST – drug or grocery store products contain all of the ingredients below – and more…Read the article. Read labels. Make a safer choice.
Earlier in the spring, researchers at the University of Washington suggested there was a link between the presence of the phthalates MEP, MMP and MiBP in the urine of infants and the use of baby care products.
In the summer, questions focused on another angle: the effect of phthalates on the environment.
In August, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would be expanding its fish tissues pilot study in order to determine the effects of both personal care and pharmaceutical products on the waterways.
The National Research Council has been the most recent to follow up the issue, recommending that research takes into account the cumulative effect that these compounds, and their relatives with similar properties, may have on the body.
As the ingredients are found in a disparate range of products, from cosmetics to building materials, the NRC has advised the EPA to look into the effects of widespread exposure.
Parabens
Used as preservatives, parabens have received significant criticism of late in the European arena, particularly in France.
A campaign from a French health association focusing on the ‘toxic cocktail’ of baby cosmetics distributed in maternity wards led to calls from the health minister for further research and even a label marking certain products as unsafe for pregnant women and young children.
Triclosan
Criticism of the use of this antimicrobial ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products has come from both sides of the Atlantic this year.
In July, a number of public health and environment groups banded together to lobby against all non-medical uses of triclosan and triclocarbon.
The lobby groups claimed scientific studies have linked the chemical and its degradates to endocrine system disruption, cancer and increased dermal sensitization in addition to noting its ability to persist in aquatic environments.
Industry again supported the use of this ingredient, stating there is no conclusive evidence to suggest it is harmful to humans as well as pointing out that it can play an invaluable role in protecting against potentially pathogenic organisms.
In Europe, in response to research suggesting the ingredient can be toxic to laboratory rats, Ciba argues that the levels used in personal care products are much smaller than those used in the study.
Even the cumulative effect of using multiple triclosan-containing products as part of a beauty regime will lead to blood triclosan levels 200 – 300 times smaller than those shown to have an effect in the animal study.
Source: "Triclosan, phthalates and parabens repeatedly criticised in 2008" by Katie Bird,
The article excerpted below highlights three worrisome ingredients that dominated the headlines in 2008 but remember it’s not just one product or one ingredient. That’s a great start but many – MOST – drug or grocery store products contain all of the ingredients below – and more…Read the article. Read labels. Make a safer choice.
If you would like to read more please visit www.safecosmetics.org
-Samantha
Phthalates
The use of a number of members of this family as plasticizers and perfume fixatives has attracted criticism this year, rounding off with the National Research Council’s call for more research last week.
Earlier in the spring, researchers at the University of Washington suggested there was a link between the presence of the phthalates MEP, MMP and MiBP in the urine of infants and the use of baby care products.
In the summer, questions focused on another angle: the effect of phthalates on the environment.
In August, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would be expanding its fish tissues pilot study in order to determine the effects of both personal care and pharmaceutical products on the waterways.
The National Research Council has been the most recent to follow up the issue, recommending that research takes into account the cumulative effect that these compounds, and their relatives with similar properties, may have on the body.
As the ingredients are found in a disparate range of products, from cosmetics to building materials, the NRC has advised the EPA to look into the effects of widespread exposure.
Parabens
Used as preservatives, parabens have received significant criticism of late in the European arena, particularly in France.
A campaign from a French health association focusing on the ‘toxic cocktail’ of baby cosmetics distributed in maternity wards led to calls from the health minister for further research and even a label marking certain products as unsafe for pregnant women and young children.
Triclosan
Criticism of the use of this antimicrobial ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products has come from both sides of the Atlantic this year.
In July, a number of public health and environment groups banded together to lobby against all non-medical uses of triclosan and triclocarbon.
The lobby groups claimed scientific studies have linked the chemical and its degradates to endocrine system disruption, cancer and increased dermal sensitization in addition to noting its ability to persist in aquatic environments.
Industry again supported the use of this ingredient, stating there is no conclusive evidence to suggest it is harmful to humans as well as pointing out that it can play an invaluable role in protecting against potentially pathogenic organisms.
In Europe, in response to research suggesting the ingredient can be toxic to laboratory rats, Ciba argues that the levels used in personal care products are much smaller than those used in the study.
Even the cumulative effect of using multiple triclosan-containing products as part of a beauty regime will lead to blood triclosan levels 200 – 300 times smaller than those shown to have an effect in the animal study.
Source: "Triclosan, phthalates and parabens repeatedly criticised in 2008" by Katie Bird,
22-Dec-2008. www.cosmeticsdesign.com
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Samantharoma will be closed from Dec 25 to Dec 28th. Orders will resume shipping on Monday 29 December. From our house to yours - Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Last chance to shop in person!
Come out and see us this Saturday at Mt. Pleasant's Holiday Farmer's Market. This is our fourth year at this event and Carol and I are looking forward to seeing some familiar faces! If you mention this blog, you can receive 10% off your total order (except previously discounted merchanise). We have some wonderful gift sets ready to go, or mix and match to create your own. We also have lots of stocking stuffers for $10 or less! You don't have to shop at Walmart to get some great deals!
What: Mount Pleasant Holiday Farmers Market and Craft Show
Where: Moultrie Middle School
When: 10am-3pm, Saturday 13 Dec
Why? Unique crafts, local vendors, fresh air!
What: Mount Pleasant Holiday Farmers Market and Craft Show
Where: Moultrie Middle School
When: 10am-3pm, Saturday 13 Dec
Why? Unique crafts, local vendors, fresh air!
See you there!
-Samantha
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Support Local Vendors!
Come visit us at the old Navy Yard in North Charleston and support local business during Low Country First's first "Buy Local Week"! Skip the crowds and the mad rush at the Mall and shop for unique gifts that will be appreciated and remembered. For details go to:
http://lowcountrylocalfirst.org.
When: Dec 2nd, 3-8pm
Where: 10 Storehouse Row
What: yummy food, live music and shopping
Be there (we will)!
http://lowcountrylocalfirst.org.
When: Dec 2nd, 3-8pm
Where: 10 Storehouse Row
What: yummy food, live music and shopping
Be there (we will)!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Rediscovering Henna
Do you ever look back on an event or time in your life thinking it was maybe 10 years ago, then you do the math and realize it was more like 25 or 30? Well, somewhere between My Sharona and Like a Virgin, I was big into dyeing my hair. One of my phases was henna - bright, orange henna. It definitely made a statement! Well hair color for me has been my last bastion to becoming chemical-free and I thought it was about time to reconsider my not-quite-a-blonde anymore roots! Maintaining blonde is costly and I don't even want to know how many toxic chemicals are in hair color. So on a recent trip to Whole Foods, I rediscovered Henna. I went with "Light Mountain Natural Hair Color and Conditioner" in Chestnut. It doesn't say henna on the box but that's what it is. The mixture smells awful and looks much like a cow patty but after a strand test and an hour of cow poop on my head, I had glorious, shining, chestnut hair! So, if you're having trouble letting go of hair color or deodorant or body wash (laden with harmful chemicals), I recommend taking another look at the natural alternatives. You might be pleasantly surprised! -Samantha
Start enjoying our chemical-free products and enjoy a 10% discount now through Nov 26. Enter coupon code: BLOGNOV at checkout.
Start enjoying our chemical-free products and enjoy a 10% discount now through Nov 26. Enter coupon code: BLOGNOV at checkout.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Help for Rosacea
Excerpted from Natural Awakenings, Charleston edition, November 2008:
A tiny berry may offer big benefits to people suffering from rosacea. Sea-buckthorn oil appears to ease the facial redness, itching and inflammation of rosacea by eliminating microscopic mites that may contribute to the skin disorder.
According to the National Roseacea Society, an estimated 14 million Americans suffer from the disorder. Research funded by the society demonstrates a possible link between bacteria associated with mites (demodex folliculrum) that inhabit hair follicles and the development of rosacea.
Recent findings by Chinese and Russian researchers and the University of Turku, in Finland, indicate that the oil extracted from sea-buckthorn berries may help protect and regenerate mucous membranes and skin. The oil is high in vitamins a, B1, B12, C and K as well as carotenes, essential fatty acids and tocopherols, or vtamin E-type antioxidants.
Research into the demodex-rosacea link indicates that while the mite does not cause adverse symptoms in most people, it is more prevalent and active in rosacea patients. Sea-buckthorn oil's anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits work to help eliminate the mites, reduce inflammation under the skin, and provide relief from the mechanisms causing rosacea symptoms.
If you would be interested in purchasing this product, please email us.
A tiny berry may offer big benefits to people suffering from rosacea. Sea-buckthorn oil appears to ease the facial redness, itching and inflammation of rosacea by eliminating microscopic mites that may contribute to the skin disorder.
According to the National Roseacea Society, an estimated 14 million Americans suffer from the disorder. Research funded by the society demonstrates a possible link between bacteria associated with mites (demodex folliculrum) that inhabit hair follicles and the development of rosacea.
Recent findings by Chinese and Russian researchers and the University of Turku, in Finland, indicate that the oil extracted from sea-buckthorn berries may help protect and regenerate mucous membranes and skin. The oil is high in vitamins a, B1, B12, C and K as well as carotenes, essential fatty acids and tocopherols, or vtamin E-type antioxidants.
Research into the demodex-rosacea link indicates that while the mite does not cause adverse symptoms in most people, it is more prevalent and active in rosacea patients. Sea-buckthorn oil's anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits work to help eliminate the mites, reduce inflammation under the skin, and provide relief from the mechanisms causing rosacea symptoms.
If you would be interested in purchasing this product, please email us.
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