IS “NATURAL” REALLY BETTER? Part 9

OK, the final part in this series, hope you found it informative!!!
There are some people who believe that there really are “safe” synthetic chemicals. If we look at chemical use historically, we see a pattern of fantastic chemical breakthroughs that are sold to us as the “new” answer to our problems, which are then [...]

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Natural Alternatives to Chemicals:Preservatives Part 8

The decaying process is natural and happens with or without preservatives. Skin care products do not (and should not) last for ever. Just like food, all natural skin care products will eventually deteriorate and go rancid. The effectiveness, not safety, of synthetic chemical preservatives has only been “proven” by animal testing. Chemical preservatives are generally [...]

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Natural Alternatives to Chemicals:Surfactants Part 7

Surface-active-agents are substances capable of dissolving oils and holding dirt in suspension so it can be rinsed away with water. They are used in skin cleansers and shampoos.
A serious problem with ethoxylated surfactants (those that utilise ethylene or propylene oxide in the chemical reaction) is that they can be contaminated with dioxane, a potent carcinogen. [...]

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Natural Alternatives to Chemicals: Emulsifiers Part 6

Emulsifiers hold two ingredients together that normally don’t mix. This can either be a physical substance (like a wax) or a physical action (shake well before use!). Synthetic emulsifiers are usually petroleum/hydrocarbon derivatives and can be allergens. Natural emulsifiers are obtained from various nuts, berries and leaves.

Some Synthetic Emulsifiers
Alkoxykated Amides (eg TEA, DEA, MEA, [...]

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