An example of this is parabens, a group of chemical compounds to which we are frequently exposed due to their widespread use as preservatives in foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The problem with parabens is that these chemicals show oestrogenic activity, that is, they behave in the body just like our own feminine hormones. Parabens have been found in breast tumours and it is believed that they could stimulate the division of cancer cells. Another example is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), present in the vast majority of shampoos, shower gels, and even toothpastes. SLS is actually often used in the laboratory to induce skin inflammation, as it is considered by the scientific community as the “gold standard” of skin irritants!

This problem is of particular relevance in the case of babies, as their skin is extremely delicate, thus more prone to inflammation, and very thin, which makes it more permeable to chemicals. Also, their immunological system is not yet mature and it tends to overreact to foreign chemicals in the form of allergic reactions.

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mums should also be aware that they can pass on absorbed chemicals to their off-springs. Unfortunately, very little is known about the way in which chemical substances can affect the development of the growing baby… especially the ones used in toiletries and cosmetics, as the industry is ruled by very lax regulations. And as the skin has traditionally been considered a barrier, substances that would never be allowed in foods because of their toxicity do find their place in these products.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if, instead of applying dangerous chemicals to our skin, we made the most of the many superb ingredients Nature has to offer?

Natural ingredients have been used for centuries. Some of them have traditionally been chosen as cosmetics for their beneficial properties and their safety is well documented. This is not the case with man-made chemicals, new molecules whose effects can only partially be investigated before being approved and entering the market. Often, the long term consequences of their use are only discovered years down the track, once the damage has been done. Think of the drug scandals in the last few years, -amongst others, Vioxx was withdrawn in 2004 after being used by 84 million people because it increased the risk of stroke and heart attack, and the FDA has declared that antidepressants have been shown to spur suicidal behaviour in children and teenagers-. These were drugs that were thoroughly tested and approved by the strict organizations that regulate medical drugs. Artificial substances used in the food and the cosmetic industry do not undergo such a rigorous process; some of them are known to present a hazard to our health, while others surely have harmful effects that have not yet been identified.

Usually, when a good natural product is formulated, each ingredient is purposely chosen to benefit the health of the user. For instance, Centella asiatica encourages cell division, increases microcirculation in the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a valuable ingredient in products that encourage wound healing and prevent scarring. In the same product, you might find lavender essential oil, which not only appeases inflammation, but has a delicious, distinctive smell, but that helps alleviate stress and anxiety. Contrary to this, in products made with artificial ingredients, many of the substances included are just there to provide a particular “feel”, or “texture”, to emulsify or stabilise the mixture, but offer little benefit or effectively harm the general health of the customer.

If you decide to go the natural way, make sure that you read the label, because there are no regulations with regards to labeling a product as “natural” or “organic”. You will identify natural ingredients because they carry a Latin name, e.g. Simmondsia chinensis, Matricaria recutita. Chemical names on the other hand tend to be unpronounceable, e.g. methylchloroisothiazolinone, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.