Grooming Secrets for Men
David Scott Bartky

What you put on your skin is absorbed through your skin. To be more precise, the skin absorbs about 60% of any substance applied. (Hence the success of trans-dermal skin patches prescribed by physicians to deliver medications.)

Unfortunately, most of the skin care products mass produced for the market today, even those claiming to be all natural, and/or botanically based, products, contain harsh, toxic and even possibly carcinogenic ingredients that actually contribute to disorders of the skin and accelerate the ageing process.

There is a growing concern from consumers about the ingredients in the personal care products they use daily. In a recent study by the US General Accounting Office (GAO), 125 ingredients found in cosmetics are suspected of causing cancer. Twenty ingredients have been implicated in causing birth defects. Twenty ingredients may cause adverse neurological symptoms, such as headaches and convulsions. Most of these toxic chemicals are so inexpensive that they are used in extremely high concentrations in many personal care products. Read the label of your products - and know what's in them.

These toxic chemicals provide no benefits or nutrients to the skin. They are the inexpensive alternatives employed to achieve the "feel" or "slip" to the skin that occurs naturally using pure, nutritious, essential oils and vegetable oils. The chemicals used to replace the nutritious components are used in significant concentrations in most skin care products. Their only purpose is to increase the profit margins for the manufacturers. The health of the consumer is completely disregarded.

The trend for natural products is growing because the educated consumer is now demanding these for face and body care. Making the decision to use only natural and organic products is easy. Incorporating this decision into your everyday life is a must! It is offensive to see large numbers of chemically laden personal care products lining the shelves of natural health and food markets. Marketed as "natural", these products contain harmful synthetic chemicals; however, few of us have the time to peruse the ingredient lists of our moisturiser, deodorant, body lotion and any of the other products we apply daily. We trust that the products sold in these "natural health stores" are safe for the entire family, and so we believe the advertised claims on the bottles of shampoo, lotion, facial care, etc. If a product claims to be organic and/or natural, its ingredients should be easily recognisable as natural components. Also, the ingredients should be listed in descending order with the most prominent factors listed first. So once again, READ THE LABEL before you buy!

Nature offers all that is needed for healthy, radiant skin and hair so buy as natural as you can!