Simple Sugars Scrubs

Labels:Don’t believe everything you read on the front and don’t dismiss anything you read on the back!

We’re about to get on our scrubbox here… First of all, we’re not about trashing other people’s products. But we are ALL about the truth when it comes to natural skincare.

Recently we were given samples of a new line of products that are supposedly all-natural and “especially for sensitive skin”. GUESS WHAT?! They’re not all-natural nor good for sensitive skin or really any skin. Read on, friends. Here are the ingredients listed on the cleansing facial wipes that we were given to try:

INGREDIENTS:

Water (Aqua, Eau), Cetearyl Isononanoate, Panthenol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Ceteareth-12, Sodium Citrate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

 

The only two natural ingredients on the list are Water, Panthenol (also referred to pro-vitamin B5) and ok, we’ll give ‘em  Glycerin and Sodium Citrate too. Here’s a breakdown on the rest of what’s in this stuff:

Cetearyl Isononanoate is a synthetic emollient. It’s only in there to make the vitamins dissolve better in the water. It’s a chemical that doesn’t do one good thing for your skin.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize a product, decrease water evaporation, make the product freeze-resistant, and keep it from forming surface crusts. Glyceryl Stearate reduces the greasiness of oils used in certain cosmetics and personal care products. Again, not natural and does nothing for your skin.

Cetearyl Alcohol and other fatty alcohols keep an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components. These ingredients are also used to alter the thickness of liquid products and to increase foaming capacity or to stabilize foams. NOT NATURAL AND DOES NOTHING FOR YOUR SKIN! (Are you seeing a pattern develop here…?)

Ceteareth-20 and 12 are chemicals used to help ingredients dissolve (Solubilizing Agents). They are also classified as cleansing agents. They are also known as PEG-20 and PEG-12.  But people are on to PEGs – so they’re calling them their “other” less recognizable name. Skin deep gives these ingredients a 4-7 risk rating (moderate to high hazard).  According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, these synthetic chemicals are frequently contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which the U.S. government considers a probable human carcinogen which readily penetrates the skin. Not only are they not good for sensitive skin, THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR ANYONE’S SKIN!! And guess what? NOT NATURAL at all AND potentially harmful!

2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1  is a preservative, and no, not a natural one. This agent, also known as bronopol, carries an EWG hazard rating of 8-10, which indicates a high hazard.  It is a “known human immune system toxicant” and there is “strong evidence that it is a human skin toxicant”.

Phenoxyethanol is another preservative. It is also an ingredient in artificial fragrance. The EWG gives it a 4, for moderate risk. Numerous studies have shown it to be a skin irritant and it is considered to cause organ system toxicity (non-reproductive).  EWG notes that it should not be used “around the mouth or on lips”.

And last but certainly not least you have your parabens. By now you should all be quite sick of us telling you about the bad agents that are parabens.

So, basically this product from the “sensitive skin experts” is little more than water with a vitamin added and a bunch of chemicals to keep the vitamin from separating out of solution and stay free from contamination (as we know, water is a natural harbor for bacteria!)

So the manufacturer’s claim that the product “ has no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh irritants that can upset your skin. Instead, just our purest possible skin loving ingredients with added vitamins, for natural healthy-looking skin”, seems more than a little sketchy.  Well, at least the part about “no dyes” is true.

Bottom Line? Read the labels people, the ingredients part, not the part in the big print on the front that makes all the claims. And take our advice, if you couldn’t or wouldn’t eat it if you had to, you really shouldn’t be putting it on your skin.

Stay smooth and stay smart!