CACTUS EXTRACT: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Cactus Extract While cactus spines can certainly be painful and produce an acute inflammatory reaction, and while there do not seem to be many clinical studies yet on the benefits of cactus extracts for skin, it is currently not a top contact allergen. A heads up: cactus extracts are relatively new in cosmetics […]
PARAFFIN WAX: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Paraffin Wax We’re talking cosmetic grade, lab-tested paraffin wax, of course, to ensure that it is hygienic and appropriate for use on the skin, but paraffin wax is really not a top contact allergen. So much so that, like mineral oil and petrolatum, paraffin wax is a favorite among dermatologists as a […]
For Sensitive Skin, Is Sticking To One Brand Really Safer or a Marketing Ploy?
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you and/or your child have eczema. Is it really not a good idea to use different brands? Or is this just a way for companies to keep customers away from the competition? A: […]
Is “X-Ingredient-Free” Really Safer?
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you or your child has eczema. So many products claim “X-FREE!” and there’s lots online about ingredients that are toxic or otherwise harmful. What’s real? Should parents use a product that says “X-Free”? A: It depends […]
Cosmetics Ingredients: What — and How Much Of It — Is Really In a Product?
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you or your child has eczema. Q: Is the Ingredients List on cosmetics packaging compulsory and regulated? Does the it cover all ingredients? Or can companies pick and choose what they want to reveal? A: In many countries, cosmetics are regulated […]
You Might Seriously Be Misunderstanding Cosmetics Ingredients — and Allergens!
Marcie Mom from EczemaBlues.com interviews Laura, CEO of VMV Hypoallergenics, to find out more about product claims and why they’re important when choosing your skin care…particularly if you or your child has eczema. Q: Many ingredients in cosmetics look similar. Is there a way to identify what type of ingredient a certain name suggests? For instance, are ‘glycerin’, ‘capric triglyceride’, ‘palm glycerides’, ‘caprylyl glycol’, ‘glycerylstearate SE’, ‘glyceryl laurate’, ‘glycol distearate’, ‘butylene glycol’, ‘glycerylcocoate’ related? A: Unfortunately, unless […]
MICA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Mica This shiny silicate found naturally as crystals or as tiny scales in various rocks is known as “nature’s glitter” and gives a beautiful shimmer to cosmetics. It is not on published contact allergen lists. A concern is regarding the cruelty of its mining, which makes use of child labor in India (the Jharkhand state in India had the largest […]
ALOE VERA: Allergen or Not An Allergen?
Not An Allergen Aloe Vera This vitamin-, antioxidant-, and moisture-rich wonder substance is an old, soothing favorite. It’s a staple as an anti-inflammatory for sunburn and eczema. Product manufacturers do not generally use the leaf’s outside but just the leaf centers, which might explain the low reaction rates to it. Do make sure to patch test it […]
Do Cosmetics Expire?
by Laura Verallo de Bertotto One of the most frequent questions I get from friends is: can I still use a product if it’s past its expiration date? Do cosmetics really expire? The short answer is…very often, yes! In our home, we frequently, and happily, use “expired” stock for a few reasons, some of which you might find […]