Check Your Personal Care Products And Cosmetics For Toxins Now!

If your Personal Care Products and cosmetics contain these chemicals, you may like to reconsider applying these toxins to your skin, hair and body – and to your families. We list some of the dangerous chemicals found in your everyday skin care, cosmetics and personal care products, often causing skin rashes and worse.

If your Personal Care Products and cosmetics contain any of the following chemicals and toxins, you may like to reconsider whether you want to continue applying these personal care products to your skin, hair and body – and to your families.
Many people, even those who select organic foods to eat, choose skin care products and cosmetics that can serious damage their skin, hair and body. I am not suggesting you intentionally apply toxins to your skin. You simply may not realize the extent to which many common personal care products and cosmetics contain suspect ingredients with unrecognizable or unpronounceable names. Do you ever put things onto your skin that you would not think of eating? I hope not… what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream and integrated into your body and skin tissues. A number of these potential toxins can wreak havoc on all your good health intentions.
Believe it or not, the following toxins and chemicals are NOT ALL the dangerous chemicals found in your everyday skin care, cosmetics and personal care products.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
This harsh detergent and emulsifier, petroleum derived, strips your skin and hair of natural oils, increasing skin permeability and allowing absorption of other toxic chemicals into the dermis and bloodstream. This is a known skin irritant, often causing skin rashes, skin and eye irritation and conditions like cataracts, blindness, organ damage, damage to your immune system, respiratory damage, headaches and vomiting. SLS is found in nearly any personal care product that lathers, including toothpastes, shampoos, body washes and skin moisturisers.

Formaldehyde
This highly toxic preservative causes skin rashes and has been linked to cancer, skin irritation and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, asthma, shortness of breath, nose bleeds, nausea and vomiting, chest pains and dizziness. Formaldehyde is used in cosmetics, nail polish, nail hardeners, mascara, soaps, shampoos, many moisturising skin care creams, personal care products, bubble bath and deodorants. The following chemicals are derived from Formaldehyde and should also be avoided.
• Imidazolidinyl urea (can cause contact dermatitis)
• Diazolidinyl urea (can cause contact dermatitis)
• 2-bromo-2nitropane-1
• 3-diol
• DMDM hydantoin
• Quaternium 15

Isopropyl alcohol
This anti-foaming agent, petroleum derived, can damage hair and cause skin rashes. Toxic to the liver, kidney, respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems. A teratogenic also linked to foetal and birth defects. This dangerous chemical is found in hair dye, skin care moisturisers, aftershaves, antifreeze, carpet cleaner and the list goes on.

Paraffin
From petroleum or tar, Paraffin is a non-renewable resource that has a negative impact on our environment. Your skin initially feels smoother due to the surface layer Paraffin forms but your skin can not ‘breathe’ and is de-hydrated by any petroleum based personal care product. This starts a cycle of continued use to prevent the feeling of dryness, which the product is actually responsible for. Used in wax strips, skin care moisturisers, personal care products, body oils etc.

Petrolatum (Petroleum jelly)
An incredibly cheap mineral oil derivative that will dry your skin out, strangely enough this is used in skin care products and lip balms specifically targeted at dry skin, mainly due to the coating left on the skin after use. Used in personal care products and found in skin care products recommended for nappy rash. Talk about self perpetuating personal care products!

Propylene glycol
This humectant is another petrochemical mix that can cause allergic reactions, skin rashes, hives and eczema.Also found in brake fluid and anti-freeze. Please avoid the chemicals below in your personal care products, they are very similar.
• PEG (polyethylene glycol) (A by-product of PEG-stearate-20 that was used during WW1 as a toxic gas!)
• PPG (polypropylene glycol)

Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens
A preservative used to extend shelf life of personal care products, Parabens can cause skin irritation, skin rashes and allergic reactions. These preservatives can interfere with the endocrine system, they contain properties known for oestrogen mimicking. Studies have connected paraben exposure and breast cancer.

Fragrances
A general term referring to as many as 200 synthetic fragrances used in personal care products and cosmetics,none of which are required to be individually labelled. Often petroleum based, fragrances can cause dizziness, skin rashes and pigmentation which is why some people have brown skin marks where they apply perfume. “Fragrance–free” products can contain chemicals to mask unpleasant smells.

DEA (diethanolamine) and MEA (monoethanolamine)
These chemicals are ‘amines’ (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when in contact with nitrates. Used as emulsifiers and foaming agents, they cause eye, hair and skin irritation and skin rashes and are toxic if absorbed for a long period of time. DEA is known to cause liver and kidney tumours in mice. DEA is still used in many products in Australia, despite international warnings. These chemical compounds cause allergic reactions, irritate eyes and dry the hair and skin. Any product with MEA or DEA listed individually or in combination with another ingredient (e.g. cocamide DEA) should be avoided in personal care products and cosmetics.

Methylisothiazolinnone
A preservative linked to allergic reactions and skin rashes.

Artificial Colours
FDC RED 4, FDC RED 1 or FOOD RED 1, should all be avoided. Banned in food but can still be used in personal care products, skin care and cosmetics. Known to cause urinary bladder polyps and deterioration of the adrenal glands.

Coal Tar
(FD & C) and (D & C) colours to be avoided. Derived from petroleum coal tars and linked to asthma, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness and lack of concentration. Coal Tars are confirmed human carcinogens and skin irritants. They are thought to increase risk of tumour growth. Used in anti-dandruff shampoos and for colouring cosmetics.

TEA (Triethanolamine)
Emulsifier, skin irritant and known mutagen, which causes changes in cellular DNA. TEA is also a contact allergen causing eczema and skin rashes. Used in skin care products and to coat non-organically grown fruit and vegetables.

Tallow
Watch out vegetarians!! Made from boiled sheep organs, this is used in lipsticks, soaps and shaving cream…

Fluoride
Used in toothpaste.This industrial waste product can reduce the risk of dental cavities, it has however been linked with cancer, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, birth defects, increased risk of fractures, dental and skeletal fluorosis and impaired brain function. Used by Hitler in concentration camps to pacify detainees.

Phthalates
Used in thousands of plastic products to make them more flexible. Examples include toys, cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, detergents, vinyl, food packaging and containers.
• DBP (dibutylphthalate)
• DEP (diethylphthalate)
• DMP (dimehtyphthalate)
Often not found on the ingredients list as there are no statutory requirements. Studies have found that phthalates used by pregnant mothers can increase the risk of low birth weight and undescended testes in baby boys. May lead to feminising traits in males and possibly increase the risk of prostate cancer. Phthalates have also been found in breast milk.

Why do so many personal care products contain potentially harmful ingredients? The simple answer is: because they are cheap, readily available, and easy to dilute.
Are there non toxic, Natural Skin Care Products and Personal Care Products out there that deliver results? Yes, loads! There are many great quality organic and natural personal care products, skin care and cosmetics out there that are hand made with love, but do not trust a label just because it reads ‘All Natural’, read on… Unfortunately the market is being flooded with companies trying to sell you personal care products that are not at all ‘All Natural’.

What can you do to keep your skin healthy without using potentially harmful substances? Eat plenty of fresh, raw food and getting enough omega-3 fats are ways to improve your skin… Through exercise, your skin detoxifies impurities from your system; known as perspiration… Do not smoke. Beyond that, here is a critically important step to skin care you need to be aware of… Just 5 minutes per day gets you on the road to a younger looking, vibrant face : use natural skin care products and a daily skin care routine. Every day of your life, pollution, grime and dust attach to your skin. If you do not take a couple minutes each day to cleanse your face and unclog your pores, your skin may look sluggish instead of its bright and shiny best. Take time to thoroughly cleanse your skin with natural skin care products and you will find your face looking and feeling younger. If you are in the sun for extended periods of time, use a natural Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen with safe and effective ingredients.
Don’t expect overnight changes. Don’t be discouraged with seeming lack of progress. It may take a week, a month or even two to notice changes and bring your skin back to a natural, healthy balance. Plus, it is quite possible that others will notice your increasingly youthful-looking face before you do!

References:
Detox your home, body and mind (by Wendy Duyker)
The Guardian supplements
Clean Food Organic
Dangerous Beauty (by Dr Peter Dingle and Toni Brown)
The Chemical Maze (by Bill Statham)
Cosmetics Unmasked (Dr Stephen and Gina Antczak)

How Britain Shops: Personal Care 2010-Aarkstore Enterprise Market Research

How Britain Shops: Personal Care 2010-Aarkstore Enterprise Market Research

How Britain Shops: Personal Care 2010

Table of Contents : 
OVERVIEW 1
Introduction 1
Summary 1
Executive Summary 2
Key findings 2
Retailer highlights 4
Share of shoppers 17
Fall in share of shopper reflects drop in discretionary demand 17
Penetration of Personal Care Shoppers 21
Proportion of males shopping for personal care plummets 21
Retailer Usage 23
Grocers take ground from specialists as Morrison leaps into fourth place for main usage 23
Main User Share by Region 27
Alliance Boots remains leading retailer 27
Conversion Rates 28
Flight to value fosters more considered shopper 28
Shopping Around 31
Superdrug users shop around most 31
Loyalty 34
Loyalty rises significantly 34
Drivers of Loyalty/ Disloyalty 38
Price increases in importance 38
Alliance Boots 46
Commands impressive loyalty but under pressure from grocers 46
Visitors 47
Main users 49
Conversion rate 51
Loyalty 53
Competitors 57
Asda 59
Benefits from strong value positioning 59
Visitors 60
Main users 62
Conversion rate 64
Conversion rate 64
Loyalty 66
Competitors 70
Morrison 72
Leaps into fourth place for main user share 72
Visitors 73
Main users 75
Conversion rate 77
Loyalty 79
Competitors 83
Sainsbury 85
Ups appeal to less affluent 85
Visitors 86
Main users 88
Conversion rate 90
Loyalty 92
Competitors 96
Superdrug 98
Struggles with strong price competition 98
Visitors 99
Main users 101
Conversion rate 103
Loyalty 105
Competitors 109
Tesco 111
Increases visitor share broadly across demographics 111
Visitors 112
Main users 114
Conversion rate 116
Loyalty 118
Competitors 122
Wilkinson 124
Must concentrate on improving weak conversion rate 124
Visitors 125
Main users 127
Conversion rate 129
Loyalty 131
Competitors 135
Methodology 137
Basic methodology 137
The selection of parliamentary constituencies 138
The selection of enumeration districts 139
The selection of respondents 139
Post survey weighting 140

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Personal care share of shopper 2006–2010 17
Figure 2: Profile of personal care shoppers – by gender % 2006–2010 18
Figure 3: Profile of personal care shoppers – by age bracket 2006–2010 19
Figure 4: Profile of personal care shoppers – by socio-economic class 2006–2010 20
Figure 5: % of consumers who shop for personal care – by demographics 2010 21
Figure 6: % of consumers who shop for personal care – by TV region 2010 22
Figure 7: Concentration of main user share of Top Five retailers in 2008 24
Figure 8: Concentration of main user share of Top Five retailers in 2009 25
Figure 9: Concentration of main user share of Top Five retailers in 2010 26
Figure 10: Average rate of conversion from visitor to main user 2006–2010 28
Figure 11: Rate of conversion from visitors to main users by retailer % 2010 30
Figure 12: Average number of other stores used 2006–2010 31
Figure 13: Average number of other stores used by retailer 2010 33
Figure 14: % of personal care shoppers that are loyal to their main store 2006–2010 34
Figure 15: Personal care shoppers loyal to their main store – by demographic group 2010 34
Figure 16: Personal care shoppers that are loyal to their main store – by retailer % 2010 36
Figure 17: Change in loyalty rates since last year by retailer – percentage points 2010 37
Figure 18: Personal care loyal main users identifying drivers of loyalty % 2006–2010 38
Figure 19: Visitor share 2006–2010 47
Figure 20: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 47
Figure 21: Main user share 2006–2010 49
Figure 22: Main user share by demographic group 2010 49
Figure 23: Conversion rates 2006–2010 51
Figure 24: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 51
Figure 25: Loyalty 2006–2010 53
Figure 26: Loyalty by demographics 2010 53
Figure 27: Preference stores 2010 56
Figure 28: Shopping around 2006–2010 57
Figure 29: Visitor share 2006–2010 60
Figure 30: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 60
Figure 31: Main user share 2006–2010 62
Figure 32: Main user share by demographic group 2010 62
Figure 33: Conversion rates 2006–2010 64
Figure 34: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 64
Figure 35: Loyalty 2006–2010 66
Figure 36: Loyalty by demographics 2010 66
Figure 37: Preference stores 2010 69
Figure 38: Shopping around 2006–2010 70
Figure 39: Visitor share 2006–2010 73
Figure 40: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 73
Figure 41: Main user share 2006–2010 75
Figure 42: Main user share by demographic group 2010 75
Figure 43: Conversion rates 2006–2010 77
Figure 44: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 77
Figure 45: Loyalty 2006–2010 79
Figure 46: Loyalty by demographics 2010 79
Figure 47: Preference stores 2010 82
Figure 48: Shopping around 2006–2010 83
Figure 49: Visitor share 2006–2010 86
Figure 50: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 86
Figure 51: Main user share 2006–2010 88
Figure 52: Main user share by demographic group 2010 88
Figure 53: Conversion rates 2006–2010 90
Figure 54: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 90
Figure 55: Loyalty 2006–2010 92
Figure 56: Loyalty by demographics 2010 92
Figure 57: Preference stores 2010 95
Figure 58: Shopping around 2006–2010 96
Figure 59: Visitor share 2006–2010 99
Figure 60: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 99
Figure 61: Main user share 2006–2010 101
Figure 62: Main user share by demographic group 2010 101
Figure 63: Conversion rates 2006–2010 103
Figure 64: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 103
Figure 65: Loyalty 2006–2010 105
Figure 66: Loyalty by demographics 2010 105
Figure 67: Preference stores 2010 108
Figure 68: Shopping around 2006–2010 109
Figure 69: Visitor share 2006–2010 112
Figure 70: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 112
Figure 71: Main user share 2006–2010 114
Figure 72: Main user share by demographic group 2010 114
Figure 73: Conversion rates 2006–2010 116
Figure 74: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 116
Figure 75: Loyalty 2006–2010 118
Figure 76: Loyalty by demographics 2010 118
Figure 77: Preference stores 2010 121
Figure 78: Shopping around 2006–2010 122
Figure 79: Visitor share 2006–2010 125
Figure 80: Visitor share by demographic group 2010 125
Figure 81: Main user share 2006–2010 127
Figure 82: Main user share by demographic group 2010 127
Figure 83: Conversion rates 2006–2010 129
Figure 84: Conversion rates by demographic group 2010 129
Figure 85: Loyalty 2006–2010 131
Figure 86: Loyalty by demographics 2010 131
Figure 87: Preference stores 2010 134
Figure 88: Shopping around 2006–2010 135

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Profile of personal care shoppers – by region 2010 18
Table 2: % of active personal care shoppers regularly using each retailer 2006–2010 23
Table 3: % of regular personal care shoppers mainly using each retailer 2006–2010 23
Table 4: Share of personal care shoppers naming a retailer as their main store by TV region 2010 27
Table 5: Average rate of conversion from visitor to main user – by region 2010 29
Table 6: Average number of other stores used by TV region 2010 32
Table 7: % of personal care shoppers that are loyal to their main store – by TV region 2010 35
Table 8: Detailed drivers of loyalty % 2010 39
Table 9: Personal care loyalty score by retailer – Top Four factors 2006–2010 40
Table 10: Personal care loyalty score by retailer – four more factors 2006–2010 41
Table 11: Personal care disloyalty score by retailer – Top Four factors 2006–2010 42
Table 12: Personal care disloyalty score by retailer – four more factors 2006–2010 43
Table 13: What disloyal users preferred about other personal care stores – Top Four factors 2006–2010 44
Table 14: What di

For more information, please contact :
http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/How-Britain-Shops-Personal-Care-2010-45493.html

Today’s Personal Care Products – Health and Beauty

Personal care products help us to improve hair, skin, health and fitness. These items can improve are lives and the way in which we live them. These products have come a long way over the years and definitely make our personal hygiene chores a lot easier.

Hair removal products have always been an interest for both men and women. Women want those smooth silkily legs without having to shave with a razor blade everyday. One of the first hair removal products I can remember was nair. “Who wears short shorts”, commercial ad comes to mind. Nair is a lotion that dissolves the hair.

What sophisticated products do we have today for hair removal? Well for one the electric razors have come a long way. They claim to leave your skin smooth and soft and to give you closest shave ever. I lost track I think we are up to 7 blades now. The ePen is a home electrolysis system which permanently removes unwanted hair. The ePad extra large body pads remove hair quickly and painlessly.

There is also an abundant of products to stop thinning hair. You don’t have to join a hair club for men or go to the doctors and pay for hair transplants when there are so many products you can use right at home. There are special shampoos, conditioners, hair brushes and treatment solutions to try. These products claim you will get thicker, fuller and healthier looking hair.

What products do we have that fight signs of aging? A product called frownies gently re-educates the underlying muscles to give you a more relaxed and natural, appearance to help with the removal of wrinkles and frown lines. There is also numerous skin care lotions, creams, and sprays to apply to your skin. Some of these brand products are Youthful Essence, Sheer Cover, Aloette, NuGlow and this is just a real small sample.

Whether you are looking for the soothing relaxation and tension easing experience of a personal massager, or want to get a great looking tan, there are many great products designed to make this all possible in the comfort of your home. These products help to promote wellness in your life and improve your looks!

We all want to feel and look our best. Looking good can also mean feeling good!