CATHY'S CORNER
Beauty's
Only Skin Deep
In
1994, within a ten day period, or schedule took us from the grandeur and
beauty of Alaska (with its bitter wind chill of 20 below zero) to the
warm tropical breezes of Florida. As a result of the tremendous changes
in temperature and humidity, not to mention the seemingly endless hours
waiting in airports (36 hours in Ketchikan alone!) and sitting in
airplanes, by the time we completed our trip, my dry skin was parched!
In an effort to find a moisturizer to relieve my dry skin, I embarked on
another journey which lead me into the bone yard of by-products, the
likes of which I'd never imagined! I'd like to share some of my
incredible discoveries with you.
The
Skin
I
will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are
thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Psalms
139:14
Yes, we are fearfully and wonderfully made! To illustrate, let's take a
closer look at something we look at all the time but take for granted--our skin.
The
human body consists of ten interdependent systems: the musculoskeletal
system; the integumentary system (the skin); the special senses; the
brain and nerves; the reproductive systems; the endocrine system; the
respiratory system; the digestive system; the cardiovascular system; and
the urinary system. These systems are so interdependent that it is
impossible for any system or group of systems to function without the
others. (1)
The
skin is the largest organ of the whole body. It covers the entire body
and in an average adult weighs from 8 to 10 pounds. If the skin of an
adult was laid flat, it would cover an area of about 22 square feet. A
piece of skin the size of a quarter contains a yard of blood vessels,
four yards or nerves, 25 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, and more than
3,000,000 cells.
The
main purpose of the skin is to provide protection for the body. The skin
is a tough, elastic, waterproof covering of the body. The glands in the
skin release secretions that prevent the development of bacteria thus
protecting the body from infection and disease. New skin cells are
constantly being formed on the body of the epidermis (the top layer) and
then pushed upward to the surface. As these new cells push upward, the
old cells on the surface die and flake off. In this manner, the skin is
constantly being changed or renewed. There are no blood vessels in the
epidermis and, therefore, the cells in this layer of skin receives
little nourishment.
While
the pores are closed they cannot breathe or release poison from the
system. The poison is then absorbed back into the blood and forced upon
the internal organs. A blackhead forms when hard fatty material from the
gland blocks the glands opening. (2)
Cells
need four essential things to live and function properly:
OXYGEN:
Without oxygen, cells die within three minutes; pure air brings life to
the skin; for a lack of air the skin nearly dies;
WATER:
Without water, the cells die in a few days;
NUTRITION:
Without nutrients they die in a few weeks;
CLEANSING:
Their own wastes must be removed promptly or death will result in a
matter of minutes, or at the most a matter of hours.
(3)
Like
a marvelous machine, all of the body systems must work together. When
they do not function properly, putrification is the result. Whenever
wastes do not pass from the system within 24 hours, the blood then
absorbs this pollution. The liver, lungs, kidneys and skin must try to
eliminate this waste. (4)
"The
studied habit of shunning the air and avoiding exercise, closes the
pores, the little mouths through which the body breathes, making it
impossible to throw off impurities through that channel. The burden of
labor is throne upon the lungs, kidneys, etc., and these internal organs
are compelled to do the work of the skin." 2 T 524
"Many
are ignorantly injuring their health and endangering their lives by
using cosmetics. They are robbing the cheeks of the glow of health, and
then to supply the deficiency use cosmetics. When they become
heated...the poison is absorbed by the pores of the skin, and is thrown
into the blood. Many lives have been sacrificed by this means
alone." HR 10/01/71
Ellen White once observed a young lady at a railroad station who
had bright spots upon her cheeks which were irritations of the skin
caused by the use of cosmetics. Writing of this young lady, Mrs. White
comments: "The entire skin of the face had lost its healthy,
velvety smoothness, and showed an unnatural, disagreeable roughness. In
the appearance of her face, thus marred by poisonous substances, and in
the bright glow upon either cheek, giving such an unnatural appearance,
we could trace causes for her ill health. Here was one of fashion's
slaves who had sacrificed health, and natural beauty in using poisonous
preparations which had been taken up by the pores of the skin and
diffused through the system." HR 1/1/1874
Cosmetic
Safety
Interestingly
enough, in a Health Reformer article dated October 1, 1871, Ellen White
addresses the women of her day on the issue of cosmetic safety. Although
the entire article is worthy of attention, here is just a portion found
under the caption "Dangerous Fashions'':
"`The
cruelties the tyrant of fashion inflicts upon her slaves--willing though
they be--are indeed appalling. Just to think of ladies upon whom nature
has lavished her charms, submitting to the enameling process only to
become subject to paralysis or drop dead from its effects. Others,
again, seeking to be fairer than the fairest, are allured by the glaring
words, `Laird's Bloom of Youth,' and similar poetic phrases, and eagerly
seize upon the poisonous compounds, only to suffer the excruciating
pains of neuralgia or breathe out a painful and lingering existence from
the effects of slow poison introduced into the system by their
use...'"
Later in the same article she addresses the issue even more
specifically. Remember this article is dated October 1, 1871, more than
100 years ago!
"The
following section we here insert hoping that it may arrest the attention
of some of the votaries of fashion, and excite their fears, if it does
not arouse their consciences, to put away the pride and sin which
produces such dangerous results:
"`The
Fatal Effects of Painting'
"`No
one can ride or walk through the fashionable portion of New York City,
attend any place of amusement, or go to any evening party, without
becoming aware of the horrible fact that many women of whom better
things might be expected, have fallen into the pernicious habit of
applying to their skins the enamels which, under various attractive
names, are advertised and sold in all parts of the land.
"`Not
only faded faces, but countenances so young, plump and pretty are
lacquered over with an unnatural polish of fine porcelain, which
produces an effect such as one might imagine if a china doll were
afflicted with the consumption.
"`This
practice is as pernicious as it is disgusting--the seeds of death or
paralysis being hidden in every pot and jar of those mixtures, which are
supposed to be not only innocent, but also to possess the virtues of the
undiscovered fountain of perpetual youth.
"`Some
who use them will suddenly have a severe illness; and receiving a
private warning from the family physician, will cease the use of the
cause of their disorder, and recovering, go through life with an
extremely bad complexion, as a reminder of their folly.
"`Others
will drop suddenly, with their features twisted on one side, and perhaps
deprived of the use of their limbs. Others will die outright, no one
guessing why, the effect on any particular person cannot be calculated.
What one suffers paralysis from, may kill another outright. The only
safety is in having nothing to do with any of these baneful
preparations.'
"If
God had required of society so great a sacrifice for His sake, what
mourning we should bear of the terrible burdens imposed upon those who
follow Christ. But the slaves to fashion take these burdens upon
themselves, and make their own life very wearisome with needless care,
in their anxiety to keep pace with fashion. They lay upon the altar of
fashion, health happiness, life and Heaven.
"Christians
cannot afford to make this great sacrifice. They cannot afford to sow to
the flesh and reap corruption. That which we sow ye shall also reap. Now
is the sowing time. The reaping time hasteth. What will the harvest
be?..."
From
the remarks about the advertisements of her day, I can only imagine her
response if she were alive to see the commercialism of the present day!
Over
the years, little has been done to improve cosmetic safety. Here is a
portion of Oregon Congressman Ron Wyden's appeal for accountability in
cosmetic safety which I found very enlightening:
"Cosmetic
products comprise a $17 billion dollar a year industry and contain
chemicals that may cause severe health problems. And a little known fact
is that this industry is virtually unregulated.
"The
Subcommittee I chair recently asked the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health to compare nearly 3,000 chemicals used in
cosmetic products with their list of toxic substances. That agency found
884 of those chemicals were reported by scientists as toxic--causing
genetic mutations, reproductive complications, tumors, and skin and eye
irritations.
"In
addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 47,000
cosmetic-related injuries were voluntarily reported by hospital
emergency rooms in 1987.
"Despite
these problems, the cosmetics industry is virtually unregulated. The
Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitted under
oath that there is no statutory requirement that cosmetic ingredients be
tested for safety before they are used and that there is no statutory
requirement that the cosmetic companies report adverse consumer
reactions to the FDA." (5)
The
introduction of "A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic
Ingredients" by Ruth Winter, holds some interesting thoughts and
concerns.
"Like
the alchemists and medicine men of old, cosmetic companies promise
beauty and youth in a bottle. `Rub this into your face and your wrinkles
will disappear' they say or `put this on your skin and you will be
irresistible.'
"If
you feel more attractive or more youthful after using cosmetics, what's
the harm? So you pay $50 for five cents worth of ingredients. Maybe it
is worth it psychologically.
"The
problem is that cosmetics may cost you more than you want to pay.
"Cosmetics
have received and still receive the lowest priority in the offices of
the Food and Drug Administration. The agency spends less than half of
one percent of its budget on cosmetic safety surveillance. In its
cosmetics division in Washington, there are 60 toxicologists that not
only have to evaluate cosmetics but food products as well. There are 373
inspectors who must cover the national and international multibillion
dollar food and cosmetic industries. Cosmetics alone is a 17 billion
dollar a year industry producing more than twenty thousand different
products.
"Cosmetics
have traditionally received little attention because it has been wrongly
assumed that such products do not really affect our health and safety.
The skin was believed to be a nearly perfect barrier that prevented
chemicals applied to it from penetrating into the body. This belief went
unchallenged until the 1960s when the much-heralded-but unmarketed-miracle
DMSO proved its ability to carry substances with it through the skin and
into the body's tissue and blood stream...
"It
has now been accepted that all chemicals penetrate the skin to some
extent, and many do so in significant amounts. What degree of absorption
is there when a cosmetic is left on the face (as a makeup base might be
for twelve hours)? What is the effect of exposure to ingredients that
may be used over a number of years?
"If
you take a drug that may cause side effects, the risk may be worth it
because you may need the drug to regain or maintain your health. But
although they may be rewarding psychologically, are cosmetics worth any
risk?
"In
September 1980, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) contracted with
the National Research Council (NCR) and the National Academy of Sciences
for a study... The NRC considered 65,725 substances of possible concern,
among them 8,627 food additives and 3,410 cosmetic ingredients...
through a random sample program, 100 of these substances were selected
by screening for the presence of at least some toxicity
information. An in-depth examination of this subsample led to the
conclusion that on the great majority of the substances, data considered
to be essential for conducting a health assessment are lacking... `This
report shows that, of tens of thousands of commercially important
chemicals, only a few have been subjected to extensive toxicity testing
and most have scarcely been tested at all.'"
(6)
Mineral Oil
The
skin is the primary control organism of the body for temperature and
protects the body from the external environment. This is accomplished by
the barrier properties of the skin.
Mineral oil is a petroleum based ingredient, widely used in the
formulation of skin care products because it is readily available, easy
to formulate with and relatively inexpensive. Mineral oil is basically
an inert ingredient that has no specifically designed benefit to the
skin and research has shown that it can in fact block the pore openings.
(7)
A recent study from a world-famous dermatologist revealed: Mineral oil
can interfere with normal skin functions and lower the natural lipid
barrier protection, thereby increasing the potential for penetration of
irritating ingredients through the epidermis. More importantly, this
lowering of lipid barrier protection may change the absorption
properties of sunscreens and reduce their effectiveness, lending to
increased ultraviolet damage of the skin. This is particularly critical
for children, as recent studies have shown that ultraviolet damage
starts early and stays with you for the rest of your life.
(8)
I
was told by a skin care consultant about a grandmother who took her
grandson who had a skin problem to see a doctor. The problem turned out
to be caused by dry skin. The grandmother asked the doctor if she could
simply apply baby oil to the affected area. The doctor told her in no
uncertain terms never to do such a thing because baby oil (a by-product
of mineral oil) suffocates the pores!
Just
think about it--what happens when you apply baby oil, mineral oil,
petroleum oil (vaseline), to your skin, and then pour water over the
area? The water runs off--like water off a duck's back (so to speak)
because there is a non-water soluble barrier preventing the water from
penetrating through it. Nothing can get in, nothing can get out. The
same is true with our pores--"the little mouths through which
the body breathes."
"Natural" Ingredients? Don't be fooled!
Consumers
are given a false sense of security by advertisers and labeling
gimmicks. Over the years, almost everyone who has watched TV for any
length of time has seen endless commercials which insinuate that true
health and happiness can be found if only we will purchase this or that
product. With today's emphasis on health, there seems to be an
inexhaustible supply of everything from diet pills, vitamins and skin
care products to clothing, flea collars, and air fresheners--ALL
claiming to be "natural." But what does that really mean?
"NATURAL: Occurring in nature, whether of animal, vegetable, or
unrefined mineral origin. There is no accepted standard for the word
'natural'... only what the manufacturer intends them to mean."
(9)
That
could get scary! Let's take a closer look at a couple commonly used
"natural" ingredients which most label readers will recognize: UREA (carbamide) and URIC ACID. Used as a preservative, these
ingredients can be found in a wide range of cosmetics, dentifrices,
deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, hand and body lotions, etc., not to
mention common garden fertilizer because of its high nitrogen content.
UREA: "Urea is present in urine and other body fluids..."
(10)
"A
product of protein metabolism excreted in human urine. Derived from
ammonia and liquid carbon dioxide." (11)
URIC ACID: "Uric acid is one of the waste or excretory products of
the body, resulting from the working of the living cells. As other waste
products, it is poisonous to living tissues."
(12)
1
Biochem. a chemical C5H4N4O3,
present in human urine, and the principal nitrogenous component of the
excrement of reptiles and birds, that in the form of its salts is found
in the joints in gout and as the major constituent of kidney stones. 2
Chem. a white, crystalline, odorless, tasteless, very slightly
water-soluble powder form of this compound, synthesized, used chiefly in
organic synthesis." (13)
Are you asking "How does that relate to our discussion of 'natural'
products?" Well, just keep reading. From my investigation, the
ammonia/carbon dioxide contained in urea or uric acid is the ingredient
that manufacturers uses to extend the shelf life of their products.
Usually a manufacturer will search for the most readily available source
at the lowest cost. Ammonia can be obtained from many different sources,
only one of which is a synthetic process (as confirmed by Webster's
Dictionary) which, of course, by definition, cannot be classified as
"natural."
One "natural" source for urea and/or ammonia is decomposed
bird droppings. (I'll let that sink in for just a moment.) And the
product containing ammonia derived from decomposed bird droppings, can
rightly be marketed as "natural" as it has been harvested by
scraping the droppings from rocks, and the birds are free-flying in a
natural setting, not caged!
Now
how can anything be any more natural? Synthetic chemicals are not
"found in nature" and thus, are not "natural."
However, bird droppings are just about as "natural" as the
definition (and imagination) will permit! I don't know about you, but I
certainly do not want to smear that on my skin!
Animal,
Vegetable, or .... Human?!!
As I
began paying closer attention to reading labels, I found ingredients
that I recognized but many more I'd never seen before. As I continued my
research, I found many ingredients, including vitamins, can come from
animal, human, vegetable and/or synthetic sources. To make matters more
confusing, manufacturers do not have to voluntarily identify their
sources. I began contacting them directly, and many of them have been
most helpful in advancing my education!
I
was very surprised, however, by what I was told by some of the
manufacturers of "natural" products--yes, those you might
find at your neighborhood health food store. I learned quickly that I
could not assume anything! At first I asked if their products contained
animal products or by-products. But soon I found it necessary to inquire
if their products contained HUMAN products or by-products.
I found it almost comical that one company was using HUMAN by-products
while boasting the claim on their label
"No
Animal Testing"
"All
of our products are environmentally friendly, harmful to no one, and
produced without animal testing or animal by-products."
When I saw "placenta" as an ingredient listed on the label, I
immediately called to learn their "non-animal"
"natural" source. When I expressed my shock and disgust at
learning it was HUMAN, I was assured that the "by-products"
were indeed "natural"--having been transported immediately
from the hospital after the "natural" childbirth procedure had
been completed. What could be more "natural"? (This is not a
joke!)
In yet another instance, I was informed (by hospital staff and confirmed
by a physician) about other "natural" human by-products which
can be salvaged, such as post-conception material (aborted baby parts),
placenta and other childbirth related fluids and substances, and various
left over or "used parts," cysts, tumors, hair, nails, bones,
tissues, etc. removed during surgery (as long as they have not been
treated with radiation). (Check labels for keratin, collagen,
and hydrolyzed protein, just to name a few.) I wonder if
patients "donating" their "by-products" read ALL the
fine print!
Beauty, Pride & Pig Grease
The
deeper I looked, the worse it seemed to get. In August 1994, we sent out
copies of the following article by Sandi Mitchell, Ph.D. In response we
received letters from the wife of a former truck driver and others with
first hand knowledge, confirming this atrocity. We believe it bears
reprinting here.
"Shocking as this
article may be, it's necessary for you to read it!"
"Are
we still the naive nation we once were? I think not! Until recent years,
we meekly developed the custom of being followers and did not question
the integrity of our leaders and especially those who have set
themselves up as protectors of our health.
"Has
the pendulum now swung the other way? Have we now become a nation of
suspicion? I think so, and with good reason. Not necessarily because we
enjoy being watchdogs, but because of self-preservation!
"One
case in point in which millions are directly involved on a daily basis
are rendering plants. Not many have ever heard of a rendering plant, let
alone known what products gain their origin from these plants!
"Have
you ever noticed a dead dog, cat, skunk, or opossum that has been killed
on the highway? Well, a rendering plant is a collection center for all
kinds of dead animals. Carcasses of every variety are hauled to the
plant daily. Huge supplies of the decaying bodies come from everywhere,
including farms where disease has decimated herds of swine, cattle and
other domestic animals.
"Sickening
Thought"
"At
the plant, the bodies are all dumped together into a huge cooking pot
which generates intense heat. After a certain period of cooking, the
bodies are subject to a process of extreme pressure in order to extract
the fat from bones, skins, etc. Old cooking grease picked up from
restaurants is also added in the pot. It is the rendered fat which
constitutes the final product of the plant.
"One
can only imagine the horrible stench of the diseased and decaying
conglomeration of cooking carcasses. But the thing that astonished me
the most is the way in which the extract grease is utilized.
"The
great majority of the product is sold for women's makeup, especially to
manufacturers of lipstick and eye makeup. Some of the most prestigious
cosmetic companies in the country are the chief customers of rendering
plants. Anyone looking at the elegant ads portraying glamorous models
wearing beautiful `makeup' would never suspect even a hint of the
refined, colored and properly perfumed oil being derived from skunk,
opossum or pig! How much of this abominable blend do you suppose has
been ingested into the body from the lips and the pores of the skin?
Should we not be aware of the content not only of what enters the mouth
but also what soaks in through the pores of the skin?"
(14)
Animal
Testing
The
cosmetic industry uses four basic tests on animals. The first test is
for eye irritations, or Draize test, in which shampoos and cosmetics are
put into rabbits eyes which are fastened open. The chemical causes
blistering, swelling, and blindness. The pain often becomes so intense
that the rabbit breaks its back trying to get away from it. The second
test is the skin irritation test, in which the test animals has an area
of its back stripped of fur and the test product repeatedly rubbed in to
the bare skin area causing rash, pain, and swelling. The third test is
the LD/50 test (lethal dose--50% die). In this test cosmetics are
force fed to test animals to determine the amount necessary to cause 50%
of them to die in severe agony from such things as organ blockage, toxic
reaction, and convulsions. Fourth is the inhalation test. In this test,
animals are sprayed repeatedly in the face for a 2 1/2 hour period, then
killed and their tissues examined.
Remember
this when you purchase and use products (cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoo,
mouthwash, talcum, hand lotion, eye makeup, face creams, hair
conditioners, shampoos, perfumes, colognes, etc.) which test on live
animals.
Every
year scientists use 17 to 22 million animals for experimentation.
Believe me, you don't want to see the pictures or hear any of the
documented accounts of unimaginable cruelty being perpetrated upon
defenseless animals--something God expressly condemns, calling it
satanic (see PP 442-443).
Something
to Think About
At
the beginning of my search, I didn't understand why my eyes watered or
my allergies reacted violently when I tried to use certain skin care
items. But after I saw what was being used in many of the products, I
was surprised the reaction wasn't worse! Thankfully there are several
manufacturers who have non-harmful products available, and there are
many do-it-yourself remedies as well.
The
supporting documentation accumulated while assembling this tract is
staggering. What you have read is just a tip of the iceberg. (We haven't
even discussed the effects of alcohol on your skin!) We hope this has
stimulated your interest to further investigate what you put on your
skin.
We
understand that this can be somewhat overwhelming. Our intent is to
educate and encourage, not devastate or condemn. As we continue to
learn, let us remember that true beauty comes from within; a reflection
of a peaceful heart holding sweet communion with Jesus. It is not the "outward
adorning.. of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it
be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even
the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price." 1 Peter 3:3-4 (KJV)
"Ladies
may resort to cosmetics to restore the tint of complexion, but they
cannot thus bring back the glow of healthful feelings to the
heart." HL 191
"The
beauty of the soul, when compared with outward display, is regarded
almost valueless. In the anxiety to meet the standard of fashion, beauty
of character is overlooked...
"No
face has true beauty in it that does not mirror the deeds of a noble
soul. There is not a thought, word, or deed, that does not leave its
autograph written on the human countenance.. If the soul that looks out
from the eyes be true and pure, the face will be beautiful always, for
it has found the true fountain of youth; and though time may fold the
hair in silver, and furrow the brow, yet there will ever be a beauty
lighting it up that years cannot dim, for the heart and soul never grow
old." HR 10/1/1871
1. 1 The Creator's Masterpiece, p. 1&2.
2. 2
Understanding The Body and Organs & The Eight Laws of Health, p. 45,
46 & 47.
3. 3
Ibid., p. 63, 65.
4. 4
Ibid., p. 20.
5. 5
Congressman Ron Wyden, 3rd District, U. S. House of Representatives,
December 1988.
6. 6 A
Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, pgs. 1-3.
7. 7 Dr.
Richard Wells, Arbonne International, Q&A (undated article).
8. 8 Dr.
Richard Wells, Arbonne International, Pros Corner (undated article).
9. 9 Body
Care Natural Products - A Glossary of Terms and Ingredients, p. 12.
10. Ibid., p. 68.
11. A Consumer's
Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, p. 315.
12. The Missing Link,
Dr. Jay M. Hoffman, p. 132.
13. Webster's
Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, p. 1573.
14. Health Freedom
News, Jan/Feb 1991.
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