Our Philosophy:
Become Tucson's home for all natural, botanical and non-toxic, facials.
Skin Care at Civano is dedicated to provide only natural, toxin-free products in a calm and serene atmosphere.
The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it is vital that we nourish and protect it. Although Tucson is a beautiful place to live, it is challenging to the skin due to exposure to the sun and the pollutants that are in any city.
While sun damage is the greatest challenge to beautiful skin, with today’s dermaceutical products, great improvements may be achieved.
Skin Care at Civano provides natural, non-toxic skin care, at an affordable price that will make a visible difference to your skin.
This article was written by Sylvia Edwards and was published in ConnectionsForWomen.com, February 2008
READING LABELS
When I set to work opening my skin care salon, I had several goals. I wanted the surroundings to be calming and peaceful. And the products that I would use and sell had to be good for the skin, and not harmful to our bodies or the environment. The first was easy; soothing colors, aromatherapy and some relaxing CD’s. The second turned out to be a virtual minefield! I quickly learned the hard way that just because a product says NATURAL or ORGANIC, on the front of the package only means that some of the ingredients are. And I had people look me straight in the eye and tell me the product they were selling was “All Natural”, only to find a toxic ingredient later. I was naïve and way too trusting. Luckily at the same time I was reading and researching, and one by one those products were returned and replaced. I learned that at this time the FDA does not oversea the personal care industry, although there is movement towards that. In the meantime you need to be your own watchdog.
Over the last few years we have gotten into the habit of reading our food labels to ensure that what we put in our bodies is actually good for us. When was the last time you read the label on your moisturizer? Up to 60% of what we put on our bodies actually ends up in our bodies. The amounts of toxins in most retail products is small, but think of the many different products we use every day, plus there is a cumulative effect over time. Here are just a few things to look for:
•Sodium lauryl sulfate was developed to degrease engines. It is a very strong chemical that forms suds, therefore it is found in anything that foams; soap, toothpaste, shampoo, detergent etc. A study at the University of Georgia Medical College determined that this product is extremely penetrating and affects brain, heart, liver and eyes. They determined that it prevents young children’s eyes from developing fully, and contributes to cataracts in the elderly. There are many derivatives of this chemical, among them Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, and Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate. These substances are called anionic surfactants. Isopropyl alcohol is a dangerous substance that changes other substances natural qualities. It is found in hair color, body rubs, hand lotions, after shave and more. It is a petroleum based product that can cause drying on the skin, and inhalation of the vapor may cause headaches, dizziness and even mental depression!
•Parabens are a synthetic preservative and they are found in most “off-the-shelf” personal care products such as moisturizers, lotion, makeup etc. Recent studies have shown that parabens are estrogenic, which means they mimic estrogen and can affect the endocrine system. Most importantly they have been linked to breast cancer. You will see this listed as methyl/ propyl/ butyl- and ethyl-paraben. The leave on type products are of the greatest concern due to the exposure time and opportunity to penetrate into the bloodstream.
•Urea is also a preservative that releases formaldehyde and according to the Mayo Clinic can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reaction and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may also cause joint pain, allergies, chronic fatigue, loss of sleep and headaches.
Unfortunately there is a very long list of ingredients that are known to be toxic. Just because the product is expensive and in a beautiful wrapper, does not necessarily mean it is good for you. However in this incredible age of information, answers may be obtained with a few keystrokes. So if you see a word on a label that you cannot pronounce, look it up on the Internet. The family you save may be your own.
For more information on toxins go to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. This is provided by the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit organization in Washington DC.
