ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – When we think of healthy living, we often think of diet and exercise first, but what you may not have realized is what you put on your body is just as important as what you're putting in it.
[WEB EXTRA: Apps To Find Healthier Products Good Guide | Skin Deep | Chemicals to Look Out For]
"Anything that you put in your skin will actually absorb into your bloodstream in 30 seconds and it will hit every cell in your body in about 30 minutes," said CJ Jackson from Healing Revolutions Wellness Spa in Altamonte Springs.
Jackson said that means many of the chemicals that are found in makeup and skin care products have a direct line to your organs.
"A lot of times they'll say it's in safe amounts, but everybody's body chemistry is different," said Jackson.
Those chemicals can be found in a lot of products at your local beauty or drug store.
"I have a list of about 20 or so that you want to be aware of," said Jackson. "For example, be aware of anything with parabens in it."
Parabens are used as preservatives and have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and reproduction toxicity. Often, you'll see those listed as Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben.
"Hydroquinone is something used to actually lighten the skin and it's banned in the U.K. because of its toxicity," said Jackson. "Oxybenzone is something you're going to find in a lot of your sunscreens and it's got a lot of issues. It can cause fertility issues, hormonal disruptions, all kinds of cellular issues so you want to be very, very careful with what you're using."
But Jackson said it it's not just learning what to look for on the labels, it's also what's not there.
"If you see 'fragrance' listed on any of your skin care or makeup products, actually it's a catchall phrase for anything else they put in it' and fragrances, a lot of times, are synthetic," said Jackson.
That's why he said you want to use organic or natural products where you can. But he also said the problem is-- "all natural" on the label doesn't always mean that's the truth.
"Genetically modified organisms can be considered organic if they were grown that way," said Jackson. "Natural is the same way, you can still have a listing of natural in the U.S. if it's still 70 percent organic in certain cases, in certain products."
So when you're out shopping, how you can decode if the ingredients you're looking at are truly safe to use on your skin?
That's where your smartphone comes in.
There are several apps on the market that break down the dangers in each product like Skin Deep, which is put out by the Environmental Working Group, or Good Guide.
"We try to answer that question for you in 20 seconds or less. You just scan a bar code or type in the name of the product," said Dara O'Rourke, founder of Good Guide. "We've rated now 250,000 products from over 5,000 different brands across personal care, household chemicals, food, toys, paper and apparel."
He said he started the company not just because of the scientific questions about what's in all these products, he said it's personal.
"A few years ago, I was putting sunscreen on my daughter's face, which I do every morning before she gets to go out in the sun, and I stopped to wonder, 'What's in this chemical formulation I'm smearing all over her every single day?'" said O'Rourke. "So I did some research and found in the No. 1 selling kids' sunscreen in America, there were four problematic chemicals. Chemicals that have been banned in Europe, Japan and Australia. I then did research around my house and found her shampoo had a suspected human carcinogen in it, her bed was covered in something called brominated flame retardants. Her favorite toy was covered in lead."
So he created Good Guide, a free app for iPhone, to help consumers make better choices by allowing them to be fully informed about what's in their everyday products. Plus, O'Rourke said the app even tells you what alternative products do the same thing you're looking for, with better health ratings.
"You tell us the product you're currently using, and we can almost always find you a better product, often at a better price," said O'Rourke. "So this isn't 'we're trying to get you to buy French organic hemp oil face creams,' this is mainstream products at mainstream stores."
Jackson said it's education and being aware of what you're choosing that can make all the difference in your health.
"You don't have to go out without makeup, you don't have to go out without having wonderful skin and hair and all that," said Jackson. "You just have to look at really good sources or natural sources."