The term "skin care" alone implies that we are doing something positive for our skin. There are literally tens of thousands of individual products available for every imaginable skin condition from dryness to wrinkles and beyond. But how well do you understand the ingredients that are commonly found in skin care products? You might be surprised to find out that many of these ingredients can actually be harmful to your skin and your body. In some extreme cases, there is even evidence to suggest that some of these popular ingredients can be toxic or cause cancer. Typically, the companies producing these products go to great lengths to ensure that the only product information you ever receive is the potential benefits and carefully spun marketing materials. While this information does a wonderful job of convincing you to try a new skin care product; it keeps you in the dark as to potential health concerns surrounding some of the ingredients in the products. Fortunately, companies are required to disclose on the label, anything that is found in the finished product. Understanding what you read on those labels is a challenge of it's own. I will try to point out a few of the well known skin care ingredients that can potentially cause problems so you can keep an eye out for them on the labels of the skin care products you use.

One ingredient class that has been generating a lot of buzz recently is parabens. Parabens are used as a preservative to keep skin care products from going bad on store shelves. Although this sounds innocent enough, parabens have been linked to breast cancer and allergic reactions in numerous studies.

Another ingredient you may be familiar with is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Most commonly found in facial cleansers and body washes, it has been demonstrated to cause damage to the skin along with dryness and irritations. There are plenty of organic products on the market that have the same cleansing effect without the potential for doing damage. This is one that I would recommend you avoid.

Mineral oil is also found in a large number of skin care products. I always get a bit of a laugh when discussing this one with clients because it is a by product of petroleum production; Yes, that's right - Gasoline! It is used as a base and can get in the way of the skins normal "breathing" process by clogging pores and preventing natural perspiration.

There are several others that I will be adding shortly. Please feel free to add to the discussion in the comments section.

One way to avoid these potentially harmful ingredients is to ALWAYS read your labels! That means taking the time to see what's in a product before it ever makes it into your shopping cart. If you are considering an online purchase, take the time to request an ingredient list from the merchant. You will typically find that they are happy to provide one. I have a few favorite products that I will share below that are free from these and other harmful ingredients and encourage you to share your ideas as well.