Is your soap bar really 'soap'?

While looking for gentle and mild soaps for my daughter I found out that if we pay closer attention to the labels of products present in the soap aisles of many grocery stores, we'll discover that a lot of them do not even say 'soap' on their labels. "They might be called beauty bars, body bars, moisturizing bars, but not soap. That's because these bars aren't actually soap and can't legally claim to be; they're detergents. The manufacturers have removed most of the 'good' stuff that occurs in the soap making process, and replaced it with synthetic lathering agents and harsh chemicals. These cheap, plentiful detergent bars are not only bad for your skin,but they're also bad for the planet, too." Source: The Benefits of Using Real, Natural Soap

Simple things such as bathing can be a challenge for people suffering from eczema, psoriasis or other skin ailments because most commercial soaps aggravate their condition. It is therefore very important to choose mild, natural soaps which do not contain any harsh chemicals that might further irritate the skin. What's troubling is the fact that many dermatologists recommend using some of these commercial soaps which in their opinion are gentle for the skin. We were also suggested to use Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar for my daughter by our dermatologist. A quick look at Dove's ingredients reveal not only some of the harsh chemicals in it but also the presence of 'Sodium Tallowate' (which is produced when sodium hydroxide (the lye/saponifier) is combined with tallow). I've mentioned what tallow is in my previous post Animal Fats in Disguise. As Muslims, we certainly avoid the use of animal fat (tallow) in our products specially if there's a chance that the source of tallow might be lard from pigs.

Commercial bar soaps that contain animal tallowate:

• Ivory
• Dove
• Neutrogena (except Neutrogena Naturals)
• Purpose
• Cetaphil
• Dial
• Lever
• Tone
• Jergens
• Zest
• Camay
• Irish Spring
• Basis
• pHisoderm.

Commercial bar soaps that do NOT contain animal tallowate:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
• Kirk’s Castile
• Dr. Bronner’s
• Kiss My Face
• Tom’s of Maine
• Burt’s Bees
• Zum Bar
• Tea Tree Therapy
• Desert Essence
• Pangea

Source: http://www.crunchybetty.com/time-to-play-whats-in-your-soap

I was very lucky to be introduced to the Great Canadian Soap Company products by a friend, who found the Great Canadian Soap Company by chance while visiting Prince Edward Island. Here's an account of her experience, 'We came across an ad for a soap-making demonstration at a small farm,  when we got there, we were pleasantly surprised to see it was a business called the Great Canadian Soap Company;  they had a lovely shop and farm with very cute goats.  We loved the organic nature of the farm, and the fact that they used farm-fresh milk to make the soaps right in front of our eyes.  We bought some soap and creams, and went home thinking nothing of it.  My daughter had severe eczema around her mouth for almost 1-2 years that was not going away no matter what we used (antibiotics, steroid creams, etc).  But Mashallah after using the soap and cream from GCS for a few weeks, it completely eradicated her eczema, and even now when I see her skin getting dry or itchy, I ask her to go and put on the triple butter cream :)' The company uses farm-fresh goats milk along with various natural ingredients in their soaps, creams and other products. While their products did not cure my daughter's eczema, they are definitely soothing and provide relief to her itchiness. I only choose their unscented products because of her sensitive skin.

                                        

                                            Some of the soaps I've tried from various companies

Unscented Goat Milk Soap and Berry Blossom Soap 

   Ingredients: Farm Fresh Goat's Milk, Saponified Coconut Oil & Olive Oils, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter

                             

African Black Soap has some amazing benefits for eczema, psoriasis and acne as well,  This soap is from Kynk Naturals also a Canadian Company : )

I love this soap! Leaves your skin soft and silky, also from Kynk Naturals

A good soap for its price, but I found it a bit drying.

or you can buy hand-crafted soaps from local soap crafters like the The Olive Tree Soap Company  who sell some amazing soaps!

           Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap is not only mild, it also smells great and is truly a muti-purpose soap

Each bottle is known to have about 3000 words on it. Some of these writings I found quite bizarre, like this particular bottle mentions 'God' several times. I certainly would not keep this bottle in the washroom.

A good liquid soap, not too pricey but does not smell as nice as Dr Bronner's  liquid peppermint soap.
Contains no parabens, sulphates, petroleum ingredients, dyes or synthetic perfumes

But I love the fact that it's a Canadian company :)

Cucumber & Calendula Soap from The Soap Works. These soaps are probably the cheapest ones around,  starting from 1.99$ each. Not all soaps by this company are vegetable based but the majority of the bar soaps have no animal products and the glycerin used  is palm oil based. These ones are 100% vegatable based: Cucumber & Calendula, Bee Pollen,  Chamomille, Creamy Clay, Evening Primrose, Aloe Vera, Olive, Oatmeal, Pine Tar, Pumice, Sea Kelp, Tea Tree, Veggie Glycrein, Shampoo bar

Laundry detergents and skin irritations

Ever thought that the skin irritations you are having could be because of your laundry detergent or dryer sheets? Well, I never did, not until we took our daughter to a dermatologist who told us to stop using regular laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets for her clothes as they might be a cause of her eczema flare-ups. She recommended using gentle, fragrance-free detergents that are mild enough for her sensitive skin.

I had always thought that toxins can enter our bodies through the use of personal care products but never realized that laundry detergents and fabric softeners also contain many different chemicals that can not only affect our health but also the environment. Our skin may absorb these toxins when moisture from the body attaches to chemicals which are then absorbed through the bloodstream. This can cause numerous health problems like nervous system disorders, liver toxicity and even cancer!

Another disturbing fact which I very recently found was the use of animal fat in fabric softeners! This nauseating piece of news was broken to me by a worker at our local health food store. Poor lady saw my reaction and suggested using dryer balls as an alternative to dryer sheets. Fabric softeners never entered my home again after that day :) 

Came across some good ideas as to what I can replace my dryer sheets with here: http://mindfulmomma.typepad.com/mindful_momma/2011/09/easy-dryer-sheet-alternatives.html

For more information about chemicals used in laundry detergents and fabric softeners:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/21/are-you-slowly-killing-your-family-with-hidden-dioxane-in-your-laundry-detergent.aspx

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/16-12/st_whatsinside

I'm planning to make my own detergent one day using this formula (my husband thinks I'm insane :D)
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/make-your-own-laundry-soap.htm

                            

     I use this detergent in the meanwhile, it's gentle enough for my 4 month old baby as well.             

                     

Haven't used them yet but looking forward to buying wool dryer balls   

                                                                             Image taken from:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/queen-of-green/2012/09/wool-dryer-balls-shrink-drying-time/

Animal Fat in Disguise

We as Muslims are usually vigilant about checking the ingredient lists of personal care products and food items for (non-kosher) gelatin or alcohol so that we can avoid them but other ingredients are often neglected such as Stearic acid, Palmitic acid or Glycerin. So what exactly are Stearic, Lauric, Myristic, Oleic, and Palmitic acids? They are all names for fatty acids which are produced either from natural fats and oils  that are added to soaps, cosmetics, personal care products, and some foods including margarine, shortening and other baking ingredients but very frequently they are obtained from a slaughterhouse by-product known as tallow or animal fat. 


Animal waste – the stuff that slaughterhouses can't use, the stuff that's not even good enough to make it in to hot dogs--are sent to places called rendering plants. Sometimes animal shelters will send euthanized dogs and cats to rendering plants. I've even heard of road kills being sent to these rendering plants which is outright disgusting! So what happens to these poor animals in the rendering plants? The dead carcasses and parts are separated meat from fat, bone from skin, and so on. The fat is then used to create cosmetic ingredients such as stearic acid.

PETA states about Stearic acid: "When animal-derived, a fat from cows, pigs, and sheep and from dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters, etc. May also be of plant origin, including from cocoa butter and shea butter. Can be harsh, irritating." http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/animal-ingredients-list.aspx

Stearic acid – one of the most common fatty acids, especially in soaps – is a wax-like fatty acid, frequently sourced from tallow, with smaller amounts obtained from herrings and sardines. Almost all stearic acid in the US is made from tallow and coconut oil, with smaller amounts coming from palm oil. In addition to soap making, stearic acid is used to form stable creams, lotions and ointments. It is also frequently used in products such as deodorants and antiperspirants, foundation creams, hand lotions, hair straightening products, and shaving creams.

Glycerin or Glycerol is a byproduct of soap manufacturing, and can be either synthetic, or derived from plants (usually soybeans) or animals (usually tallow). It can also be a blend of both animal and vegetable oils. Glycerides (mono/di/and tri) tend to be derived from animal fats, and are used frequently by the food industry.

A 2010 report from The Vegetarian Resource Group found that glycerin is usually derived from plant materials when used in food. However, especially in the case of cosmetics and in bath and body products, this is not a guarantee, so unless the label lists the ingredient as ‘vegetable glycerin’ it is advisable to contact the company.

In conclusion, if we see any of these terms: Oleic, Palmitic, Stearic, Palmitoleic, Linoleic, Myristic acid or Glycerin in an ingredients list, it might be a substance sourced from animal tallow (or another animal-based source), and it would be wise to contact the company to find out the ingredient’s origin.

Sources:

Hidden Animal Fats by ANGEL FLINN http://gentleworld.org/hidden-animal-fats/

Bubble and Bee Organic http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/todays-chemical/2009/6/25/stearic-acid.html

Amazing benefits of Coconut Oil

I have vivid memories of my childhood days when my mom used to apply coconut oil in my hair, the aroma of it and how it used to leave my hair soft but sadly that was the ONLY purpose I knew of coconut oil. Just recently I found out that this amazing oil has many other health benefits. Some of which are:   

• Coconut oil can help you get better skin. It can help treat skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.
• Coconut oil is great for eating. It is amazing because you can also use it to cook and bake with, and because it’s saturated, it’s the safest oil to use at high temperatures.
• Coconut oil has anti-aging properties. Its antioxidant effects can help protect against wrinkles and signs of aging —as well as heal and repair damaged skin.
• Coconut oil makes hair grow and repairs damage. Coconut oil is also great as a deep conditioner, leave it overnight and wash it out in the morning. (my mom definitely knew about this benefit!)
• Coconut oil can help you lose weight. The body is able to dissolve the fat from coconut oil easily into the blood. It also helps boost your metabolism, makes you feel full longer and is quickly burned for energy. (probably the best benefit ;))
• Coconut Oil also stimulates thyroid function and helps cholesterol to be converted into anti-aging steroids that lower the risk of cancer and heart disease. It can also treat ulcers.

After finding these facts I decided that I must try coconut oil. Alhumdulillah, I saw visible results in my daughters skin as it was keeping it moisturized longer. If you're interested in getting coconut oil, ideally you want to look for a coconut oil that is certified organic, made with fresh coconuts (virgin oil), unrefined, non-hydrogenated and made without heat-processing. I tried Ojio Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, but there are lots of other great brands out there! Check out any health food store to explore your options.

Interesting videos of Dr Oz revealing the benefits of Coconut Oil that I found.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/coconut-oil-super-powers-pt-1

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/coconut-oil-super-powers-pt-2

OJIO Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Switching back to old ways

The only immediate thing that came to my mind was to switch back to natural oils. I had always been a huge fan of olive oil and now was a reason to fall in love with it even more! Olives and olive oil have been mentioned many times in the Holy Quran and not just in the Quran, they are mentioned in the Bible as well. I found a concise slide show about the properties and uses of olive oil here

I headed straight to Dollarama in search of a plastic pump bottle which I filled up with extra virgin olive oil for convenient usage. I have my daughter apply it after taking showers and I would do the same. Olive oil absorbs quickly into the skin, so we don't really have to worry about our clothes getting stained.

The little pump bottle has become my best friend ever since :) I use it for massaging my three month old baby, applying it after baths and even to keep him diaper rash free. Warm olive oil is also very good for hair and scalp massages. Alhumdulillah it works really well for many thing. But I'll be honest, my daughter does not like applying oils very much. She would rather have her creams and lotions... things that smell good and have a nice feel. I knew I would have to find some substitute for her very soon.

My journey begins

                     In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The inspiration for writing this blog came to me from my 10 year old daughter who recently started blogging on her class website :) My intention for starting this blog is primarily to increase awareness among people about effects of the many harmful chemicals present in our everyday personal care products. I am hoping that this effort may help others to identify these toxic chemicals present in our cosmetics, creams, soaps, deodorants and many other products including tooth pastes! The only way we can avoid these risky, harmful ingredients is first of all to have knowledge of what they are.

 My journey started a few years back when my older daughter (now 13) who always had sensitive skin started developing mild eczema. Over the few years her eczema became quite worse. It was then that I started researching natural home remedies for her and stumbled into articles which suggested that one of the things I needed to do was to stop using chemical-laden products such as lotions, creams and soaps that are adding more toxins into her system. The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it's thought to be linked to an overactive response by the body's immune system to an irritant. It is this response that causes the symptoms of eczema. 

I was mortified to find this because I had no idea that the lotions, creams and vaseline I slather on my little girls skin in hopes of getting it cured were actually very harmful for her. I came across Dr Mercola's extremely informative article: http://www.mercolahealthyskin.com/ which was a huge eye-opener for me. Almost every lotion and cream I picked up had harmful ingredients in them such as sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, mineral oils, paraffin, petrolatum, propylene glycol and the list goes on....

This completely changed the way I looked at my beloved Jergens that I used to apply every night and my Olay bodywash which I showered with everyday (sigh...) My outlook had changed completely and now was the time to make some serious life style changes. I knew I could not change everything all at once but reform had to come one step at a time.