the journey is over... I'm back to using parabens

[seoul_mama]

In light of the many sufferings around the world, my defeat to parabens is hardly significant; but I'm still disheartend and thought I'd share a quick story:

About a year ago, I made the decision to abandon the commerical products I use for my face: Cetaphil facial cleanser and Oil-free Neutrogena facial lotion. I've never had problems with these products, but since all other hair/body/house products I used were eco-friendly, largely organic, and free of chemicals, formaldehyde, etc, I thought I would make the switch to natural facial products. Also note that I don't have any acne issues or other skin ailments (rosacea, etc). Since making the switch, I've had to deal with one allergic outbreak (contact dermatitis) after another. This may sound vain, but it's quite uncomfortable to be in public with red splotchy hives all over my face. Once my outbreaks healed, I'd try another product only to experience yet another outbreak. All of this took lots and lots of time, energy, and money, not to mention visits to the dermatologist and the unnecessary steroid cream they prescribed. Honestly, I have tried every single facial cleanser and lotion on the shelf at Whole Foods. I'm not sure what I'm allergic to specifically, since each cleanser or lotion has several ingredients, but I'm completely dumbfounded by my skin's reaction to each product (at least the skin on my face). So I went back to using my good ole Cetaphil and Neutrogena, and my face (not suprisingly) is beginning to heal and clear up again. I have not idea why my face prefers synthetic over natural ingredients, but I am bummed.

Thanks for listening. I know... not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it was a long year of trial and error.

[anotherKatrina]

It's a bummer, isn't it?

I have a similar problem with my hand soap. At home I've been using this natural product I feel so good about using, but my hands were always painfully cracked, even when I moisturize. I recently spent a weekend in Tucson, in a hotel, using whatever unnatural soap they had there and came home with perfectly smooth hands. I stopped using the natural stuff at home and my hands are happy.

I'll keep looking. I want to find something good for the earth and for me.

[sprouthead]

That's interesting.. What products did you try?

[moonlight mom]

Same here. I cannot get away from Aveeno eczema for my ds. It is the only thing that works on his eczema and keeps him comfortable all night long. I've spent hundreds buying and making other creams. Actually, most of the herbal creams/salves made his skin alot worse. I think he may be allergic to one or more of the herbs. I suspect he may be allergic to calendula, which is in every HFS cream. Just a thought - but maybe you are allergic too?

[annekevdbroek]

I know what you mean. It is frustrating. I have very sensitive skin and many natural products are too harsh. Kiss My Face products comes to mind as being particularly offensive to all parts of my skin. I am also allergic to lavender, which is is so many products.


Anyhow - we all just do the best we can. I've been using sensitive skin Olay face wash and moisturizer because that is what my skin can tolerate. Jane Iredale makes a face wash cloth that supposedly removes all make-up without any cleansers. I've thinking about trying it.

[Meiri]

I hear you, having that same issue on other fronts.

Lavender is in so much, tea tree oil (which I know I'm allergic to) is so popular, now shea butter is getting more common.

I've gotten lucky with the cocoa butter and coconut oil, but luck is what I consider it to be.

[lrmama]

I had the same realization recently. I've ended up going back to Neutrogena hand cream, since every other product I made did nothing for my cracked hands. I'm hoping that when winter's over and I'm not out in the freezing cold dealing with frozen chicken waterers, I'll be able to switch back to something natural. It's disheartening, isn't it?

[seoul_mama]

wow! it's comforting to hear I'm not the only one. It still boggles my mind why my skin can't tolerate all these wonder natural herbs and oils, yet things like methlyparaben does wonders for it.

annekevdbroek, kiss my face should actually be called "wreck my face." I hear you, it looked like I had measles. Also, I used kiss my face patchouli hand lotion and it seemed to suck the moisture from my hands making them even drier... Isn't that strange? The washcloth sounds interesting. I just looked it up and it's called the "magic mitt." I think I might try it if I can find a salon nearby that carries it.

[TinyBabyBean]

What about just using coconut oil to clean your face? Did that give you a bad reaction too?

[northcountrymamma]

Have you tried cleaning your face with just raw honey.
It does wonders for my otherwise problematic skin.
There is a whole thread on here about this....

[Missa]

This must be very frustrating but if you think you want to give it another try it may help to test the different ingredients seperately. You can rub some of the raw ingredient (essential oil's need to be diluted in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond oil though) on the inside of your elbow and put a bandage over it for 24 hours. If no reaction great, move on to the next ingredient on the list (on the other arm though), it's worth it to see what the culprit/s might be so you can avoid like the plague. I've heard of some people with really, really sensitive skin and allergies who test on the inside of the elbow and if all goes well they then test on their neck and see if they have a reaction there. If you do this it makes sense to order sample sizes as you only need a very small amount.

I don't have sensitive skin myself but my two youngest do and we had to do this on them. They have ketaris pilaris and all the commercial things (anything with "Fragrance" and sulphates) were aggrevating it (kinda the reverse of what you're going through ) but still since they are so sensitive we tested everything natural first to be safe.

Missa

[raindaisie]

I have incredibly sensitive skin and about a year ago, I started using Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap for my face. My skin is now clear and soft. I wish I figured this out years ago, would've saved me a lot of money on facial soaps through trial and error.

[oceanbaby]

I hear your frustration. I have eczema and just generally very sensitive skin. I have spent a small fortune trying to find natural hand cream, but nothing works as well for me as Curel Unscented. Same with lip balm - across the board, Vaseline is the only thing that helps my lips heal without irritation.

I have, however, found some success in the facial care department just recently. I bought a trial size travel pack from Juice Beauty, and so far so good. My skin even looks a little better! I have not tried their eye cream - right now I have one made for me by a local facial lady, and it works pretty well.

For hand soap, I use Dr. Bronners unscented. I can't even use the peppermint or lavender.

Calendula is very irritating to my skin, especially areas already broken out in eczema.