How do you take care of your body's biggest organ ? Let's think about this question for a moment. We eat low fat foods for our heart; lower sodium intake for out blood pressure; dental check up twice a year; eye exams and physicals yearly. We do all of these things to make sure we live long healthy lives. But the biggest organ, our skin, is often neglected, dehydrated, sun damaged and suffocated by the products we put on our skin.

The first ingredient listed in skin care products is the largest percent of what that product is made of. What is the first ingredient in your skin care products? Mineral oil, petrolatum or lanolin oils are commonly used in skin care products. These ingredients are considered "skin suicide" because over a period of time they can actually dehydrated the skin. They also speed up the aging process because it causes toxic to build up in the skin. Think about that? You would not want to accelerate the aging process. We age enough with stress.

What about the "drying" alcohols and the harsh chemicals? SD alcohol 40 is a drying alcohol that cause the "lipids" of the skin to flatten out, causing the skin to lose its contour (similar to a balloon losing air.) A lot of products use fragrances or artificial FD&C dyes that causes allergic reactions to the products.

Alcohols such as Isopropl Alcohol, SD Alcohol 40 and Ethyl Alcohol dissolves the body's own natural moisturizers and strips the skin of it's own protection, leaving it vulnerable to infection. They destroy the skin's pH balance and since they absorb water, speed up wrinkling of the skin.

Waxes such as beeswax, carnauba wax, candela wax or paraffin waxes are fillers which can clog the pores creating blackheads, and whiteheads. They smother the skin which over a period of time can create enlarged pores.

Petrolatum sometimes known as "paraffin jelly" or "petroleum jelly" is not absorbed by the skin and suffocates the pores. All petrochemicals pollute our water and destroy marine life. Avoiding them is essential for the health of humans, animals, fish, water, land and air.

Did you know that some skin care products use "acetone" in their products? Tell me, WHY would you use a product on your skin that takes off fingernail polish? Acetone is used most often used in astringents, fresheners or clarifying lotions. It is extremely toxic and will dehydrate the skin, speeding up the aging process. Ever feel that burning sensation?

Borax (Sodium Borate and Boric Acid) used in baby powders, bath powders, eye creams, skin fresheners, protective creams and moth washes as a preservative. It is rapidly absorbed by the kin. Borax is still widely used despite repeated warnings from the American Medical Association.

D & C colors are usually synthetic, coal tar colors. They're toxic and should be avoided when at all possible.

I find it very interesting to see that many products today claim to be "natural. When reading the ingredient list on labels you will find that there are more chemicals in the product than vitamins, herbs or botanicals. Most of the natural ingredients are usually at the end of the ingredient list which often means that the amount contained in the product is minimal and therefore having ineffective results.

When purchasing your skin products do your research. You don't want to speed the aging process or prevent the aging process for as long as possible?

Betty Lynch, author of "It's All About You" is a Professional Skin Care consultant with over nine years of direct sales experience. She leads a large successful team with L'Bri Pure n' Natural Skin Care, which is an Aloe Vera based skin care company. Visit her web site at http://www.bettyl.lbrionline.com If you have any questions or if you would like to receive a 5-piece mini skin care set, feel free to email Betty at cmclynch@prodigy.net