Way back in the 16th century, it was discovered that using comfrey root could help soothe skin irritations. and help heal skin ulcers and wounds. At that time, they didn’t know it but it was actually Allantoin, found in comfrey root, that was doing all this great work. Comfrey root, sugar beets, wheat and other botanticals containing Allantoin continued to be used on wounds, scars and ulcers. Finally in 1912, a physician chemically identified this wonder substance as Allantoin. Since then, it has been used widely in creams and lotions.

Allantoin helps to soothe, soften and heal skin. It is used often in products for sensitive skin or acne-prone skin as it is anti-irritating, meaning it will actually reduce irritation that may be caused by other ingredients. It is most commonly used to:

• help prevent and treat dry, chapped, cracking skin or lips
• relieve dryness and soften cold sores and fever blisters
• temporarily protect minor cuts, scrapes and burns
• treat and prevent diaper rash

When you read a list of ingredients on a product, it’s so easy to breeze over the names. Often you are looking for the “bad” ones, so you don’t pay as much attention to understanding the “good” ones. Especially if it’s a short word you can easily pronounce! So next time you come across Allantoin (it will likely be near the bottom as a little goes a long way) you’ll know that it’s definitely a “good” one.  And in case you’re wondering, Allantoin is found in all of Garden Girl’s face creams, body butters and body lotions, and  hand and foot creams!

One thing I learned very quickly after launching Garden Girl is that there are TONS of women out there who are challenged by sensitive skin.

Did you know that more than 60% of women believe that they have sensitive skin? But the interesting thing is that it’s estimated that scientifically speaking, really only about 20% of women technically do have sensitive skin, and of this, only 2 to 5 percent can attribute the sensitivies to cosmetic ingredients. (Source: Milady’s Skin Care + Cosmetics Ingredients Dictionary – Second Edition, by Natalia Michalun) Interesting isn’t it?

The way skin becomes irritated is when the stratum corneum (top layer of skin) is damaged and products can penetrate deeper into the epidermis and/or dermis. Also – your own skin’s bacterial content can react with chemical components of a product and cause a reaction. The irritation typically appears as redness, burning, itching and/or some type of a rash.

The most common ingredients in products that cause reactions are fragrances (which, as I have mentioned before, can have hundreds of ingredients but are simply listed as “fragrance” or “parfum” or “perfume”), preservatives, and some of the chemical sunscreens. Other common irritants are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. But every person is different and what bothers some, may not bother others.

If your skin becomes irritated, be sure to think about whether you have tried any new products – these could be skin care, bath care, laundry, dishwashing soap etc. Also – check ingredients and see if you can narrow down any commonalities that could be causing problems. To be safe, it is always a great idea to avoid products with any chemical fragrances as this is often the cause. Here is a link to a great list of the most common fragrances that can cause allergies. And of course, have any irritations checked out by a doctor to be safe!

The reality of that all is that there are many many women out there who are afraid of trying new products for fear of getting a terrible reaction. So as you can imagine, people with sensitive skin are incredibly happy to find products that work for them! This is why Garden Girl has focused on providing products that work for sensitive skin – and why we exclude parabens, sulfates, petroleum products and phthalates. Nearly all of our products are designed to work well for sensitive skin, and we have some products that are specifically formulated for even the most sensitive skin – like like Oasis for Faces face wash and No Worries face cream.

I am going to try to do a mini-series of informational bits on ingredients that we use in Garden Girl products. This way you can get a better understanding of why they are used and how they benefit your skin. So to kick it off, I thought I’d start with AHA’s.

AHA’s – or alpha hydroxyacids – are commonly found in skin care products. AHA is a group of acids often referred to as “fruit acids.” While there are many types, they all are generally used to treat hyperpigmentation, damaged skin and acne.

The beauty of AHAs is that they improve your skin with little effort needed on your part! They exfoliate dead skin which in turn helps to unclog pores, keep skin smooth and clear, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles (yes please!). Further, there is the added bonus that in doing so – they actually help to improve skin’s hydration. They have natural moisturizing properties and activate your skin’s own hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid then is able to retain more moisture in your skin.

Some typical AHA’s include:

Glycolic Acid (found in At Long Last, Break Free and Nature Nurture) which is sourced from sugar cane juice
Lactic Acid (found in Break Free) which is sourced from sour milk
Malic Acid (found in Nature Nurture) which is found in apples
Tartaric Acid which comes from grapes and wine
Citric Acid (found in Nature Nurture) which comes from lemons, limes, pineapples, oranges and other fruits
Pyruvic Acid (found in Break Free) is derived from tartaric acid

Glycolic and Lactic acids are thought to be the most effective for use in skincare and can be safely used in cosmetic products at a rate of no higher than 10%. Generally, AHA’s can be safe for all skin types, but people with sensitive skin should test the products on their skin before they use them.

So go ahead – embrace those AHAs. Your skin will be glad you did!

I found the whole discussion regarding breast cancer in “Not Just a Pretty Face” book by Stacy Malkan so interesting and disturbing at the same time. One of the most frustrating things that the author points to is what is now called “Pinkwashing”.

“Pinkwashing Definition: a term used to describe the activities of companies and groups that position themsevles as leaders in the struggle to eradicate breast cancer while engaging in practices that may be contributing to rising rates of the disease.”

Think of companies that plaster that pink ribbon on their products to appear supportive, yet their products are filled with the exact ingredients that are being studied for links to breast cancer. Avon. Revlon. Estee Lauder.

According to the book, Jeanne Rizzo of the Breast Cancer Fund said “If they’re concerned about the cause and prevention of the disease – and I don’t know how they could not be – Estee Lauder, Revlon and Avon ought to be in the leadership on this issue, not having to be pushed into it,” Rizzo said. “When new knowledge comes to you that your product contains problematic ingredients, if you were authentic in your support for breast cancer, you would be vigilant in addressing that.” The book goes on to say: “Instead, the pink-ribbon cosmetics companies defend their use of hazardous chemicals (’it’s just a little bit’) and fight to keep their industry unregulated. It points out a lack of sincerity about the issue. They chose breast cancer because it’s women and that’s their market.”

Wow! Fighting words, I’d say! We as women need to pay more attention to what we are supporting is the lesson I have learned. If we want to support breast cancer research, we should donate directly to the organizations that do the research, instead of supporting companies that may be doing more harm than good.