We Carefully Avoid The Following:
Skin unfriendly synthetic surfactants
Harmful synthetic surfactants are often included in bath and body products to allow for deeper penetration of active ingredients into the skin, or to create foaming in body washes and shampoos. They might be effective in the short term but, in the long run, destroy the skin’s natural barrier resulting in chronically dry or sensitive skin. Examples include:
Synthetic polymers
Synthetic polymers are used to add a smooth touch to the skin, but are basically plastics…like food wrap! They become plump with water, so while your skin may look more supple, this is due to the polymer–not your skin itself. Long term use causes an imbalance in the skin’s environment, leading to chronically dry or sensitive skin. Examples include:
Skin unfriendly synthetic preservatives
Certain synthetic preservatives can cause contact dermatitis or allergic reactions. Examples include:
Skin unfriendly organics
Petroleum based derivatives, commonly marketed as skin conditioning agents, are refined crude oil petrochemicals. This is the same stuff used in your car engines. Inexpensive and used to prevent moisture loss, they contain neurotoxins which can be damaging to the nervous system. Examples include:
Skin unfriendly fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are commonly used in skin care products and, while they may smell great, could accelerate skin aging. Be wary of ingredients listed simply as “Fragrance”. Instead, look for fragrances specified as natural oil based.
Psoralen in citrus fruits/vegetables
Psoralen attracts UV rays which are the most skin damaging factor, and it is in citrus fruit/vegetable extract, such as lemon, grapefruit, orange, or cucumber. You might like those in morning juice, but eating those before going under the sun is not recommended. More importantly, use of skincare products including those in the morning is not recommended either. It is interesting that in Japan a lot of skincare products say “No Psoralen”, but not in the U.S.
Please review Mirai’s list of skin-friendly ingredients.