The Safe Cosmetics Act- finally!

On Friday June 24Th, 2011 the announcement was made introducing The Safe Cosmetics Act, H.R. 2359. Considering I was active in this campaign, this was great news to me. I've had additional information sent to me that I can now finally share with consumers.

I give Washington due credit for giving the FDA recall authority for products misbranded, adulterated or otherwise fail to meet safety standards.

Why am I excited about this? Besides the well-being of the consumer it gives smaller companies who followed strict procedure before the law was passed due credit over the big companies who felt invincible to follow strict procedure. Ironically, many consumers seem to trust the ad campaigns in slick glamour magazines and commercials, from the big skin care and cosmetic companies and don't take the smaller companies seriously.

This year's bill included changes signed to ease any potential burdens a small cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers and clarify intent of the bill.
"The health risks caused by harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, in cosmetic products demonstrate the pressing need to see the products we use are safe. The Safe Cosmetics Act is critical to ensuring that personal care products do not compromise the health of the workers and consumers". Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis said.Key provisions in the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 include:

* Post market testing. Requires the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct annual random sample tests for pathogens or contaminants in cosmetic products. (I love this).

* Cosmetic companies will be required to register with the FDA.

* The FDA will establish a list of ingredients prohibited from being used in cosmetics. (Europe has been doing this). This includes carcinogens and reproductive and developmental toxins (often disguised by another ingredient name). Your favorite model and/or actress, doctor who is endorsing your favorite cosmetic or personal skin care brand may not realize the product has toxic ingredients). There is a skin care line always on television commercials with two dermatologists endorsing and taken credit for developing the product line. I wonder how they disguised one ingredient that is common household bleach. This line targets acne sufferers.

* The FDA will have recall authority for products that are misbranded, adulterated or otherwise fail to meet the safety standard. The FDA will be able to order ceasing of distribution of any cosmetic or personal skin care product. (Uh-oh, some big companies are scrambling to figure out what to do to avoid this).

Now you can feel a bit at ease knowing the government will be providing help to you. Many consumers don't have time to read and study up on the ingredients they apply on them. And, they shouldn't have to. I'm quite glad this Act went into effect. I hope you are too.

By Sandy Alcide founder Motion Medica skin care
Copyright 2011

Lotions & potions to reduce cellulite now targeted for athletes

With daily exercise and great nutritional diets-athletes are not cellulite free!

You may think this is a bit unfair but even with great lifestyle habits cellulite is predominate in woman over 30, and as young as woman in their twenties.

Cellulite refers to fibrous tissue and subcutaneous fat that causes dimples in the skin. Fats and toxins that build-up in the body usually accumulate in thighs and buttocks.

Expensive specialty lotions that claim to remove or reduce the appearance of cellulite is not needed!

Any regular skin softening product and method will have the same effect as these expensive products and you'll get an added bonus of saving a lot of money.

How do you help the appearance of cellulite without the potions?

To help with the appearance of cellulite keep your skin soft by massaging it with a product that has alpha hydroxy acids AND sloughs off dead skin cells (exfoliater). Follow with a body cream that has no oil in it.

If you really are bothered by your cellulite with all the working out and proper nutrition you discipline yourself to; liposuction is another temporary surgical method but could be risky and costly.

By Sandy Alcide, founder Motion Medica skin care.Copyright 2011

How pore clogging ingredients are tested and what to avoid

Comedogenic: pore clogging; cause of blackheads and pimples.

How do labs test skin care and cosmetic ingredients for their levels of comedogenic? On the inside of a rabbit's ear. But, this cute little critter's ear differs from human skin. It's histologically ( a branch of anatomy that works with tiny structure of animal and plant tissues.) Oh, never mind the scientific rhetoric.

Also, overlooked by big skin care companies when testing ingredients is when one ingredient is tested, it may not clog the pore. But when it's used with a mixture of other ingredients, it can clog the pore. It's safe to say "once you add one ingredient to another, you'll get a different ingredient".

Comedogenic ingredients are of an emollient nature, (softens skin), and this is not essential for oily skin that tends to have a high amount of natural lubrication.

Here are some known pore clogging ingredients for oily skin types, when used with a mixture of other ingredients.

Olive Oil
Cocoa Butter
Mineral Oil
Pure Coconut Oil
Sesame Oil
Pure Corn Oil
Jojoba Oil

If you don't want blackheads, (and who does), skip the use of a skin care product or cosmetic with these ingredients.

By Sandy Alcide. Cosmetic Biochemist. Founder of Motion Medica skin care.Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Is your skin care regimen taking over your life as a fitness junkie?

We love to get a good workout in. Whatever your sport or activity is you encounter sweat, dirt, dry heat climate conditions, sun exposure, poor indoor or outdoor air quality. So, you want to save your skin that goes through the wringer as you encounter all these elements.

Many active persons are confused how to nurture this special skin type. You may try all sorts of products to help with getting your skin skin refreshed, clean and protected. No need to have a confusing array of products or additional time consuming steps when it comes to your skin.

Rather than cleansing your face and then applying an astringent to maintain skin's health, use a cleanser that all ready contains a load of herbal astringents-eliminating the extra step of applying an astringent. After your workout, cleanse with a cleanser that contains ingredients that not only will eliminate the sweat but has antimicrobial properties to ward off pimples and excessive oil without causing skin to become dry.

With a rapid turnover of dead skin cells, who has the time to use a brush on their skin that can abrade delicate skin tissue, and, have to use it on a daily basis? Use a 2 In 1 Exfoliating Cleanser-it will cleanse AND exfoliate dead skin cells all in one cleansing and you only need to use it 3 times a week. Not once a day.

Protect the skin before a workout. Apply a topical antioxidant before a sunscreen and your skin will thank you for the added protection by revealing a much radiant, acne free appearance without worry of skin damage from the sun and skin cancer.

During the meltdown of a hot sweaty workout, ditch the towelettes and grab a convenient botanical mist formulated to get you feeling refreshed and kills nasty acne causing bacteria until you can hit the shower.

Let your skin go through the wringer during a great workout without being preoccupied about the consequences.

Sandy Alcide has written for Fitness For Men, Bare Essentials, Bicycling, Fitness, San Diego Fitness, SCW Fitness, Beauty & Lace, Ms. Fitness. Alcide collaborated with author Dr. John Daniels to write Mainstream Skin Care Line vs. Atypical Skin Care.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

The skin care product no athlete should ever own

I frequently read fitness magazines where the skin care editor suggests using a certain product or products with this ingredient to protect the skin or moisturize it.

The product/ingredient?

Mineral Oil or Petroleum Jelly. Here's the definition of mineral oil: A distillation product of petroleum ( a liquid by product of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based product from crude oil.) esp. one used as a lubricant, moisturizer or laxative.

Mineral oil is a substance of relatively low value, and it is produced in very high amounts. Refine mineral oils are aromatic oils (commonly used in candles), based on aromatic hydrocarbons-not to be confused with essential oils. Essential oils is a concentrate from plants and use a cold pressed method for extraction, not alcohol.

Although the skin care editors are only trying to be helpful, they may not realize what mineral oil/petroleum jelly actually does to your skin. In brief:

Mineral oil and other petroleum products coat the skin with a slick film that makes your skin feel soft and supple. But, it's not your skin you're feeling, it's the mineral oil. Underneath that slick surface, you have clogged pores that can't release toxins from perspiration, reduces dead skin cell turnover rate (trapping dirt and sweat), and can't naturally absorb moisture from the air. This is what mineral oil is ultimately doing to your skin.

Mineral oil fools the skin that it has adequate moisture from the air and your body naturally stops producing its own natural safe oils. This can lead to pre-mature aging of the skin and a dry weathered appearance.

Your skin basically become dysfunctional and can't do its job properly as the body's largest organ.

Why do some people suggest petroleum based products? Mainly to protect skin in cold, dry weather and as a moisturizer. The two main products usually containing mineral oil are sunscreens and moisturizers.

You don't have to use a sunscreen or moisturizer with mineral oil-even if suggested in a credible magazine. Take the time and read the ingredients. Mineral oil is usually listed in the top of ingredients.

Good advice? Avoid products with this in it and you are sure to discover a long term benefit to your skin. Remember-mineral oil does not moisturize or protect your skin in any way. And sunscreens containing mineral oil actually attract sun's harmful rays.

By Sandy Alcide, founder Motion Medica fitness skin care.Copyright 2011.

A shocking thing 88% of athletes do to their skin

Time pressed athletes who can't get to the shower after a workout use baby wipes.

Baby wipes contain water, mineral oil, alcohol, propylene glycol, artificial fragrance and methyl and propyl parabens (chemical preservatives). These disposable cloths are made from non-woven fabrics similar to those used in dryer sheets. Most brands are still using the same technology and ingredients when baby wipes were first developed in the late 1970's.

Fitness junkies endure sweat mixed with excess oil, salt and in some activities-dirt. Do baby bottoms endure this?

Most athletes don't realize the swiping motion of baby wipes and sport wipes can push sweat, oil and dirt back into your open pores that naturally open during intense exercise to expel sweat. This leads to possible clogged pores and breakouts. Most just cover the odor and don't kill germs in sweat.

Luckily, from new research there is a convenient botanical mist with active ingredients to kill bacteria in sweat, absorb excess oil and leaves your skin feeling refreshed and clean smelling until you have time to hit the shower.

Of course nothing takes the place of actual cleaning with a cleanser. But for time pressed fitness lovers this is a whole new way to achieve your quick fix for a shower rather than a make-shift alternative.

By Sandy Alcide, founder of Motion Medica fitness skin careCopyright March 2011

Is it acne or rosacea induced by exercise?

Flare-ups of acne during exercise is commonly mistaken for rosacea induced by exercise. Poulopustular is red bumps, often, but not always pus filled. Another side effect of rosacea is bright redness on the face accompanied with red bumps, particularly on the cheeks. Most people assume this is acne-but it's not.

One main trigger of rosacea is brought on by exercise. In addition to red bumps skin conditions can also include dryness, burning and itching. The actual causes of rosacea induced by exercise are unknown, but some possibilities for this form of allergy, can include long term exposure to UV rays, using benzoyl peroxide for acne and chemical peels.

To help flare-ups, if possible, it's best to exercise in a cool climate with limited or no intense sun exposure. Heat and blood and oxygen rushed to the skin's surface during cardiovascular activity attributes to the flare-ups. Of course you can't avoid these conditions brought on by exercise but there are a few preventive measures you can take.

Before exercise avoid eating food high in spices. Drink plenty of water during exercise in intense heat conditions. Avoid using products containing benzoyl peroxide, alcohol and for women, don't wear make-up during exercise as this is an irritant to this skin type prone to rosacea and can contribute to flare-ups.

There is no cure for rosacea. Products containing anti-inflammatory properties and soothing ingredients like aloe vera will help when applied prior to exercise. Products, for internal and external use claiming to cure rosacea induced by exercise are untrue.

By Sandy Alcide founder of Motion Medica fitness skin care Copyright 2011