suki - know your beauty
 ingredients you will never find in suki pure skin care products and should avoid:
argireline
where botox injections target specific muscles, argireline targets the entire face. this may actually increase facial sag because the neurotransmitters this drug inhibits are what maintain facial firmness.

alcohol denat. (denatured alcohol)
petrochemical by product. can cause systemic eczematous, contact dermatitis & chemical sensitivities.

aluminum ingredients
skin irritants, can cause alzheimer's, lung disease

ammonium ingredients
toxic, carcinogenic

BHA and BHT
cancer, encourage the breakdown of vitamins such as vitamin d, can cause lipid and cholesterol levels to increase, endocrine disrupter

coal tar
look for cade tar or pine tar instead low-level exposure is linked to cancer

colorants (d & c and other coal tar dyes)
carcinogens, topical irritants, may cause acne and skin irritations, may contain aluminums, have caused tumors in rats, low-level exposure is linked to cancer

cocamidopropyl betaine
contains a significant petroleum component & can cause serious irritation & allergenic response

dea ingredients
(all ingredients with DEA after the first word such as cocamide - dea) cancer suspect

dimethicone
cancer suspect. caused tumors & mutation in lab animals

dioxin
powerful hormone disrupting chemical linked to cancer, nervous system disorders, miscarriages & birth deformity. stored in fat cells. contained in sulfates that provide foaming action

dmae-dimethylaminoethanol
marketed as "face lift in a bottle," however, what it does is temporarily paralyze the small muscles of the face, making it seem like wrinkles are less visible. no long term results of application are yet known.

emulsifying waxes (& the "fatty acids")
linked to the creation of free radicals & prostaglandin inhibitors



ethylhexylglycerin
preservative linked to allergenic response / irritation. many products claiming to be "preservative free" use this preservative.

formaldehyde
inability to inhibit the growth of acid producing bacteria and it's implication in cancer

fragrance
highly allergenic. contains large quantities of toxins and chemicals not disclosed. fragrance-free means that fragrance chemicals have been added to the product to mask the natural aromas of the ingredients

glycerin
look for vegetable glycerin. glycerin without the vegetable qualifier usually means petrochemical.

glycerol stearate
linked to the creation of free radicals & prostaglandin inhibitors

grapefruit seed extract
synthetic preservatives triclosan, methylparaben & benzetheonium chloride are added to preserve, however, companies do not have to list this ingredient since it is contained within the extract

hexane
very toxic solvent used to extract essential oils & botanicals

hydroquinone
toxic, irritant, banned in Europe, can cause hyper- pigmentation

hydroxymethyl glycinate
releases formaldehyde, a known cancer agent

idebenone
a synthetic analogue of coenzyme q10

imidazalidol urea
strong irritant, releases formaldehyde, toxic

laureth family (ingredients with laureth, laurate or lauryl extensions)
carcinogenic, skin irritants, may be contaminated with large amounts of toxins in manufacturing process, contains ammonium salts, mutagen, acne producing

matrixyl
new polypeptide. it is said that matrixyl is at least as effective against wrinkles as retinol. it is said to work by "relaxing facial tension", similarly to botox. we feel that repeatedly paralyzing the muscles can only sap their inherent strength.

methylisothiazolinone
antimicrobial agent inhibits the development of particular neuron structures that are essential for transmitting signals between cells. damaging to a developing nervous system

octyl stearate
acne producing, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions

paba
may cause formation of nitrosamines, cause photosensitivity, being studied for carcinogenic implications

parabens
petrochemicals, estrogenic, carcinogenic, allergenic.

peg ingredients
carcinogens, acne promoters, contact dermatitis

petroleum
(petrolatum, mineral oils, vaseline) acne producing, may be carcinogenic, causes long term dry skin, respiratory toxin

phenonip
preservative blend of phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben & isobutylparaben

phenoxyethanol
synthetic ether alcohol preservative. can cause dermatitis.

phthalates such as dibutyl pthalate (dbp)
in convenient, squeezable plastics & dangerous when heated. reproductive toxins, birth defects of the male reproductive system, carcinogens, mutation agents, stored in fat cells

pvp
widely used synthetic polymer, carcinogenic

stearic (acids, als, & others)
carcinogens, skin irritants, comedogenic

sodium dehydroacetate
new preservative. studies showing cause for concern for mutations in reproductive, endocrine, neuro and developmental toxicity areas.

talc
can contain asbestos, do not use on babies, linked to ovarian cancer, respiratory toxin

tea ingredients
(not tea, but rather ingredients with tea in front) severe irritants, can contain ammonium salts, eye irritant, sensitizer, carcinogenic