CONCEPTS, QUESTIONS, COMMUNITY.
Sensitive Skin
LEARN TOGETHER
Our bodies are journeys
Our families learned
from community. Conversations with people we trusted who had
experiences different and akin to ours lead to knowledge shared.
World Hair and Skin is
a community built on the need for functional clean products that are
designed for our bodies instead of large scale corporate distribution and
profit.
The following are ideas that challenge how we see our bodies, how we consider the products we use to care for them, and the
greater implications of our actions on the world we live in.
Is my skin sensitive, it’s just overwhelmed?
Do I have sensitive skin
Many people assume their skin type is permanent. But daily exposure to
harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and strong detergents can
weaken your skin’s barrier over time making it seem sensitive.
Try
removing just one common irritant (like synthetic fragrance) from
your routine for a month. See what changes.
is my skin reacting… or finally defending itself?
reaction or defence
Redness, dryness, and breakouts aren’t always random, they can be your
skin’s way of fighting back against ingredients it doesn’t like.
Look at your product labels. Can you spot any ingredients that might
be “picking a fight” with your skin?
Could your ‘sensitive skin’ be a false alarm?
True
sensitive skin is rare. More often, skin is reacting to repeated
irritation rather than being naturally fragile. Essentially, these chemicals have no business on our bodies. Choose cleaner
formulas and introduce one at a time. Track how your skin responds.
What can I do about my sensitive skin?
Sulfates, parabens, dyes, and certain preservatives can disrupt the balance of
both skin and scalp. The reaction may feel like a skin condition, but
it’s often chemical irritation. Do a “product audit.” Which of
your products could be swapped for something cleaner?
Here is what you can do to see if your products are safe?
1) Check Environmental Defence Canada’s Simple Guide to the Toxic Ten Ingredients in Personal Care Products:
FOUND IN: Makeup, moisturizers.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Can mess with hormones, possible cancer risk.
FOUND IN: Hair treatments, nail polish.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Linked
to cancer, irritates skin & eyes.
FOUND IN: Hair dye, some creams.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Can harm unborn babies, toxic to development.
FOUND IN: Sunscreen,
lotions.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Disrupts
hormones, harms coral reefs.
FOUND IN: Shampoos, lotions, makeup.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Shampoos, lotions, makeup Hormone disruptors, linked to breast cancer concerns.
FOUND IN: “Long-wear” makeup, waterproof products.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Stay in your body & environment forever, toxic.
FOUND IN: Fragrance, hair spray.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Can affect hormones & reproduction
FOUND IN: Hair serums, lotions.
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Harmful to environment, may affect reproduction.
FOUND IN: Baby powder, blush, eyeshadow
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Can
contain asbestos, cancer concerns.
FOUND IN: Nail polish, hair dye
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM: Can damage the brain & harm unborn babies.
2) USE YUKA
Yuka is an app that makes it easy, scan a barcode and see instantly how a product rates for health and safety. Its free and it has no promotional relationship with any company.
3) BUILD COMMUNITY
You're not alone.
Talk with your friends and family about what has worked for them, share what you have learned and listen to what they have. More often than not people around share the same problems that we do. talking with a friend or family face to face, or even over the phone is the most valuable and trustworthy form of learning.
Sensitive Skin Solutions
MADE IN CANADA
With Pride