Spa Canada Magazine

BOTB-JulyAug2010

Q:    I recently saw an all-natural product line that is based on the seeds of various plants and that states that none of the ingredients in the line are toxic.  What is new about this, and should I be concerned that some skin care products contain toxic ingredients?

The skin care and cosmetics markets are becoming ever-more crowded, with new lines seeming to pop up almost daily.  In this climate, in order to gain any attention at all, anyone launching a skin care or cosmetic line needs a hook – something to differentiate them from the competition.

Without addressing any specific line, the use of seed extracts such as grape seed oil, avocado oil and sunflower seed oil has been common place in many skin care products for decades and is, in and of itself, nothing new.

As to a product being all natural – in today’s world where being environmentally friendly is in vogue and organic products are all the rage, it is only natural (pardon the pun) that many companies would try to capitalize on this trend – and why not?  That said, being natural is no guarantee that a product is either effective or, for that matter, safe.  Moreover, many of the most potent ingredients in anti-aging and other skin care products are chemically synthesized and therefore “un-natural”.

Claims of not including any toxic ingredients are much akin to claiming that a food product that is FDA approved is safe to eat.  Cosmetic and skin care companies must file a list of ingredients with the FDA if they wish to be sold in the US and with Health Canada if they are to be sold in Canada.  Any ingredients that are known by either body to be toxic in any way are summarily banned from being used.  Moreover, both the FDA and Health Canada are constantly updating their “Hot Lists” of dangerous and toxic ingredients to keep them current with the latest products and scientific developments.

So, in conclusion, claiming to use seed-based ingredients in reality tells us very little about the effectiveness of a product.  Such statements are primarily used for their marketing value, and while they should not be taken as some sort of proof that a product performs as advertised, nor should they be seen as evidence that a product is ineffective.  Remember, the proof of the pudding is ultimately in the tasting – not in how delicious the baker says it is.

Please submit your questions by email to Ms. Zaborski at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In 1978 Ms. Zaborski founded the Corrective Skin Care Institute Inc, a pioneering medical spa, and for the past ten years has worked with an international team of cosmetic chemists and medical professionals to develop the System for Optimal Skin™ (SOS™) skin correction system.