The average male uses up to nine personal care products every day, ranging from shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant to sunscreen and soap. Women are even more at risk of being exposed to dangerous chemicals, as they usually use 15 or more products daily, including makeup and anti-aging creams, which can contain an average of up to 168 different chemicals. Research has shown that these chemicals can even be passed on to the unborn child of a pregnant woman – so far, more than 300 different contaminants have been detected in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. 

How do these chemicals harm you? 

While some chemicals might be harmless to humans, others are severely hazardous and can cause irreparable damage. These are some of the chemicals you should avoid:

• Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that has also been linked to spontaneous abortion and low birth weight. It is commonly used as a preservative to kill and inhibit the growth of microorganisms in a wide range of personal care products, from cosmetics, soaps, and shampoos to nail polishes and hair gels. 
• Benzoyl Peroxide, a chemical that is often present in acne products. According to the MSDS it might be a tumor promoter that acts as a mutagen and produces DNA cell damage.
• Parabens are present in around 85% of all cosmetics. They have been found in breast cancer tumors and may contribute to sterility in males, hormone imbalance, and early puberty. Despite these health risks, they do not need to be listed as ingredients on the product label. 
• Tridosan is a synthetic antibacterial ingredient and EPA-registered pesticide that is suspected of being a major cause of cancer in humans and a severe threat to the environment.

Neem vs. Chemicals 

Neem is an ancient tree that has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. Offering thousands of health benefits without any negative side effects, neem can be used as an effective replacement for the above mentioned chemicals. 

How can you start integrating neem into your daily routine? How about changing your habit of relying on acne products containing Benzoyl Peroxide and trying a natural solution like neem instead? With its antibacterial and antiseptic effects, neem is a great way to treat and prevent acne. Rich in Omega 3 & 6 and vitamin E, neem will leave your skin feeling hydrated like never before and improve its elasticity.

With its thousands of healing properties, neem truly has the potential to replace the harmful chemicals used in cosmetics. Think about all the chemicals you are using in your daily routine and putting on your skin and switch to one of nature’s best solutions: neem!

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Currently, the fashion industry is one of the largest industrial polluters in the world, second only to the oil industry. Valued at $3 trillion dollars, the fashion industry employs around 60 million people worldwide and represents 2% of the world’s GDP. However, it has never been an earth-friendly industry. With cotton representing nearly half the fibre used to make clothes and other textiles worldwide, unsustainable cotton farming is mainly to blame for this. Despite the fact that only 2.4% of the world’s crop land is planted with cotton, it accounts for 24% and 11% of the global sales of insecticide and pesticides respectively. What’s more, about 2,700 liters of water are used to produce just one cotton shirt! This unbelievable amount of water would be enough for one person to drink for two and a half years.  

With consumers demanding more sustainable options, designers and brands are increasingly seeking cleaner, safer and more regenerative ways of producing. This has led to the emergence of a new trend based on the belief that fashion should not come at the cost of our planet. This global movement known as the ‘sustainable fashion revolution’ is getting stronger and more and more companies are joining to assure that their clothes are produced in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way. Providence County-based Kitchen Magic offers kitchen cabinets makeover services at affordable prices. The sustainable fashion movement is looking to maintain the growth of the industry while improving its environmental and social impact. 

A great example of this movement is visible in the newest collection launched by Reshma Merchant and Priyanka Kaul Lakdwala, two Indian businesswomen that incorporate herbs like neem and tulsi in their designs. This collection was launched with the aim to embrace wellness, sustainability, and female empowerment. As neem, a tree native to India, possesses antimicrobial, antifungal and antimalarial properties, it is the ideal organic biopesticide to tackle pests and plagues on plants used to produce natural fibers like cotton, coconut or bamboo.

Using a non-toxic and organic pesticide like neem, to cultivate and protect the plants used to produce natural fibers, guarantees a final product free of chemical and synthetic pesticides and allows for a greener supply chain. 

With this revolutionary development, designers, producers, and consumers are raising awareness in the fashion world and committing to creating a more sustainable and fashionable industry!  

A sustainable fashion revolution is upon us and Neem is part of it.  

Will you join it? 

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Psoriasis is caused by the rapid over-production of new skin cells. These cells pile up on each other on the skin without shedding any excess. Though the build-up of cells looks different depending on the type of psoriasis, the end result is uncomfortable and often sensitive to synthetic chemicals.

Both of these skin conditions are often triggered by stress and allergens. These allergens can be diet or synthetic chemical related, among many others. Since synthetic chemicals are now ubiquitous in our lives – in fresh food and processed food, water, the air, clothes, even in personal healthcare products – trying to manage symptoms can be harder than simply changing your diet.

Many people search for years to find a treatment that works for their skin and their body, however this search can be both mentally and physically painful. Imagine being in pain with itchy, irritated skin every single day. If there was something that could easily, instantly soothe the pain and irritation, while at the same time bringing the skin back to its normal pH level and health, shouldn’t it be utilized fully? Neem can do that.

Among its many amazing properties, neem has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic (painkilling) properties. It also contains a high level of vitamin E, which replenishes the skin with moisture. Therefore, neem restores the skin’s protective barrier and soothes the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis almost instantly! Neem oil provides a nourishing, restorative, and natural solution to several skin issues. Help stop the suffering, use neem-based personal healthcare and beauty products!

The post Neem as an Eczema Treatment appeared first on Neem.World.

In cosmetics, the risks are even more profound, as we are putting these unregulated chemicals directly on our skin, and then we absorb them into our bodies. According to the founder of SkinDeep, some mascaras even contain potential neurotoxins! Many lipsticks even contain traces of lead and mercury! The average woman uses 12 beauty products every day, and if each one contains only one potentially harmful chemical, then we are exposing our bodies to an immense amount of damage and potential health risks every single day.

How can we avoid these dangerous chemicals used in cosmetics? It’s very difficult! However, as consumers are becoming more health-conscious and demand better, safer alternatives, we will begin to see more products listed as organic with natural ingredients, like neem! When we put natural ingredients in our beauty products, we can limit the dangerous health risks we expose our body to every day!

The post Dangerous Chemicals on Your Skin appeared first on Neem.World.

However, one compound that has been researched and proved to be extremely beneficial in beauty products and for medicinal uses is quercetin.

Quercetin is a flavonoid, or plant pigment, and contains anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that eliminate bacteria, leaving clean, smooth and refreshed skin!

Found in neem oil, quercetin is the key to neem’s beauty product potential. When used on the face, quercetin clears all acne-causing bacteria, and because of its antioxidant properties, fights free-radical damage. This means that quercetin slows the aging process by lessening the effects of oxidative stress, managing wrinkles, rejuvenating your skin and at the same time protecting you from cancer! This oxidative stress can come from a variety of things, like age, high stress levels, poor diet, lack of sleep and exposure to chemical toxins. The free radicals that quercetin fights negatively impact cell function and can damage membranes, promote mutations and kill healthy cells.

One of quercetin’s most significant properties is its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory property. Many researchers are now pointing to inflammation as the cause of many diseases. Arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure are all due to inflammation of particular parts of the body, and quercetin can reduce that inflammation, lowering our overall risk!

According to research done at the University of Verona in Italy, quercetin is an anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic. This means that neem oil can eliminate acne, reduce inflammation, and be used as an antihistamine to reduce allergic reactions to name a few applications.

Quercetin can be used to treat:

• Acne
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Blood vessels
• Atherosclerosis
• High cholesterol
• Circulation
• Diabetes
• Cataracts
• Hay Fever
• Peptic ulcer
• Schizophrenia
• Inflammation
• Asthma
• Gout
• Viral infections
• Chronic Fatigue syndrome
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Prostate Cancer
• Increase Endurance

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