Hair and Skin Care Products for Those with Sensitivities or Allergies

Currently, 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies and 15-30% of Americans suffer from chemical sensitivities. This number is constantly changing. Allergy suffers, especially those with food allergies, need to scrutinize, not only food labels, but also hair and skin care products for allergens. Organic and natural care products will have the highest ratio of plant and seed extracts leaving these products a bad choice for anyone with allergies.

Chemical sensitive people are bombarded with chemicals in the majority of skin and hair care products. The chemicals frequently used are fragrances (plant, nut and fruit oils, colognes, masking fragrance, perfume, herb extracts), parabens (propylparaben, ethylparaben, benzyl paraben, butylparaben, methylparaben), dyes (FD&C yellow #5 [tartrazine], FD&C yellow #11, FD&C blue #1), preservatives (formaldehyde, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone), formaldehyde re leasers (diazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15, bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea), lanolin and its derivatives (wool wax alcohols, hydrogenated lanolin, anhydrous lanolin, lanolin alcohol). Alcohols are not only irritants, but they dry out the skin.

If you have allergies or chemical sensitivities, or both, and you're searching for a line of allergy free and chemical free personal care products, I have just the line of products for you. PSI (Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc.), creators of Vanicream™, make a lip balm, lotion, skin cream, sunblock, bar and liquid soaps, hair styling gel, firm and soft hold hair spray, shave cream, bath oil and shampoo and conditioner free of allergens and chemicals.

Vanicream™ lip balm promotes healing, moisturizes and protects lips from both UVA and UVB rays with a protection of SPF 30. It protects windburned and chapped lips. It is free of flavorings and chemicals and has a special angled tip for easy application. The lip balm comes in a 0.35 ounce tube for $4.95.

The sunscreen line offers protection from UVA and UVB rays from SPF 30, 35 and 60. The sunscreen contains Z-Cote® HP1 an ingredient for protecting the skin from damaging UVA rays. The SPF 30 and SPF 60 do not contain dyes but do contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for protection. They protect you from a broader spectrum of UV rays than most sunscreens including UVB rays and both short and long UVA rays. SPF 35 Sport also contains zinc oxide but replaces titanium dioxide with octinoxate, which absorbs UVB rays. The formalizations contain antioxidants that help prevent damage to the skin by neutralizing free radicals. They are non-comedogenic and are free of benzophenones, cinnamates, and PABA, three ingredients usually found in medicine and perfumed compounds. The sunscreens come in their own 4 ounce tube. The SPF 30 and 35 are $14.95 each and the SPF 60 is $17.95 each.

I have used the SPF 30 and found the sunscreen to be thick, but easily applied and absorbed. It protects my skin well from the sun's harmful UV rays, better than any other sunscreen I have tried and is non-irritating.

These sunscreens were featured on the CBS Early Morning Show and are endorsed by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, which ranks the safety and effectiveness of nine hundred fifty-two sunscreens. Out of nine hundred fifty-two products, Vanicream™ SPF 35 Sport ranked in at #7, SPF 30 raked in at # 24 and SPF 60 ranked in at #26.

When it comes to lotions, you have a choice of a skin cream or lite body lotion. The thick cream is available in a one pound jar ($15.70, $16.35 with pump) or a four ounce tube ($6.90). The cream is also available in a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85. The lite lotion is available in an eight ounce bottle for $8.60 and in 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85. The cream is often used as a compounding base by several physicians and pharmacists. Both the cream and lite lotions are non-irritating, non-staining, soothes dry, itchy or irritated skin, stops the blistering of sunburn, and benefits those with skin conditions exasperated by lack of moisture such as eczema, ichthyosis, and psoriasis.

I have used both the cream and lite lotion. The cream was thick and provided a thin barrier to the dry air. However, I felt this barrier did not moisturize my skin for a long as I liked and had to reapply it frequently. The lite lotion is good for days of needing only a lite moisturizer like during the summer months. It also works well on my face and doesn't create a heavy oily sheen on like many moisturizers do.

Vanicream™ offers a bar and liquid version of their body cleansers. The cleansers are non-comedogenic, for all skin types, mild, moisturizing with Vanicream™ skin cream, and can be used in hard or soft water. They are also free of fragrances including masking fragrances. The difference between the bar and liquid version of the cleanser is that the liquid is soap free. The bar version is available in a 3.9 ounce bar for $3.19, or in a 0.67 ounce trial size for $0.75. The liquid cleanser is available in an 8 ounce bottle with pump for $8.60, a 32 ounce refill bottle for $32.95 and a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85.

The Free & Clear™ Shampoo and Conditioner are protein free and hypoallergenic. The shampoo is gentle on your hair while it cleans, washes away dandruff and controls oil scalp. The conditioner makes your hair easy to manage and style while preventing tangles and breakage. The shampoo and conditioner come in separate 8 ounce bottles for $8.60 each. You can also buy a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85.

I've tried the shampoo and conditioner and they work well for cleansing and moisturizing my hair. Although, I had my own reasons why I stopped using these products. The shampoo, while good at cleansing, did nothing to treat my scalp psoriasis and prevent future bouts of itching, scaling and flaking. The conditioner worked well for moisturizing but it was thin and not thick and creamy and therefore, I had to use more than a palmful to get it evenly through my long, thick, wavy hair. I went through the small 8 ounce bottle of conditioner in about a week.

Vanicream™ offers more in the way of hair care with Free & Clear™ Firm and Soft Hold Hair Sprays and Free & Clear™ Styling Gel. The firm and soft hold hair sprays come in 8 ounce fine mist bottles for $11.55. The styling gel gives you great long lasting control while enriching and repairing damaged hair. The gel comes in a 7 ounce tube for $9.95 and a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85.

Vanicream™ Shave Cream works great at giving you a smooth shave and soft skin. The shave cream is a non-lathering lotion you spread thinly over the area you wish to shave. It comes in a six ounce tube for $8.95 and a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85.

Lastly, Vanicream™ offers RoBathol™ Bath Oil which, instead of mineral oil, contains cottonseed oil. It works in a bath or shower to nurture dry, chapped skin. It's available in a 128 ounce bottle for $55.84, a 16 ounce bottle for $15.95 and a 0.25 ounce trial size for $0.85.

The line of Vanicream™ products will work miracles for some people. Some products worked well for me while other products worked, but not as well as I had liked. Everyone's body and skin types are different. The only way to know how Vanicream™ will work for you is to try out the products by buying the trial sizes of the Vanicream™ products. By buying the trial sizes you won't have to worry about breaking the bank to try this wonderful line of chemical free products. Best of all, Vanicream™ products are kid friendly so the whole family can use them.

To buy products by PSI, visit:

www.vanicream.com
www.nationallergy.com
www.achooallergy.com

To contact PSI, the makers of Vanicream™, Robathol™ and Free & Clear™ by visiting their website, www.vanicream.com and clicking on the "Questions or Comments" link to be taken to form you can fill out, or you can use the following information:

Pharmaceutical Specialties, Inc.
PO Box 6928
Rochester, MN 55903
Ph: 1-800-325-8232

Resources:
www.vanicream.com
www.dictionary.reference.com