Looking for *natural* chamois cream/lubricant

[Ocelot]

Originally posted by DoubleLori
I agree with PennyS. Let us not disparage others for their choices. What works well for one person may be totally inappropriate for someone else. Each person has her own unique genetic makeup and metabolism. I am sorry that Ocelot has many chemical sensitivities. However, many people do not have such sensitivities and use synthetic products for their entire lives without any problem.

As you can see my previous post, I explained that my intent was completely opposite of how the post was read. Again, I regret that it came across in the fashion it did. In addition, I do wish to clarify that my only sensitivity is to lanolin, to which a large majority of people do have some degree of an allergic reaction.

Lori, I will be the first to agree that everyone's metabolism is different, but when a known toxic chemical--I will use as an example methylparaben, which is benzoic acid combined with a methyl group--is applied to one's skin regularly over time, deliterious effects *are* going to occur. Another good pair of examples, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea, are well established as primary causes of contact dermatitis by the American Academy of Dermatology. Diazolidinyl urea releases formaldehyde at just over 10 degrees Celsius.

My point with the above information is that these are *known* toxic chemicals that are being added to skin, hair, and beauty products on a regular basis. This is what I'm encouraging people to question, to think about--like the television commerical where the fellow in the rat costume crawls up the subway stairs and holds up the sign that says there's cyanide in cigarette smoke, just like rat poison. I'm attempting to pass on information, not accuse, belittle, or put down anyone. My only exhortation is for people to think about it, just think about it. I'm not saying a person has to only use product X or his/her skin is going to peel off. I'm just saying here is the information, these are facts, now you, the listener, can do what you want with it.

Originally posted by DoubleLori
As for "natural" always being "better", please remember that cyanide, spider venom, snake venom and many other poisons are all "natural products". Many natural products that are legally sold due to grandfather clauses in the law, such as ephedra, can be seriously dangerous to your health.

It is unfortunate that the word "natural" has gained the connotation of "better." As you state, the word encompasses many compounds that certainly are not beneficial in their raw forms. However, venoms, to use your example, in *modified* forms or extracted proteins from such compounds, have been shown to have medicinal properties.

To address your specific example of ephedra, this is a compound that, when it came into "vogue," was never used properly. Indeed, it continues to be abused in bogus weight loss formulas. In the Chinese pharmacopia, ephedra is treated with great deference, and used only in miniscule quantities when needed. I believe this only illustrates the lack of oversight over what does and does not get put into products available to the public.

The bottom line is that the known toxic, synthetic compounds currently used in skin and hair products have alternatives that occur naturally in the environment, and are *not* toxic in their pure forms or in a mixture. These alternatives work just as good or better in a mixture, usually better, as they don't break down as easily as their synthetic counterparts. So why don't they get used instead? Money. Synthetics are cheaply made and obtained, and result in a higher profit margin for the manufacturer. Using a naturally occurring alternative would cost more, so most manufacturers simply don't use them, regardless of the *fact* that the synthetics are, as stated above, known to be toxic or to cause allergic reactions.

I apologize for turning this thread into a bit of a soap box, but like the fellow in the rat costume--who felt strongly enough about spreading his information that he dressed up in a rat costume and didn't care if people thought he was weird or had a screw loose--I feel strongly about getting this information out to as many people as possible. I firmly believe that if enough people really question what manufacturers put in skin and hair products, it can only lead to more enlightened consumers, better products, and less people with skin problems. As always, this is my own personal belief, and your mileage may vary, as they say.

Thank you to all those who contributed to this discussion.

Debbie Kraft
"Ocelot"
cat@eskimo.com