What to Avoid

If you find any of the following then avoid them like the plague:

AHA's: Found in skin creams, exfoliators & peels.
Increases skin damage, therefore increasing signs of ageing.

Aluminium salts : Found in antiperspirants.
e.g. Aluminium hydroxychloride, Aluminium chlorohydrate, Aluminium sulphate, etc. Blocks pores, linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer.

Aqueous cream : Most commonly prescribed for skin conditions including eczema & psoriasis & nappy rash.
Paraffin and water in suspension. It clogs the pores. (See Paraffin, and Mineral oil)

Butyl/methyl parabens : Preservative in most products esp. antiperspirants.
Some links with breast cancer Mildly mimics oestrogen. Should be avoided in pregnancy. Can cause rashes & allergic reactions.
HEART & SOUL DO NOT USE ANY PARABENS IN ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS.

BHT : Butylated hydroxytoluene, Fat preserver found in cosmetics, skin creams & petroleum products.
May be carcinogenic. (See Paraffin, Mineral Oil)

Collagen: Found in most "luxury" skin creams.
Often taken from young animals. (Slaughterhouse by-product) Research shows links to certain diseases caused by mutant collagen genes. Possible link to BSE.

Dea - Diethanolamine, Mea - Monoethanolamine, Tea - Triethanolamine : Found in cosmetics hair & skincare, bubble bath, shower gel, soap & cleansers.
Very carcinogenic, especially to kidney and liver. Hormone disrupting chemicals. Cause allergic reactions, irritate the eyes, dry the hair & skin.

Euxyl K100: Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Hydroxytoluene: Found in soaps & perfume.
Severe skin irritant, also eyes, & respiratory system. (Same as Kathon CG.)

Fragrance, Perfume/Parfum : Found in almost all products, even baby care.
Usually petroleum based (see Petroleum, Vaseline) the most frequent cause of allergies. Carcinogenic & toxic, causes headache, dizziness, rashes, skin discolouration, respiratory problems, coughing, vomiting, allergic skin irritation, multiple chemical sensitivity, hyperactivity, irritability & behavioural changes.

FD & C or D & C Colour:
Made from coal tar, causes skin sensitivity & irritation. Can cause depletion of oxygen in the body & even death. Carcinogenic.

Glycerine / Glycerin: Found in most beauty products & foodstuffs.
Slaughterhouse by product (from animal bones). Possible link to BSE.
HEART & SOUL ONLY USES VEGETABLE GLYCERINE, WHICH IS A MORE EXPENSIVE PRODUCT. IF YOUR LABEL JUST SAYS "GLYCERINE", IT WILL BE ANIMAL SOURCE.

Isopropyl myristate, Iso-propylmyristate (Alcohol): Found in hair rinses, body rubs, hand cream, body lotions, aftershave, fragrances, cosmetics.
Derived from Petroleum & found in Antifreeze. Even inhalation can cause headaches, dizziness, flushing, nausea, depression, vomiting & coma. Dries skin & hair, creates cracks & fissures in the skin which encourage bacterial growth.
ONE OUNCE INGESTED IS FATAL.

Kathon CG: Found in shampoos & hair care products, skin creams, ointments & cosmetics.
(Anti-freeze! Wood preservative!) Causes allergic reactions & contact dermatitis.

Lanolin: Found in many skin creams, hand & foot creams, cosmetics, hairspray, baby oils & nappy rash products.
Causes allergic contact dermatitis. Most will be contaminated with pesticides from sheep dip e.g. DDT.

Mineral oil : Found in skin creams, lotions, baby products, lip balms, cosmetics. BABY OIL IS 100% MINERAL OIL!
Coats skin like clingfilm - disrupts the skin's immune barrier & inhibits its ability to breathe or absorb moisture or nutrition. Inability to release toxins results in blocked pores, spots, acne & other skin disorders. Slows down skin function & cell development & therefore leads to premature ageing of skin. (See Paraffin)

Padimate - o (PABA) OR Octyl dimethyl : Found mainly in sunscreens.
Similar to DEA. Sun's energy absorbed by the sunscreens is turned into free radicals, which may actually INCREASE the risk of skin cancer.

Paraffin/Petroleum Petrolatum products: Found in skin creams, lotions, baby products, lip balms, cosmetics.
Lubrication oil in sewing machines, floor wax, etc. Prevents absorption of vitamins, clogs pores, can cause acne, may be carcinogenic. (See Mineral Oil) Can cause sensitivity to sunlight. Strips natural oils from the skin, causing chapping, dryness & premature wrinkling.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): Found in cleansers, skin creams & lotions.
Caustic, carcinogenic, strips skin's "Natural Moisture Factor", leaving the immune system vulnerable.

Propylene Glycol (PG): Found in make-up, hair products, lotions, aftershave, deodorants, toothpastes, and mouthwashes.
Antifreeze & brake fluid - Highly toxic, causing brain, liver & kidney abnormalities.

PVP / VA Copolymer: Used in hair sprays.
A petroleum based product. (See Petroleum / Vaseline)

Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulphate (SLS): Found in toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioners, shower gel, Bubble bath, skin creams & lotions.
Very aggressive on the skin. Strips moisture & oils from skin & hair causing damage - cracking & inflammation, rashes, hair loss, flaking skin & mouth ulceration. Produces carcinogens & builds up in heart, liver, brain & eyes.

Spermataceti cetaceum: Found in "luxury" skin creams.
Obtained from the head of the sperm whale.

Silk Amino Acid: Found in shampoo, conditioner, skin creams, lotions & clothing.
From dead silk worms.
HEART & SOUL USE ONLY SEA SILK WHICH IS MADE FROM PLANT EXTRACTS

Talc: Found in baby powders, face powders, & body powders.
Known carcinogen. A major cause of ovarian cancer when used in genital area. Can also lodge in lungs causing respiratory disorders.

Tallow: Found in soaps, skin creams, lotions, hand & foot creams, lipsticks & cosmetics. Also candles.
Made from beef fat. Contains heavy metals & pesticides. Possible link to BSE.

Triclosan : Found in toothpaste, mouthwash, antiseptic soaps & skin washes, detergents, deodorants & cosmetics.
Extremely toxic (pesticide), especially to the environment, hormone disruptor, suspected carcinogen, causes skin irritations, must not be swallowed - can be toxic. May lead to development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Urea & DMDM hydantoin: Found in all skin /hair / bodycare products, antiperspirants & nail polishes.
Releases Formaldehyde, which irritates the respiratory system, causes skin reactions, palpitations, joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, asthma, coughs - weakens the immune system & causes cancer .

Vaseline: Found in skin creams, lotions, baby products, lipbalms, cosmetics.
Destroys vitamins, may be carcinogenic. Clogs the pores. (See Mineral Oil & Paraffin)

We don't put anything in our products that does not have a specific use; this means you are least likely to react to any of our products, and we can keep our costs down, and likewise our prices. We don't make "frivolous" products - everything we make serves a serious, therapeutic purpose - not just something that looks attractive on the bathroom shelf. To this end our packaging is fairly plain and minimal - it keeps the costs down for us, for you and for the environment - after all, you won't be using the bottle or jar on your skin ! We can sterilise and re-use some of the containers; please return your empties to us. Those we can't re-use will be recycled.

We are also happy to receive ideas on new ranges and are particularly interested in having feedback from customers who have used our products for the first time.