Are plants making you sick? 

  • Anat Edwy

Do you sneeze when smelling perfumes or any other strong-smelling products? Or struggle to find skincare that won't cause your face to break out, itch or become dry, sensitive and red?

Do you suffer from puffy eyes, face or lips?

Or experience flare-ups of eczema or hives because of an unknown reason? 

If not, lucky you! But if you or anyone you know suffers from similar symptoms, perhaps it's because of plants!

We consider plants as the gift of mother nature, so it might surprise you that plants are not safe for everyone, as some people can become sick from inhaling salicylates that are present in pollen (such as Birch pollen), ingesting some plant food or using products that contain plant-derived ingredients. 

Those people usually suffer from Salicylate sensitivity. (In this blog post, the focus is on salicylate sensitivity only. For salicylate allergy information, please refer to medical information such as this one on webmd.com.

What are salicylates?

Have you heard of Salicylic acid? Salicylic acid belongs to a class of drugs known as salicylates. 
Salicylates are natural chemicals produced by plants. They act as a natural immune hormone and preservative, protecting plants against diseases, insects, fungi, and bacterial infection. They are present in many foods, beauty products, and medications, such as aspirin. 

What is salicylate sensitivity?

A salicylate sensitivity is a reaction that happens when you come in contact with salicylates, salicylic acid, or related chemicals. Salicylates are found in plants and are a natural ingredient in many fruits, vegetables, and spices. Synthetic salicylates are a significant ingredient in aspirin and other pain-relieving medications. Natural and synthetic salicylates also are in many everyday health and beauty products. Salicylates are generally well-tolerated, yet they become toxic to everyone in high doses.

What are the symptoms of salicylate sensitivity?

Salicylate sensitivity symptoms vary but typically include Headaches, migraines, eczema, hives, gastrointestinal irritation, rhinitis, nasal polyps, and asthma exacerbation. Salicylate sensitivity is also associated with behavioural problems in children, sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression.
Salicylate sensitivity is often present in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The problem with salicylic acid's wide use in the cosmetics industry

Most cosmetic products are very high in salicylates, which is bad news for people suffering from salicylate sensitivity. People who cannot tolerate salicylates can have many adverse reactions to even small amounts of salicylic acid. Unfortunately, Salicylic acid is widely used in the cosmetics industry for its exfoliating and antiseptic properties. It is highly recommended by dermatologists in the treatment of acne and warts. It is found in some anti-dandruff products. It is also used as a preservative to protect formulas against the growth of microorganisms.

Where can you find salicylates in your environment?

The following products often contain salicylates:

  • Acne products
  • Air fresheners
  • Bubble baths
  • Cleaning products 
  • Cosmetics
  • Detergents
  • Fragrances and perfumes 
  • Hair sprays, gels and mousse 
  • Lipsticks and Lip glosses 
  • Lotions
  • Lozenges
  • Medications (including aspirin and other NSAIDs) 
  • Mouthwash
  • Muscle pain creams
  • Pain relievers
  • Shampoos and Conditioners 
  • Shaving cream
  • Skin cleansers or exfoliants 
  • Soaps
  • Sunscreens
  • Toothpaste
  • Topical creams
  • Wart or callus removers

Why have we decided to promote the salicylates sensitivity topic? 

When we realised that many people suffer from salicylate sensitivity (myself included), we decided to promote awareness about the salicylate sensitivity issue and help people with salicylate sensitivity to improve their health and lifestyle.
After talking with many people with salicylate sensitivity, we discovered a mutual issue: The frustration of finding safe and healthy salicylate-free products!

Unfortunately, there are very few natural and safe salicylate-free options for personal care. Some cosmetic products are made of synthetic and petroleum-derived ingredients, but we don't consider them a safe and healthy choice.

Therefore, we began to look for effective, skin-loving natural ingredients that are safe and healthy to apply to the skin. 
Our first step was to explore animal-based skincare options (as they are naturally free of salicylates). We decided to embrace two ancient ingredients that have been used for decades as food ingredients and for healing purposes. 
We followed the ancient wisdom of the indigenous people of Australia who use Emu oil, valued for its reparative and anti-inflammatory qualities as a face, body and hair oil. We also proudly added New Zealand grass-fed Beef tallow (kidney fat) as a star ingredient.

 

About Emu Oil

Emu oil is derived from body fat harvested from a specific subspecies of the Emu, Dromaius Novaehollandiae, a flightless bird indigenous to Australia. Emus are farmed primarily for their meat, leather, feathers and oil.
Emu oil is a natural product with diverse application options and is beneficial for all ages. We call it a combination of a remedy and skincare in one product. It relieves the aches and pains in joints and muscles and speeds up wound and scar healing. It is also helpful for multiple skin conditions and ailments such as psoriasis, eczema and arthritis. Because it's rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, it is incredibly beneficial for dehydrated, dry and rough skin. 
Emu oil absorbs quickly into the skin and has a long-lasting anti-inflammatory effect. It is also anti-ageing as it stimulates the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and rejuvenate ageing or sun-damaged skin. In addition, research has found that applying Emu oil to the skin may help increase the number of healthy skin cells. Read more here.

'It's All Good' Emu oil is an odour-free, non-greasy oil with a rich and creamy consistency. It is 100% natural, pure and organic and doesn't contain fillers, dyes, perfumes or other oil types.  

Emu oil:

  • Is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic 
  • Naturally salicylate-free 
  • Relieves very dry/sensitive skin
  • Promotes faster healing
  • Removes redness and swelling from the skin
  • Improves the condition of ageing skin and regenerates skin cells
  • May reduce pain and scaring on burns, blisters, sunburn and other skin injuries
  • Removes the itch and sting of insect bites, allergies, heat rash and fungal infections
  • It contains anti-inflammatory properties, which help temporarily relieve muscle pain

About Tallow

Tallow contains the vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, which are exceptionally nurturing for the skin and are only naturally found together in animal products, and are super rich in beneficial fatty acids. The fatty acids in pure grass-fed Tallow are similar in molecular structure and composition to those found in the protective outer layer of human skin and naturally produced skin oils (sebum).

Stearic acid and oleic acid (Omega 9)

These fatty acids are found in the protective outer layer of the skin and sebum and have moisturising, softening, regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, stearic acid improves skin's suppleness and flexibility, aiding with damage repair and barrier function. Oleic acid (Omega 9) also helps the other active components penetrate deeply into the skin.

CLA (conjugated linolenic acid)

CLA has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Palmitic acid

Palmitic acid aids with smoothing skin appearance and helps improve barrier protection. However, its production in the skin also declines with age.

An optimal balance of essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic (omega 3) and linoleic acids (omega 6), in a ratio of almost 1:1.

These essential fatty acids have a role in maintaining the skin's structural integrity and barrier function; they also influence inflammatory and immune responses in the skin.

Tallow:

  • Is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic 
  • Naturally salicylate-free 
  • Relieves very dry/sensitive skin 
  • Highly moisturising
  • Promotes faster healing
  • Removes redness and swelling from the skin
  • Improves the condition of ageing skin and regenerates skin cells
  • Promotes younger-looking skin
  • Protects the skin from external damaging factors. 
  • It has natural antimicrobial properties, which prevent acne and breakouts.

 Emu oil and Tallow are unique, Intensely nourishing whole ingredients that work synergistically. Combined, they become a smooth and easily absorbed cream that is animal-based and free of Salicylates.

It's All Good, Emu & Tallow PURE cream is a 100% salicylate-free day & night cream.

PURE cream improves the skin's protective barrier function, prevents moisture loss and regenerates the appearance of healthy, youthful-looking skin without clogging your pores. In addition, the cream will give your skin the vitamins and minerals it needs to heal itself and stay soft, smooth and itch-free day and night. It is scent-free, preservative-free and salicylate-free.

But wait... there's more!!!

After great reviews from people who loved our PURE cream, we decided to develop a range of Salicylate-free products!

So we researched and discovered nutrient-rich, wholesome ingredients (including salicylate-free plant-derived butter such as Mango butter) that allowed us to create a range of salicylate-free personal care products. Check it out here: PURE Salicylate-Free Personal Care. 

The Pure range offers: 

Watch this space- we will be adding more products to the range!

You don't need to suffer from salicylate sensitivity to fall in love with It's All Good PURE Salicylate-free personal care range.
All the PURE personal care products are safe for the whole family, as they are gentle, free of unnecessary irritants, artificial ingredients, and dyes, and are carefully made for you. 

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