How much do you know about petroleum in skincare products? Did you know that petroleum is fundamentally a by-product of the oil industry – originally found coating the bottom of oil rigs in the mid-1800’s? As well as being used as a lubricant in engines, it is also commonly used topically in the belief that it will heal and moisturise the skin. There have been many questions raised recently over its use in cosmetic skincare products.

We have put together below “the good, and not so good” facts about petroleum to help you make an informed decision.

The Good:

• As petroleum jelly is water-repellent (not water soluble) it helps stop the loss of moisture and helps maintain existing hydration under the skin.
• Petroleum jelly feels good on your skin, helping to alleviate the feeling of chapping and irritation.
• The Environmental Working Group considers petroleum jelly in its purest form to be safe.

The Not So Good:

• Petroleum jelly does nothing to actually hydrate or heal the skin itself.
• While petroleum jelly may give you the feeling of a softened surface you’re really drying out your pores by keeping out air and moisture.
• Petroleum jelly forms a seal over the pores of the skin disrupting the body’s ability to eliminate toxins, dirt and contaminants, which would otherwise pass through those pores and exit the skin – potentially creating a greater propensity towards break outs.
• Being a thick emollient, with extended use petroleum jelly can aggravate the skin contributing to older looking skin.

Verdict

At McArthur Skincare we believe in the benefits of not having petroleum jelly in cosmetic skincare products. There are alternatives that are petroleum-free and will moisturise and hydrate your skin naturally. Our products are natural and do not contain petrochemicals, parabens or added sulphates. Why not try McArthur Skincare today? Given that the skin is the largest organ of the body which absorbs substances applied to it, it’s nice to be able to use a natural skin care range.

We often get asked how much active ingredients we have in our products and it started us wondering how many people really know what they are paying for when they purchase their skincare products. Many products boast of containing active ingredients even though they may be present in token amounts. It’s an industry-wide practice known as “angel dusting”. When a product is angel dusted, it means that it only contains a minimum amount of the active ingredient advertised on the label.

Active ingredients must be shown on the label and will often show a percentage as well. This makes it easy to see what the concentration of active ingredients are when you are comparing products. Ingredients must also be listed in order of concentration. This means that whatever the manufacturer uses the most of, has to be listed first.

Now that you know this, always pay close attention to products that boast about the amazing benefits of their active ingredients. If those same ingredients are listed after water, petroleum jelly or even alcohol on the list of ingredients, then you are likely paying mainly for the cream/ointment medium that contains the small quantities of active ingredients, rather than the active ingredients themselves.

At McArthur Skincare we do not “angel dust” our products. We proudly list our active ingredients on our labels and we encourage our customers to compare the percentages of active ingredients in our products against any other skincare product.

The McArthur Skincare Therapeutic range of products are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and each contain the highest concentrate of 60% McArthur Pawpaw Extract™ as well as high concentrations of natural active ingredients traditionally used in herbal medicine including; Aloe Vera, Chickweed, Arnica and Chamomile.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.

Visit our website at http://mcarthurskincare.com for more details.

McArthur Skincare is a 100% Australian owned and operated company, founded in 2010, within the health care and cosmetic industries. With a range of seventeen products, McArthur Skincare has an online consumer direct store, and is stocked at all good pharmacies and health food stores Australia wide, as well as being available in the UK, USA and China.

McArthur Skincare have created a range of creams and products, all of which include our own McArthur Pawpaw Extract™. Our McArthur Pawpaw Extract™ is not to be regarded as having any therapeutic benefits.

Pawpaw is the skin’s natural friend, packed full of vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes which give it a natural ability to promote skin renewal.

At McArthur Skincare we have incorporated high concentrations of this amazing fruit into our range of natural skincare products. In fact, some items produced at McArthur Skincare have the highest amount of pawpaw extract (60%) in a natural cream on the market. Other brands’ pawpaw products contain much less pawpaw extract.

McArthur Skincare – Therapeutic Range Natural Ingredients

McArthur Skincare is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods:

• McArthur Skincare Arthritis Cream
  Contains the active natural ingredients Aloe Vera, and Arnica which is traditionally used in herbal medicine for the relief of mild arthritis.
• McArthur Skincare Eczema Cream
  Contains the active natural ingredients Chamomile, and Chickweed which is traditionally used in herbal medicine for the relief of itchy, irritated and inflamed skin associated with mild eczema.
• McArthur Skincare Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Rashes Cream
  Contains the active natural ingredients Aloe Vera, and Chickweed which is traditionally used in herbal medicine for the relief of itchy, irritated and dry skin associated with mild psoriasis, dermatitis and rashes.
• McArthur Skincare Muscle Aches & Pain Cream
  Contains the active natural ingredients Aloe Vera, and Arnica which is traditionally used in herbal medicine for the relief of mild pain in muscles and joints.
• McArthur Skincare Wounds & Burns Cream
  Contains the active natural ingredient Aloe Vera traditionally used in herbal medicine in the healing of minor wounds, burns and sunburn.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.

Chickweed
Stellaria media extract, in a highly concentrated form. Assists in relieving of symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and rashes.

Arnica
Arnica Montana extract, in a highly concentrated form. For the relief of mild rheumatic muscle and joint pain.

Aloe Vera
In a highly concentrated form. Assists in the healing of minor wounds, burns and sunburn.

Chamomile
Matricaria Chamomilla extract, in a highly concentrated form. Relieves minor irritations of the skin and inflammation.

McArthur Skincare – Skin Care & Hair Care Ranges Natural Ingredients

With all our products containing Pawpaw, our focus is on natural ingredients that can be easily absorbed into the skin for added benefits and maximum effect from each and every product.

At McArthur Skincare we have aimed to provide our customers premium products that are unmatched both in the Australian market and around the globe.

Keep in mind that – without you being aware of it – many global cosmetic brands producing specialised cosmetics actually include papaya as an important ingredient in their preparations, though it may not be present in the high concentrations we use.

Here is a list of some of the ingredients included in McArthur Skincare’s skin care and hair care products:

Pawpaw – Carica papaya fruit extract – McArthur Pawpaw Extract™
Our own McArthur Skincare specialised active extract derived from Pawpaw, produced only by us.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Derived from both coconut oil and glycerine, this is used as to retain moisture in the skin

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil
Obtained from dried kernels of the almond tree, this oil contains Vitamins A, B and E and is also a great emollient encouraging soft, smooth skin

Glycerin
Used to maintain the moisture in the skin

Jojoba – Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Natural oil extracted from the Jojoba plant that is a great carrier of other ingredients as it is very similar to sebum produced by the skin naturally. It can easily penetrate the skin giving a smooth, moisturised feeling as well as aiding in improving skin elasticity and flexibility

Coco-Caprylate
A skin conditioning agent derived from coconut

Coco Betaine
Gentle foaming cleanser derived from coconut

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
An emulsifying and stabilising ingredient derived from glycerin

Lavender Officinalis, Lavendula Angustifola x Latifolia
Essential oil derived from the Lavender plant; useful as an antimicrobial and antiseptic, it is also useful for healing damaged skin

Vitamin E – Tocopherol
Natural compound that acts as an anti-oxidant

Gluconolactone
Derived from corn, this hydrates and moisturises the skin

Xanthan Gum
Made through fermentation of corn sugar, it is used to bind and stabilise the product

Glyceryl Caprylate
Plant sourced, this is a moisturizing and conditioning agent that is also antimicrobial

Beeswax – Cera Alba
A safe, non-toxic ingredient that has softening and soothing properties and helps to retain moisture

Carrageenan
Extracted from seaweed, carrageenan is widely accepted as a safe, non-toxic ingredient in skin care products used as a conditioning agent and emulsifier

Citric Acid
Derived from citrus fruits, citric acid balances the pH of the product

Vitamin B5 – Panthenol
Derived from rice, it can aid in maintaining a healthy scalp and improves the condition and appearance of the hair

Levulinic Acid
Natural preservative and skin conditioning agent derived from rice

Glyceryl Oleate
Non-irritating skin conditioner and moisturiser derived from olive oil and glycerine

Full information on the ingredients of every one of our products is shown on the individual product pages throughout the McArthur Skincare website.