Lifestyle

As consumers we rely heavily on brands to provide us with safe, quality products. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Some of the most common hair care ingredients are actually harmful to our hair and our entire bodies. At Fresh Heritage, we pride ourselves on providing an all-natural beard oil to our customers. We desperately urge you to start paying more attention to the products that you’re using. While we can’t name all of the harmful toxins products contain in this one blog post, we can recommend six that need to be avoided like the plague. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Or SLS is an additive that makes products foam. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, this common ingredient is linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, and skin irritation. Diethanolamine. You know the creamy feeling you feel when applying a moisturizing cream or lotion? That feeling comes from the chemical diethanolamine. This chemical alone can cause skin irritation, coupled with the other chemicals found in most hair care products it becomes carcinogenic.   Diazolidinyl Urea. You would think that when companies know that products are harmful to humans they won't sell them. Unfortunately, they still do and we unknowingly buy them on a consistent basis. Diazolidinyl Urea is a popular human toxicant or allergen, and there is also evidence that this chemical causes immune system toxicity. Parabens. This is the chemical that allows products to survive for months or years, however, the chemicals can enter your skin and mimic hormones disrupting normal body functions. The use of parabens has been linked to breast cancer, early puberty, and decreased sperm cells. Synthetic Colors. Derived from petroleum or coal tar sources, synthetic colors have been proven to be extremely carcinogenic and have even been linked to ADHD in children. The European Classification and Labeling consider it a human carcinogen and the European Union has banned it. Meanwhile, some top brands in the United States continue to use synthetic colors in their products. Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known cancer-causing substance. Excess exposure can cause breathing difficulties, rashes, bloody noses, and even blindness. We’re not sharing this information to scare you. We simply want you to become more aware of what you are using on your body. Do your research and know the risks you take by using some common, big-name brands. View Fresh Heritage Classic Beard Oil Ingredients here.

The winter months can be grueling on the skin. The cold air makes our skin especially vulnerable, often times leaving it dry and cracked. If you’re like most men, you probably write this off as just a part of the season and think there isn’t anything that you can do about it. But that isn’t true. There are 3 key skin care routines every black man should do during the winter months to protect his skin.  Shower with lukewarm water. We know you want to hit the showers and turn up the heat because of the cold. However, the hot water removes essential oils from your skin making it especially susceptible to drying out. Thus leaving you with the ultimate fail for Fresh men - ashy skin. To prevent the ash, turn down the heat. Moisturize daily. Hydrating your skin daily will help you keep an even tone and prevent flakey and ashy skin (again nobody likes ashy skin). Use your moisturizer immediately after showering while your skin is still wet. An added bonus is to use a moisturizer with sunscreen. Although it’s cold, the sun’s UV’s can still cause damage to your skin even though it is melaninated. The sunscreen will help protect your skin from hyperpigmentation and skin cancer. Drink more water. Skin care starts from the inside out. In the winter time, we tend to drink less water, turning to drinks like coffee and tea to stay warm. However, now, more than ever your skin needs to stay hydrated from H20. Experts recommend that you drink an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. If it’s warmth you want, consider drinking warm water with a lemon to experience a refreshing, healthy drink. Winter weather doesn’t have to mean dry ashy skin. Implement these three simple skin care tips to keep your face and skin fresh all winter.