2 Chic or Not 2 Chic....That IS the Question...

I have finally found a natural heat protectant for hair. My local health food store had recently received a shipment of new hair products.  After looking at a few different products I decided on Giovanni heat protectant and a Giovanni hair mousse.  I really like the Giovanni line of hair products, thus far everything I have bought I have been satisfied with.  However, buyer beware, they have a hair spritz that is to add shine to your hair.  This product, I am sorry to say had parabens in it.  I was rather shocked when I read that on the label and more than a little disappointed.  I really hope that the company producing Giovanni is not getting greedy and selling out to earn a bigger profit.

Giovanni Blow 2 Chic Brazillian Keratin & Argon Oil Blow out Styling Mist.

Ingredients:
Aqua (purified water)
Glycerin
SD Alcohol-40B
VP/VA Copolymer
Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernal Oil
Hydrolyzed Paullinia Cupana (Brazilian Cocoa) Keratin Extract (Phyto-Keratin)
Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos Tea) Extract
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil 
Macadamia Temifolia (Macadamia) Seed Extract
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract
Sorbitol
Amodimethicone
Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5)
Benzyl Alcohol
Polysorbate 20
Phenoxyethanol
Natural Fragrance

Description:

Aqua (purified water):  is water and pretty self explanatory

Glycerin: is pretty benign and of low toxicity.  It is used in products mainly because it is effective at improving the smoothness of the product and is a good lubricant.  Glycerin is a byproduct of bio-diesel.  However, all you vegans take note.  This form is very expensive, therefore it is more often derived from animal fats such as beef and vegetable oils such as coconut or soy beans.  Therefore some products that list glycerin in their ingredients may not be vegan. SD Alcohol-40B:  is ethanol combined with a denaturing agent.  It is often used as an acne fighting ingredient.  According to the Environmental Working Group, ethanol is considered to be a broad spectrum toxin, linked to birth defects.  However, they also state that the risk from ethanol in personal care products is still smaller than the risks posed by the consumption of alcohol.  I am going to assume that they are referring to the alcohol bought in stores that is meant for oral consumption.  This ingredient has been linked to concerns over cancer, penetration enhancement, non-reproductive organ system toxicity and developmental toxicity. When consumed can also cause blindness or death. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705850/SD_ALCOHOL_40B/# VP/VA Copolymer:  this ingredient is a synthetic vinyl polymer.  It is used as a binding, film forming and hair fixative.  It is considered to be of low toxicity, producing only a mild rash in rare cases.  It is not considered to be carcinogenic or an enviornmental toxin.    Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernal Oil:  this is an oil which is derived from the trees found in Africa.  It is used as a skin and hair conditioning agent.  It is considered to be safe and of little to no toxicity.  It is not considered to be an environment toxin either.  In fact the production and interest in Argon has actually helped to protect the trees from being cut down. Hydrolyzed Paullinia Cupana (Brazilian Cocoa) Keratin Extract (Phyto-Keratin):  this is a protein, used to strengthen the hair.  However little to no information is available that I was able to come across concernign the safety of this ingredient. The only information I was able to find regarded the Brazillian Phyto-Keratin blow-out which is a different product and that contained high levels of formaldehyde.  I will keep looking into this ingredient and update my blogs accordingly. Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos Tea) Extract:  is an extract from the whole plant.  It is used as a skin conditioning agent.  It is considered to be of low toxicity to humans and the environment. Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil:  is the oil extracted from the kernels of the seeds of the coconut palm.  It is used as a fragrance ingredient and conditioning agent.  It is considered to be of low to no toxicity to humans or the environment. Macadamia Temifolia (Macadamia) Seed Extract:  is the extract of the nuts from the macadamia tree.   It is used as a skin conditioning agent.  It is considered to be of low toxicity to humans and the environment. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter: Now this is a neat product.  Shea butter is derived fro the seeds of the African Shea Tree.  It acts as thickening agent as well as a skin conditioner.  This product is preferred because it does not turn into a soap as other fatty oils do.  It is considered a natural moisturizing factor because of its close resemblance to the lipid content of human skin.  It helps to regenerate skin, block out bacteria and naturally absorbs UVB rays to protect the skin from the sun. It is  safe to use and considered non toxic.  However do to the fact that it is a nut people with nut allergies need to beware. Sorbitol: Is also known as glucitol.  It is a sugar alcohol and found in a lot gum and food products.  In personal care products it is used as a thickening agent as well as a skin conditioning agent.  When ingested it can cause diarrhea and flatulence.  In more severe cases it can have substantial negative effects.  However, when used in personal care products like soaps, shampoos and such, it is deemed to be of low toxicity and is considered safe to use. Amodimethicone:  are silicone based polymers.  It is used as a hair conditioning agent.  It is not considered to be harmful to humans due to the large size of the molecule, there is limited chance of it passing through the skin barrier. Panthenol: is the alcohol analog of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) this means it is the pro vitamin of B5.  It is used as an emollient and a moisturizer   Vegans beware, this product can be either plant derived or animal derived.  It is considered to be of low toxicity, and not an environmental toxin. Benzyl Alcohol:  is both a naturally occurring, as well as a synthetic compound.  It is used as a preservative and a solvent.  It is considered to be a workplace hazard  an immunotoxin, contact allergen, and an organ system toxin.  An ingredient best to avoid. Polysorbate 20:  is a sorbitol that has been treated with ethylene oxide.  It is used as an emulsifier, a fragrance and a surfactant.  In most studies it is defined as being of low toxicity.  However ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen.  Other concerns related to ethylene oxide are endocrine disruption, organ toxicity, skin irritation and in high doses reproductive and developmental toxicity. Phenoxyethanol: Is a fairly new ingredient, it is a glycol either and is used as a bactericide.  It is generally considered safer then the traditional formaldehyde releasing agents, however the FDA has stated that it can depress the central nervous system which could cause vomiting, diarrhea and can cause dehydration in infants.  There have been concerns of this product being carcinogenic due to the ingredients it is derived from. Natural Fragrance (Perfume): odors to enhance the product to be appealing and pleasant smelling.  Generally considered safe and non toxic.  However some people do have sensitivities to fragrances and develop such symptoms as headaches or migraines. TN