Cosmetics

Deciding what goes on your body in the form of lotions, potions, perfumes, hair products, cosmetics, and foot creams can be an overwhelming task—especially if you are a health conscious consumer who looks out for tricky ingredients that can actually damage your body rather than enhance it.

No matter how rugged your guy, his skin is just as sensitive as yours—perhaps even more delicate. Male hormones, such as androgen, trigger increased production of sebum, the skin’s natural oils, which encourages bacteria and fungus overgrowth. Ironically, these conditions lead to dry, irritated skin, says Cindy Angerhofer, PhD, executive director of botanical research at Aveda.

By Jolene Hart Although its name may not ring a bell, glutathione could be among the most important antioxidants your body produces—and a key antiaging weapon. “Glutathione enhances the body’s ability to eliminate toxins and preserve vitamins C and E,” says David Perlmutter, MD, of the Perlmutter Health Center in Naples, Florida.

Many young girls today are swaddled in organic cotton, fed organic fruits and veggies, and bathed with pure products practically since birth. Even so, daughters of natural-minded parents soon skip home from playdates wearing drugstore nail polish and pleading for beauty products of their own.