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The Beauty Brains explain why Moroccan oil rocks!

Jill just wants to know…I remember hearing that Avon Skin So Soft is not only an amazing moisturizer but it can also stop bugs from biting. Is this true?

The Left Brain replies:

Skin so soft is a great moisturizer that gives a smooth, dry feel to skin.  That’s because it’s not a lotion – it’s a blend of mineral oil and esters that lubricates without being too wet or greasy.

Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil Ingredients

Mineral oil, isopropyl palmitate, dicapryl adipate, fragrance, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, BHT (to prevent oxidation) and carrot seed oil (source).

I think that the most amazing thing about this product is that for decades people have been convinced that it is an excellent mosquito repellent. Rumor had it that Skin So Soft was even better than products with DEET, the most effective active ingredient on the market. In fact so many people were buying SSS for this reason that Avon launched a companion product that contained a non- DEET active.

Ineffective insect repellent

Unfortunately, this urban legend has been thoroughly debunked by Snopes.com. They reported on a 2002 study that evaluated 17 nationally marketed mosquito products. The researchers found that the more DEET the products contained the better they worked. Off! Deep Woods kept the nasty buggers at bay for an average of 302 minutes. By comparison SSS only worked for 9.6 minutes.

You can read more at Snopes.com or you can read the original study in the New England Journal of Medicine, 4 July 2002 vol 347:13-18 Number 1.

What do YOU think? Have you used Skin So Soft? Or do you have your own favorite tricks to keep mosquitos away? Leave a comment and share the “buzz” with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Barb would like to know…What’s the deal with Moroccan oil? I’ve read all the rave reviews on Amazon.com but I’d like the real scoop from the Beauty Brains.

The Right Brain responds:

Actually, Barb, we’ve already answered this question.  Sort of.

Moroccan oil = Argan oil?

Moroccan oil is another name for Argan oil which is made from the kernels of argan tree fruit that grow almost exclusively in Morocco. You can read our previous post on Argan oil for hair and skin but here’s what you need to know in a nut shell: the oil is a rich emollient that can moisturize hair and skin; it can potentially cause zits so be careful if you’re prone to breakouts; and it does NOT come from goat poop. (You’ll have to read the original post and all the comments to get that reference. Whoo boy, did we piss some people off! But I digress…)

The product “Moroccan Oil” is sold by the company Moroccanoil (R) and is made with Argan oil. Let’s take a look at its ingredients.

Moroccan Oil ingredients

Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Butylphenyl, MethylPropional, Argania Spinoza Kernal Oil (Aragan Oil), Linseed (Linum Usitatissimum) Extract, Fragrance Supplement, D&C Yellow-11, D&C Red-17, Coumarin, Benzyl Benzoate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone

As you can see, most of the product is made up of various silicones. That’s not a bad thing at all, silicone-based antifrizz products are very effective. Remember John Frieda’s Frizz- Ease? But just be aware that you’re not buying pure Argan oil.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Moroccan Oil appears to be a well formulated hair tamer – but if you’re looking for pure Argan oil, you should consider other products.

What do YOU think? Have you tried Argan oil? Leave a comment and help Barb out.

Which statement is FALSE?

1. Botox is not only good for removing wrinkles but it can also prevent hair loss.

2. Researchers have found a way to fight Swine Flu with a soap-sniffing “breathalizer” that tells if people really washed their hands.

3. An aquarium worker was arrested after feeding whitening toothpaste to fish so “they would look better for tourist pictures.”

4. Adding a cup of coffee to your skin care routine can protect you from sun damage.

If you aren’t sure or think you know, leave a comment and get hints from the Beauty Brains community.

May wants justice for Jason…Does any know about Jason Natural products? The one I use, says 84% Aloe Vera and no artificial ads like sls , parabens etc. is this really a dream or what?

The Left Brain responds:
Actually, May, Jason Natural products may not be the paragon of natural virtue that you seem to think. For example, consider their tea tree shampoo.

Jason Natural shampoo ingredients

Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Gel (Aloe Vera), Sodium Myreth Sulfate, Cocamide MEA, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract (Chamomile), Salvia Officinalis Extract (Clary Sage), Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract (Brown Algae), Cetrimonium Chloride, Vegetable Glycerin, Sodium PCA, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Even though Aloe Vera and natural extracts dominate the ingredient list, a close look reveals active ingredients that are not any more natural than those used by most other brands. For example while they do avoid sodium laureth sulfate they use sodium myreth sulfate which just differs by a couple of carbon atoms. Likewise they contain the common conditioning agent cetrimonium chloride which is chemically processed and not generally considered to be very natural. It’s another case of a brand hiding standard ingredients behind a veil of natural goodies. The basic problem is that there’s no clear definition of what natural or organic means for a cosmetic product.

Jail time for Jason Natural?

Even the companies that make these products can’t agree on these definitions. Case in point, one maker of organic soaps is suing jason Naturals and a few other companies over the definition of organic. David Bronner, president of Dr Bronner’s Magic Soaps, claims that Jason Naturals and other brands are “composed of conventional rather than organic cleansing and moisturizing ingredients, with organic ingredients or extracts added for and ‘organic greenwash’.”

According to Cosmeticsdesign, Bonner is asking that these companies not only stop selling their organic products (unless they meet USDA National Organic Program specifications) but he also wants them to pay him damages because their “fake” organic products are hurting the sales of his “authentic” ones. How would you like to be the judge in THAT case?

The Beauty Brains Bottom line

Jason Natural products are not “a dream” as you put it but it looks like they might be headed for a legal nightmare. I’ll keep you posted on this story as it unfolds.