Do you ever wonder if your beauty products are doing what they promise or if your skincare is actually healthy for your skin? With the world becoming increasingly knowledgeable about harmful chemicals in beauty products, the demand for holistic practices is rising.

Vicky Evans, owner and esthetician of Spa Innovations (2614 Southerland St., 601-331-2673), warns that "you can't get around chemicals in products totally. It's all about how you use the products instead."

Most cosmetics contain ingredients such as preservatives, which give the products their shelf life.

"You can, however, eliminate the more risky ingredients and lessen how often you use certain ones," Vicky Evans says.

The Food and Drug Administration has stopped the use of some harmful ingredients such as talc, which was once used in powders and is a known carcinogen, for example.

"Most ingredients don't pose an immediate threat," she says. "Using something one time isn't going to hurt you. It's prolonged use that breeds the problems."

In addition to talc, other ingredients are high on the list of harmful ingredients Evans advises against. These include cold tar, used for dry, itchy skin; parabens (preservatives); oxybenzone (used in sunscreens); sodium laureth sulfate, a cleaning agent that gives products their foaming ability; lead; mercury; formaldehyde (once used in nail polishes); and silicon.

Many of us attempt to read labels, but after a few ingredients, it can be hard to know exactly what we 
are reading.

"Sometimes, you can't trust what the product label reads," Evans says. "The words natural or organic can be used in different contexts."

These days, consumers want to find the purest of ways to maintain their personal care and beauty regimens. Quality Assurance International says that products labeled organic must contain 95 percent 
organic ingredients.

"Well, what actually is the remaining 5 percent then?" Evans asks.

The Organic Association Standards require that a product label list the non-organic ingredients in addition to the organic ones. "This is where it would be great to consult with an esthetician" who avoids bad ingredients, she says.

"The industry is now booming with so many holistic choices," Evans adds.

If there is something you aren't sure about, you could save time, money and trouble having an esthetician trained in product knowledge go over any ingredients that might be an immediate threat. It is helpful to know your allergies and how your skin responds to certain things as well.

It's a lot quicker and less expensive to consult with an esthetician on ingredients before you see a dermatologist. She will be able to direct you to products suited to your skin so you don't spend needlessly or make a wrong selection. If she thinks you need medical care, an esthetician can refer you to a dermatologist for further examination.

With the market offering an abundance of products with an array of claims, becoming educated on products and ingredients is a crucial part in making the most beneficial selections.

But with many cosmetic, hair and skin-care products, it is difficult to eliminate all ingredients that are not beneficial for a number of reasons, including preservation or extended shelf life. That means that national products may need to be replaced sooner, or even kept in the refrigerator.

"Make sure not to over-use," Evans says. "If you are receiving treatments that do involve chemicals, be sure you are doing so as minimally as possible."

If it's taking a while for you to make the change, don't stress because it takes time to transition into something that works. Make educated decisions and keep moving toward finding healthy alternatives.

Find a list of product ingredients to avoid at organicbeautytalk.com. Find many natural products at Rainbow Co-op (1807 Old Canton Road, 601-366-1602).