Chemical-Free Skin Health Book Archives -

Parabens: BHAD- Big Hairy Audacious Deal

Skin Disorders Associated with Paraben Exposure: A Comprehensive Review Parabens, a class of synthetic preservatives widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products since the 1950s, have been the subject of extensive research due to their potential cutaneous and systemic health effects. While their primary function is to prevent microbial growth and extend product shelf life, concerns about their role in skin disorders have persisted. This review synthesizes current evidence on parabens’ dermatological impacts, focusing on allergic contact dermatitis, skin irritation, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, and secondary complications. Key findings indicate that while paraben-induced allergic reactions are rare (0.9–2% incidence), they disproportionately affect individuals with compromised skin barriers. Furthermore, emerging data suggest parabens may contribute to premature skin aging through keratinocyte alterations. Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) Pathogenesis and Clinical Presentation Allergic contact dermatitis to parabens manifests as a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, characterized by erythema, edema, papules, vesicles, and pruritus at the site of exposure[2][9][11]. The mechanism involves haptenization, where paraben molecules bind to skin proteins, forming immunogenic complexes that activate T-cell-mediated responses[11]. Notably, the **”Paraben Paradox”** describes the phenomenon where reactions predominantly occur on damaged or eczematous skin rather than intact epidermis[4][11]. This is attributed to enhanced percutaneous absorption […]

SkinSaver Airless are a Must for Natural Skincare

“Keep Your Natural Skincare Pure: Airless Containers Lock Out Contaminants and Lock In Freshness” This could save your skin! One question I constantly get is why Keys® uses these funny-looking containers. The answer is that they are our secret to preservative-free products. It always begins with history. Around twenty years ago, I was sitting in one of the first EWG meetings prior to the Natural Products Expo East tradeshow. As luck would have it, I was sitting next to Dr. Jane Houlihan, the chief scientist at the Environmental Working Group. The subject was, “How would manufacturers remove parabens from natural products in the next ten years?” I remember asking Jane, “What is a paraben?” She looked at me with a funny smile and said they are chemicals that kill bacteria. I asked how it kills only bad bacteria, and she answered that parabens kill all, good and bad. Like it or not, human existence is 100% based on friendly bacteria. Punta! To the dismay of the big natural brand managers, We started the Expo East tradeshow the next day, telling the world that Keys® has no parabens, and the manufacturers all lined up at our booth wondering how we could […]

Understanding Who We Are as a Company

Are You Curious Who We Are? Understanding a brand’s values is crucial for consumers as it helps them make informed purchasing decisions that align with their personal beliefs and preferences. Here’s why it’s important for consumers to know what a brand stands for: Aligning with Personal Values. Consumers increasingly seek products and brands that reflect their own values and beliefs. According to an IBM study, purpose-driven consumers who choose products and brands based on alignment with their personal values now represent the largest segment (44%) of consumers. When consumers understand a brand’s values, they can choose to support companies whose practices and ethics resonate with their own, whether that’s sustainability, social responsibility, or innovation. Building Trust. Brand trust is foundational for creating loyal customers. Transparency and authenticity are two keys to building trust through brand communication. When consumers are aware of a brand’s values and see those values consistently reflected in the company’s actions, they are more likely to trust and feel connected to the brand on a deeper level. This trust can lead to repeat business and advocacy. Differentiation in a Crowded Market In a highly competitive marketplace, brand values help differentiate a company from its competitors. A strong […]

Phthalates – Diabetes + Hair Loss

So what are Phthalates? The Everywhere Chemical Phthalates are perhaps the nastiest chemicals found in personal care products. The FDA banned them for food, but not personal care. Perhaps the FDA has forgotten that skin absorption is the same as ingesting chemical In my book, Chemical-Free Skin Health®, I spent much time explaining Phthalates. Here is a quick summary What are phthalates? Phthalates are a family of artificial chemical compounds developed in the last century to be used to manufacture plastics, solvents, and personal care products. They are colorless, odorless, oily liquids that do not evaporate quickly and do not chemically bind to the material they are added to. How am I exposed to phthalates? Ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and intravenous injection are potential exposure pathways. The ever-present use of phthalates as an additive to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products to make them flexible and to personal care products to make fragrances last longer in the past 50 years has resulted in widespread general population exposure. Phthalates are readily absorbed into the human body and quickly converted to their respective metabolites. Unlike some chemicals, they pass out of the body quickly in urine and feces. Phthalates can interact with each other […]

Autoimmune Skin Disorders – The 80/20 Rule

In life, there seem to be consistent numbers that play out. One set is commonly called the 80/20 Rule. In tech, it meant that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In the science of skin, it seems that 80% of autoimmune skin disorders are caused by just one thing. Recently some science has confirmed that trend. A recent study I have read suggests that 80% of skin disorders are autoimmune related. In my book, Chemical-Free Skin Health®, I connected some of these to chemicals in everyday skincare products. The most notable are Phthalates and Parabens. Phthalates are chemical enhancers of fragrance, and parabens are a biocide preservative. Both toxicities are cumulative. Another 80/20 rule in skincare is that 80% of autoimmune disorders strike women, with 20% affecting men. The most obvious for a first principle thinker is that women are the primary users of chemical-laden skincare and personal care products. When I wrote my book, estimates were that women used an average of 38 personal care products every day. Ironically, another study I have just read that is pre-peer-review notes that autoimmune skin diseases decreased during Covid. Which to me, also relates to the fact that women […]

Greenwashing and Vaporware – Naturally (OpED)

The natural skin products industry has never been regulated since the invention of the snake oil salesperson. The industry operates under the ‘GRAS’ banner, which means “Generally Accepted As Safe.” Simply, this means that there is a lot of good in the industry and some bad.

Chemical-Free Skin Health Book, Anniversary Sale -Kindle $4.95

It is the tenth anniversary of Bob’s book, “Chemical-Free Skin Health.” That does not mean it is ten years old. It has been remastered a number of times to keep it current. Ironically, our collective amnesia will make much of the book new to first-time readers. In 2008, Bob announced the beginning of a book focused on skin health over two years ago at the Natural Products Expo West. His book was published in early October 2009 and Bob will officially launch the book at the 2010 California Women’s Conference. Maria Shriver chose Keys Luminos for her California Women’s Conference for the speaker’s gift bag. In 2010, she wanted Keys Solar Rx for the speaker’s gift bag. The book, titled “Chemical-Free Skin Health” with a subtitle of “Stop • Challenge • Choose,” was published by Orion’s M42 publishing company and was sold on the show floor by Roman’s bookstore next to Dr. Oz. Bob, Mehmet, and others were signing their books. Chemical-Free Skin Health sold out the first day. Keys exhibited in the newly created section called the “ECO Island,” which features green sustainable products. For those attending, Bob and Wendy were in the Keys booth along with Kathleen Beaton, […]

Chemical-Free Skin Health® by Bob Root. Get Your Free Copy Today

When You Know Better, You Do Better Chemical-Free Skin Health® is a powerful book written about destructive chemicals in everyday skincare and cosmetics. Maria Shriver invited Bob to launch his book at the last California Women’s Conference she hosted. It is a must-read, and now you can download it for free Here for a limited time. A $19.95 Value What It’s About Chemical-Free Skin Health® is a book written by Bob Root that is a compilation of all his experiences being on the road with Keys customers. Bob features information about the Human Microbiome Project and the National Institutes of Health, a spin-off of the human genome project. The book answers the most commonly asked questions and proposes some radical ideas about skin health. Of all the points Bob makes in the book, the one that drives his continued passion is his deep concern that the chemical bactericides used as a preservative in most skin care and household products are destroying the natural Ecosystem on our skin. Parabens and Triclosan are used as preservatives, and antibacterial agents are undiscriminating killers of the probiotics on our skin. This subject is so important to Bob that he made it the focal point […]

The American Organic Hustle – Understanding The Misunderstood

A customer contacted Keys Customer Service with three fundamental questions. The questions are mostly about being organic and safety as well as functionality. I have the answers, and they might not be what you think.

They Asked:

I am thinking of getting Keys MetaClean Healing Soap & Shampoo, it says there is >85% organic content, what is the rest that is not organic in this shampoo?

2. When you list on the right the vitamins/actions, are you indicating that the actual ingredient is providing those vitamins, for example, Avocado Oil gives Retinol vitamin or is Retinol separate from the Avocado Oil?

3. What is it in here that can be unsafe for some individuals since it is not complete 0 on safe scale

Read my answers in our latest article on Clean Green Cafe.

Congrats America! You Did It. You Voted With Your Wallets

In an unprecedented trend shift over the last three years, grocery store shelves have displaced conventional products for natural alternatives. People voted with their wallets. The message is simple, don’t donate to lost causes, vote with your wallets. Money talks!

Get Wise! – A New Skin Health Book by Bob Root – Well, sort of…

Get Wise is a new serial eBook being written by Bob Root, Keys Scientist and Founder. It is a serial episodic book about understand your skin health. It will be released chapter by chapter as they are written. It has a beginning, but may have no end.

Polluted Pets – What we are doing to our pets!

I am raising a red flag when it comes to our pets and the environment. In my book, Chemical-Free Skin Health® I pointed out that about 50 years ago just about everything we put on our skin or came in contact with was naturally derived. Now nearly 95% is synthetic.

FDA Taking Closer Look at ‘Antibacterial’ Soap

“New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits,” Rogers says. There are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern to FDA.

Your Antibacterial Soap Could Be Harming You

FDA to take a harder look at Triclosan claims made by manufacturers

Keys Joins Companies for Safer Chemicals to Change US Government Thinking!

A group of the country’s leading consumer brands announced the formation of a new coalition to press Congress to modernize the nation’s out-of-date and ineffective chemical safety laws.

Going Natural in a Synthetic World – Bob Root

In his book, Chemical-Free Skin Health, Bob Root covers many subjects designed to help people understand how to Stop, Challenge and Choose a healthier way of thinking by becoming chemical-free.

Keys RediCare – Featured in Men’s Journal Magazine

Best Chemical-Free Insect Repellents. Keys RediCare featured a a best bet. Bob Root quoted from his Chemical-Free Skin Health book.

Bob Root on the Dr. Amy Myers Show

Bob Root, Keys Technologist talks to Dr. Amy Myers about Bob’s book, Chemical-Free Skin Health

SK!N What’s Normal pH?

by Bob Root, Keys CTO There is another book on the horizon for us. The working title is simple, “SK!N”. After Chemical-Free Skin Health was published, I started to get so many questions that focused more on “what to do” than what is wrong. Yes, there will be a chapter about the negative effects of chemicals in products. The majority of the book are things that we should be doing to improve skin health which has a direct connection to youthful appearance and beauty. These articles are snippets from the book which are triggered by questions that I get that I think are important now! Books just have this tendency to stretch things out a bit too far. Like all good citizens, I have a disclaimer. For future reference, I once had a professor that said, “Ask Root the time of day and he will lecture you on the origin of time.” So forewarned is forearmed. ;-]…..There are no simple answers and no simple questions when it comes to Skin! Bob I had a medical colleague ask me what she thought was a simple question. “What is the normal pH of the skin?” Remember there are no simple […]

Safe Cosmetics Bestows Champion Status On Keys Care

Market Shift: Keys Care Receives “Champion” Status – Fulfills Safe Products Pledge Consumer demand for safer products drives fastest-growing market segment The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics announced today that Keys has achieved the highest recognition earning “Champion” status by meeting the goals of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, the Campaign’s voluntary pledge to avoid chemicals banned by health agencies outside the U.S. and to fully disclose product ingredients – a pioneering practice in the cosmetics industry. “Congratulations to Keys for being a ‘Champion’ and for demonstrating that it’s possible to make personal care products that far exceed current safety standards in the United States. A growing number of consumers are seeking personal care products that do not contain hazardous chemicals, and our report shows that making safer products is not only possible, but is also part of a successful business model,” said Mia Davis, organizing director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and coordinator of the new Safe Cosmetics Business Network.

Bob Root Begins Book Tour! Asks! Are We Killing Our Skin’s Ecosystem?

Chemical-Free Skin Health is the book written by Bob Root that is a compilation of all his experiences being on the road with Keys customers. The book answers the most commonly asked questions as well as proposing some radical ideas about skin health. Bob features information about the Human Microbiome Project and the National Institutes of health that is a spin-off of the human genome project. Of all the points Bob makes in the book, the one that drives his continued passion is his deep concern that the chemical bactericides used as preservative in most skin care and household products are destroying the natural ecosystem on our skin. Parabens and Triclosan used as preservatives and antibacterial agents is an undiscriminating killer of the probiotics on our skin. This subject is so important to Bob that he has made it the focal point of his book tour which begins in March.

Triclosan Ban Could Be On The Way

Bob Root in his new book Chemical-Free Skin Health outlined many of his concerns over the widespread use of Triclosan in foods, products and skin care. The article below was dated today in the Natural Products Manufacturers newsletter. From Natural Foods Merchandiser The Environmental Protection Agency is considering whether to ban the antibacterial chemical triclosan in consumer products, in response to a petition submitted by 82 environmental and public health groups led by Beyond Pesticidesand Food & Water Watch.

Keys Featured at the 2010 California Women’s Conference

New book, “Chemical-Free Skin Health” premiered at the California Women’s Conference. Keys creates ECO Island. Keys product chosen by Maria Shriver for second year in a row for speakers’ gift bag. Long Beach California, October 25, 2010, California Women’s Conference. “Chemical-Free Skin Health” is a new book written by Keys founder and Chief Technology Officer, Bob Root. The book is the first written by a natural products industry formulator to help users make better buying choices for safer cosmetics and safer personal care products. Bob Root offered, “I wrote my book because I realized that many people want safer cosmetics and safer personal care products, but they did not know how to go about making buying decisions. I created ‘Chemical-Free Skin Health’ to give people a sort of users guide to help make better choices. I ask my readers to Stop, Challenge and Choose! I want them to stop buying products that can harm them, challenge conventional thinking and choose the right solutions for them in a quest for better skin health by using natural products.” Bob Root, An Unlikely Formulator!

On The Press! New Book by Keys Founder – Bob Root

Chemical-Free Skin Health! Bob announced the beginning of a book focused on skin health over two years ago at the Natural Products Expo West. His book will be published in early October and Bob will officially launch the book at the 2010 California Women’s Conference. Maria Shriver chose Keys Luminos for last years Women’s Conference for the speakers gift bag. This year, she chose Keys Solar Rx for the speakers gift bag. The book, titled “Chemical-Free Skin Health” with a subtitle of “Stop • Challenge • Choose” will be published by Orion’s M42 publishing company and will be sold on the show floor by Vroman’s bookstore. Bob will be at the show signing the books. Keys will be exhibiting in the newly created section called the “ECO Island” which features green sustainable products. For those attending, Bob and Wendy will be in the Keys booth along with Kathleen Beaton, Hollywood makeup artist and writer of the Foreword for Bob’s book. Kerry Malouf, motion picture makeup artist and beauty editor for Malibu Magazine will also be in the Keys booth in the ECO Island.

Ele Keats Actor – Artist – Keys Fan

Ele Keats Actor Artist Keys Fan! When we started Keys, we began small with a few products and some real fans. Our core belief is that products should solve problems and make people feel good about themselves and what they are using in and on their body. As we have grown, we feel it is time to honor some of those that we have helped, have been with us for a long time and those using our products in unique applications. Featured Keys Customer: Ele Keats, Hometown: Hollywood California