Bismuth Oxycloride???

Article on Bismuth Oxychloride
Compiled by Shelly Wheeler, Lemongrass Consultant

(Note: Bismuth oxychloride is an ingredient found in some mineral makeup products.  Lemongrass Spa Products’ Sheer Minerals Makeup does not contain bismuth oxychloride.)

Bismuth Oxychloride - this ingredient is found in most of the mainstream mineral cosmetic companies...a by-product of the lead and copper refining, rarely occurs in nature, a skin irritant, leaves an unnatural shiny finish, clogs pores and causes blemishes, in large amounts can cause cystic acne, many people are sensitive to this bulking and filler ingredient.

Does this scenario sound familiar? You've worn traditional makeup for years with little to no irritation. Upon hearing about the benefits of mineral makeup, you decide to give it a try. After all, it claims to be better for your skin and healthier overall, so what have you got to lose? And if you've never been able to wear traditional makeup without irritation, mineral makeup sounds like the answer you've been looking for. You buy your first jar and begin wearing it immediately.  Except... you're having a reaction you've never had before to makeup. Your skin may be red, irritated, itching, having small bumps or pustules, burning or looking swollen. What is this? How can mineral makeup cause such an extreme reaction?
That reaction is likely caused by the ingredient bismuth oxychloride. While bismuth oxychloride is a common ingredient in traditional makeup, as well as mineral makeup, it is used in much higher concentrations in mineral makeup. There are no fillers in mineral makeup like there are in traditional cosmetics (talc, mineral oil, aluminum powder, alcohols and parabens), so the few ingredients left, including bismuth oxychloride, make up more of the recipe.

Why Is Bismuth Oxychloride Used In Makeup?
Is it used in makeup because it gives the makeup a silky feel, good slip (this means it applies well to the skin and doesn't drag or grab on the skin) and good adhesion, which helps it stay on your skin. It feels smooth and silky when rubbed between the fingers. It is often described as a lustrous crystalline powder.
It is not the most expensive ingredient, nor is it the least expensive. It is, however, an industry standard and very common. It also gives a visible sheen to the makeup, so it's good at refracting light and that helps draw attention away from, and camouflage, fine lines, wrinkles and minor discolorations. That's a great selling point for makeup.

What Is Bismuth Oxychloride?
Bismuth oxychloride is an inorganic white pigment, and usually comes in two forms: diamond and pearl finishes. The diamond is shimmery and the pearl is more matte. Its formula is BiOCl.  If you look on the periodic table of elements, you'll notice plain old bismuth at atomic number 83, with the symbol Bi. It is the least toxic of its periodic table neighbors like lead, tin, antimony and polonium. Bismuth in itself is not safe for use in cosmetics, and must be refined and combined with other elements to produce bismuth oxychloride.
Bismuth occurs naturally, but in very small amounts. Most of the bismuth produced in the USA is as a by-product from refining lead, tin, copper, silver and gold ores.  Once the bismuth has been harvested, it is further refined through several processes to remove dangerous elements like lead. Then it is chlorinated, which gives us bismuth chloride (BiCl3). It still poses a severe risk at this point, smelling of hydrochloric acid. When bismuth chloride is combined with water, it starts to decompose and part of the chlorine is replaced by oxygen from the water. This process is called hydrolysis. The remaining compound is bismuth, chlorine and oxygen = Bismuth oxychloride.

Is It Safe To Use?
Bismuth oxychloride is a product that is FDA approved for use in products for the face, eyes, lips and nails. It is a very common and popular ingredient in both traditional and mineral makeup.  However, skin irritation from bismuth oxychloride is not unusual. According the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for bismuth oxychloride, there is a risk of it being a potential irritant to humans when it comes in contact with the skin or eyes.  It is also imperative that bismuth oxychloride be free from toxins when it hits the market. The FDA does have standards outlining this, and in their Electronic Code of Federal Regulations they dictate the composition must be free of impurities except lead, arsenic, volatile matter and mercury in specific amounts and must be 98% bismuth oxychloride.
Buying bismuth oxychloride from countries with less stringent laws may result in increased health risks, so it is wise for companies to buy from highly regulated countries, like the US and Canada.

Should I Use It?
This is a very personal question to answer. Are you are happy with your current makeup and are suffering no ill effects? Would you feel more comfortable using makeup without it? Do you find that you have to buff minerals with bismuth oxychloride into your pores or they are more obvious, and this is irritating your skin? Have you found using mineral makeup without it causes your skin relief and the reaction clears up?
These are all questions to ask yourself when deciding to purchase a brand with bismuth oxychloride as an ingredient. There are many good products available, offering the same benefits as products with bismuth oxychloride, but without the ingredient itself.

Why Lemongrass Spa Products?

Healthy Living with  

Lemongrass Spa Products 

Compiled by Heidi Leist

Terry Maxfield, Clinical Herbalist, contributor

Thank you for personally making a difference…not only to your own health and body, but to the environment for choosing Lemongrass Spa Products!
You may have come to know about our line of skin care because of the enticing Grapefruit, Heather & Hyacinth or Lavender essences, but when you discover all of the fantastic health and environmental benefits you’ll be a customer (or consultant) for life!
There has been an incredible amount of research done recently surrounding the ingredients used in the cosmetics industry.  Most people understand that SKIN IS THE LARGEST ORGAN OF THE BODY!  But what they may not realize is how much and how many chemicals are absorbed by the skin. If you don’t believe me, then how would the Nicotene ‘patch’ and the birth control ‘patch’ work?  The chemicals offered in those FDA regulated products are absorbed EASILY through the skin. Why then, would you even consider putting things like parabens, petroleum-based oils and 10,500 other
chemical ingredients on your skin?

The bad news:
* FDA counts 10,500 chemicals in cosmetics today
* 89% were never tested for safety
* 80% of tested products contained phthalates (linked to infertility & birth defects)
* Exposure to low levels of chemicals DOES matter!
* A test of 72 subjects found 455 chemicals that should not be in the human body.

EWG (environmental working group …www.ewg.org) survey of 2300 Americans showed that the average adult is exposed to 126 chemicals everyday – just from their personal care products!

4.3 million women are exposed to known or probable reproductive & developmental toxins everyday. Heavy exposure before age 25 makes it worse.

Xenoestrogens (xeno = foreign).  There are 100,000 chemicals that have ‘estrogen’ effect on the body. 5 out
of 6 chemicals in sunscreen are estrogenic, for example. Other examples include chlorine, auto exhaust, pesticides, herbicides, parabens and petroleum-based products like mineral oil.

There are so many harmful things out there – so let’s concentrate on the things we can control! Air, water, food and skin care products.


There are some wonderful natural ingredients in the Lemongrass Spa Products line.

Shea butter – comes from the karite tree in South Africa.  Its used as a cooking oil in those communities as well as a skin moisturizer. Its soothing, moisturizing and protecting.  Also anti-inflammatory, helps fade scars, eliminates stretch marks, reduces wrinkles and helps cells regenerate through capillary circulation. Offers natural SPF 3.
Jojoba oil – liquid wax produced from a seed (harvested in Arizona, California and New Mexico). The plant can live 100-200 years!  Very stable and long shelf-life. It is most similar to human sebum (the oil your skin produces on its own.) Effective conditioner, moisturizer. Helpful in psoriasis.
Essential oils – Studies show that essential oils directly affect the central nervous system and modify the brain’s reaction.  Aromatherapy can reduce aggressive behavior by 40%!
Grapefruit – stimulates the release of enkephalins, natural pain killer that produces well-being
Lavender – balancing effect, relieves pain and tension.  Fantastic remedy for burns, itching and cuts.
Tea Tree – anti-infective agent, can be used as an alternative to cleansers and detergents
Peppermint – stimulating, strengthening.  Try using it when you drive to keep alert and awake!  Excellent for eliminating headaches (rub on temples)
Rose – has uplifting effects; aphrodisiac.
Rosemary – relieves neuromuscular tension, muscles cramps and pain. Helps stimulate scalp and hair growth.
Eucalyptus – expectorant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory.
Carrot seed – revitalizes cells. Good for dry, mature, sun-damaged skin.
Aloe vera – healing, nourishing, rejuvenating.
Honey – nourishing, moisturizing.


“What you offer is natural, soothing, healing and rejuvenating.  I hope you feel good about that and have confidence that the Lemongrass product line is safe, pure and cutting edge.  You have something unique to offer people.  And, something that doesn’t bombard them with xenoestrogens or harmful preservatives like parabens or formaldehyde.  You’re giving people the choice to eliminate a huge number of harmful chemicals from their life!  What an important service.”    Terry Maxfield, Clinical Herbalist, Bailey, Colorado.