All right readers it is time to crack this one open. Vogue international has a shampoo and conditioner line called "Vitamin Shampoo". Vogue international advertises their natural sulfate and paraben-free shampoos and conditioners. Infact, if you visit their website it simply states: "We desire to make better choices. We're concerned about what we put in our bodies. We try to eat better, exercise, drink bottled water, and take better care of ourselves." Wait let’s stop there!

We had a few customers who mentioned they were using Vitamin Shampoo. They told us Vitamin Shampoo says they are natural. We respect our customers choices and use their feedback to make better products. Our policy here at Opas Soap is to educate you. We are not looking to take away any business. Our hearts are warm and we only want the best for our customers and their family and friends. We will reveal the truth for you. I randomly picked a list of ingredients for Vogue international's Vitamin Shampoo. The dangerous ingredients and chemicals I will reveal are from Gogi Berry Green Tea Shampoo. Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (MES), 1,4-Dioxane, Cocamide DEA (DEA-related ingredients), and DMDM Hydantoin (a Formaldehyde releasing agent)

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate (MES) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are very much alike. They are both Anionic Surfactants with foam enhancing abilities whereas they are used in facial cleansers, detergents, bubble baths, and car washes. Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate can also be used as an emulsifier and humectant. Based on research, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate is an ethoxylated surfactant and is considered to be carcinogenic because of its manufacturing process, in the process, which, the toxic chemical 1,4-Dioxane is generated. Please see 1,4-Dioxane at cosmeticdatabase.com.

1,4-Dioxane is listed as a carcinogen and may exert it's effect through inhalation, skin absorption, and Ingestion. Overexposure may irritate eye, mucous membrane, and skin. Also causing Nervous system depressant, Nephrotoxin (a toxin that affects the kidneys), and Hepotoxin (a substance capable of causing damage to the liver)

1,4-Dioxane at acute exposure causes irritation, head ache, dizziness, and narcosis(deep unconsciousness produced by a drug or other chemical substances) Chronic inhalation exposure can produce damage to the liver and kidneys, and blood disorders.

One containing a or many medical conditions aggravated by exposure to 1,4-Dioxane / Sodium Laureth Sulfate preclude from exposure those individuals with disease of blood, liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and those susceptible to dermatitis.

Please research the ingredients in the body care products you are purchasing. Just because a company advertises natural, vitamins, or well-being and just because they are in a mainstream magazine i.e "Womens Health", "Vogue", "Womans Day", "Lifestyle" doesn't mean they are all natural and safe to use on your skin and body. It is called "Greenwashing". Greenwashing can be a number of misleading words and or advertisement for a certain product. You will need to make the decision on your own but it could be the fact that Vogue international and their "Vitamin Shampoo”, which, #1 all ready makes me feel as a consumer that there are some vitamins in this shampoo to help with my hair and #2 because any consumer can correlate and associate the title "vitamins" with being natural, #3 because I am convinced I need vitamins for my hair I am therefore distracted and or uneducated by the main and or toxic ingredients that are listed before my eyes and #4 because I have trusted my local government to protect me and my family against these harmful chemicals.

Cocamide DEA is used in shampoos as an emulsifier and as a foaming agent. Cocamide DEA is linked to cancer. The Federal National Toxicology Program completed a study in 1998 that found an association between the topical application of diethanolamine and certain DEA-related ingredients cause cancer in animals. Although it does not state it causes cancer in humans, these chemicals are restricted in Europe because they are known for their carcinogenic effects. Dr. Samuel Epstein Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois says that repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer. Studies show DEA-related ingredients (including Cocamide DEA) directly inhibits fetal brain development in laboratory studies by blocking the absorption of choline, a nutrient required for brain development and maintenance. The following has been quoted:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have discovered that when DEA was applied to the skin of pregnant mice at concentrations similar to those found in shampoos, the fetuses showed inhibited cell growth and increased cell death in an area of the brain responsible for memory - the hippocampus.

“I don’t believe any woman who’s been using these products needs to have a sleepless night about having caused harm to her child,” said Dr. Steven Zeisel, Kenan Distinguished University Professor of nutrition in UNC’s schools of public health and medicine and associate dean for research in the School of Public Health.

“At this point it is a caution,” he added. “But it would probably be prudent to look at labels and try to limit exposure until we know more.”

DEA is also associated with miscarriages in laboratory studies. “We saw smaller and smaller litters as we gave higher doses. No one has ever noted that before,” Zeisel said.

“This agent not only affects brain development, but at higher doses probably affects some other development in a way that is fatal to the fetus,” he said.

So that’s what diethanolamine does to animals. But what about humans? An average bottle of shampoo contains up to 10 ml diethanolamine. When we use this shampoo, we massage the diethanolamine into our scalp, pouring in hot water to increase absorption. After 30 shampoos, we are exposed to 10 ml (0.3 oz) of pure, undiluted diethanolamine - more than poor lab mice were!

Cocamide DEA will not improve the health of your hair instead it puts your health at risk. For pregnant women it is safe to avoid Cocamide DEA and all DEA-related ingredients. Please educate your loved ones about Cocamide DEA and DEA-related ingredients.

DMDM Hydantoin is used as a preservative in cosmetics, shampoo and conditioners. DMDM Hydantoin is a formaldehyde-releasing agent. Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong smelling chemical used to manufacture building material and to produce many household products such as; permanent press fabrics, glues, insulation materials, and plywood. We are exposed to formaldehyde on an every day basis. According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde is normal present in both indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air.  Materials containing formaldehyde can release formaldehyde gas and or vapor into the air. For example, formaldehyde exposure in the air can come from an automobile tailpipe, emissions. Formaldehyde can cause cancer. In 1980 a laboratory studies showed exposure to formaldehyde could cause nasal cancer in rats. This finding raised the question whether formaldehyde exposure could also cause cancer in humans. In 1987, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen under conditioner of unusually high or prolonged exposure. Since then, some studies of industrial workers have suggested that formaldehyde exposure is associated with nasal sinus cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer (Cancer located in the upper part of the throat behind the nose), and possibly leukemia (Cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the blood stream). In 1995 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen. In June 2004, after evaluating all existing data, the (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.

DMDM Hydantoin can be found in the following products; baby shampoo, herbicides, copy paper, adhesives, floor waxes, and hair conditioners. A study on DMDM Hydantoin (a formaldehyde releasing agent) was conducted using 12 patients. Each patient was given 1% DMDM Hydantoin cream to apply on his or her arm using twice daily for one entire week. 4 patients or (33%) developed dermatitis. As quoted below: An increase in the use of DMDM Hydantoin in cosmetic products will also inevitable increase the risk of cosmetic dermatitis in consumers allergic to formaldehyde.

1,2-dimethylol-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin
1,3-bis (hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-2,4-imidazolidinedione Dantoin DMDMH Dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin DMDM hydantoin DMDMH Glydant Glydant Plus (95:5 misture of DMDM hydantoin and Ido propynyl butyl carbamate) Mackgard DM Nipaguard DMDMH