If you experience any of the symptoms listed below when using your skin care products, heed my advice and toss them immediately.

Listed below are a few tips to help you transition into a healthier life.

•  Does your skin feel tight, itchy and dry after washing your face? Red Flag! Your cleanser has basically stripped every morsel of oil, i.e. sebum, protective barrier, yumminess off of your skin and now left you exposed to the sun, dry air, winds, dirt, pollution, airborne microbes and a host of other harsh elements. No wonder your skin is red and screaming for help. Your body has been stripped of protective barrier and anything you now put on it is irritating. Never over-work the body unnecessarily because this is when toxicity and disease can metastasize. After washing your skin with product, if that skin does not feel comfortable in the skin it is in, I do not recommend continued usage.

•  Does your skin care say 100% Natural? Red Flag! This claim may be made only to entice you into buying the product. Further investigate by reading the ingredient label. Water or a few drops of essential oils are natural thus the claim of "natural" can be made. Don't be a fool for the beauty business. Read your labels!

•  Are your skincare products pink, yellow or red? Red Flag! Unless you see beet juice or another harmless food ingredient that would cause such a color, most likely the pigment is an FD&C (Food, Drug and Cosmetic) color. FD&C colors have produced malignant tumors under the skin of rats. Obviously you want nothing to do with this on or near your body!

•  Does your product have warning labels on it? Red Flag! Anything that needs to be kept out of reach of children, medically attended to if ingested or kept away from high heat does not belong anywhere on or near your body! Would you eat such a product?

•  Do your products smell very artificial? Perfume-y? Fruity? Red Flag! Think of that product as a Twinkie; complete and utter junk food for the body. Do not allow your skin to absorb this on a daily basis. Also know that most likely this fragrance is possibly trying to cover up a very alkaline and chemical smell. Think it's not true? Next time take a very concentrated whiff and smell your product for yourself. Healthy skin care should smell clean and like food. It also should not have a long shelf life.