Zinco

[Guest guest]

:

I am not familiar with this product (in fact, I've never used it) but your

question interested me because you have two basically similar products,

however one, the tinted one, makes you break out. To quote from your letter:

<< I used the tinted Zinco at first thinking the color would help hide the

redness...well, besides being greasy, after a few days, it made my skin

extremely dry and flaky and caused breakouts. I then switched to the

untinted and have not had a single problem with it at all. It's not greasy

at all. In fact, it's really cleared my face up quite a bit.

>>

I searched the list archives to find the ingredients of Zinco. I have to

assume that the tinted product contains the following (which is listed on the

box as saying " may also contain " ) iron oxides, talc, chromium oxide greens,

and ultramarines.

I was curious as to where these ingredients come from and I finally found a

FAQ for cosmetic colorants, which I'd like to share:

> Q. What are the oxides and ultramarines made from?

>

> A. According to the information I've received, the raw materials for the

oxides are

> iron, sulfur and acid while the raw materials for the ultramarines are

china clay

> (kaolin), sulphur and sodium carbonate.

I've seen several people on the board who have definately identified sulphur

and sulphur containing products as triggers. I'm no chemistry student, but

it seems logical to me that IF you are sensitive to sulfur maybe (read a BIG

MAYBE, here) because the nature of the cream it to get absorbed into the skin

that ultramarine, by containing sulfur, may cause a reaction in some

individuals.

Cosmetics, like eyeshadow, etc., that contain ultramarine are usually

expected to just sit on top of the skin.

It's a thought to ponder.

Best regards,

Harriet

[Guest guest]

> > A. According to the information I've received, the raw

materials for the oxides are iron, sulfur and acid while the raw

materials for the ultramarines are china clay (kaolin), sulphur and

sodium carbonate.

Harriet--

Wow! Thanks for doing this research. I've had bad--even seemingly

irreversible--reactions to Sulfacet (a sulfur product) as well as

ZincO and, it appears, anything that contains zinc oxide or titandium

dioxide--primarily a sudden outbreak of big papules. I had assumed

these all to be unrelated reactions, but perhaps they're all

manifestations of intolerance of sulfur. This is all very

illuminating.

--Elisabeth