The ingredients in all Ginesis Shampoo and Conditioner
were certified Kosher 1996. The word kosher means proper or acceptable, and it has informally entered the English language with that meaning. But kosher laws have their origin in the Bible, and are detailed in the Talmud and the other codes of Jewish traditions. They have been applied through the centuries to everchanging situations, and these rulings, both ancient and modern, govern OU (Orthodox Union) Kosher certification. This is further proof that there
are no synthetic chemicals in these products, and that they
are pure. 

Balm Mint and Mistletoe Extract - An expensive compound containing antiseptic properties that destroy airborne bacteria. Anti-spasmodic, it also exerts a positive influence on oily skin and is used in Germany to heal blemished complexions.

Cetyl Alcohol - Derived from coconut and palm oils. This is not a drying alocohol. Used as an emollient and to protect skin from moisture loss. 

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - Skin conditioning agent from the mixed triester of glycerol, caprylic and capric acid.  

Carrot Root Extract - An abundant source of Vitamin A with rich anti-oxidant properties. It is necessary for tissue repair and maintenance and accelerates the formation of healthy new skin cells. Vitamin A deters excess dryness.  

Citric Acid - Widely used in the cosmetic industry. Derived from citrus fruits by fermentation of crude sugars. Used as a preservative and to adjust acid-alkali balance. Citric acid is said to have antioxidant and toning properties.  

Citric acid and Silver Citrate – All natural preservative and anti microbial based on a stabilized silver complex produced by a unique electrochemical process with silver and citric acid. It is a water-soluble silver salt of citric acid. 

Cocamide - A true cleansing oil obtained from the coconut that contributes to the removal of EXCESS oil without dissolving essential oils.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine - Is a mild amphoteric co-surfactant. It is derived from coconut oil and is highly water soluble in wide pH range, pH: 5 - 6 (10 % aqueous solution). It is supplied in a clear yellow liquid with no or faint odor. Cocamidopropyl betain is very mild co-surfactant compatible with anionic, nonionic, cationic surfactants (also useful as primary surfactant), good cleanser & foam booster, viscosity enhancer, excellent conditioning & antistatic agent, moderate emulsifier. It is used in body  washes, shampoos, bubble baths, cleansing lotions, creams, hand soaps, baby products, hair conditioners, cream rinses at use levels of 2-40%.

Fennel Extract - Taken directly from green and yellow plants, is a vitamin intensive product that also soothes and lends itself to the care of sensitive skin.

Glycerin - Is used in cosmetics to hold moisture against the skin and prevent dryness. 

Glyceryl Stearate SE - Derived from glycerin and stearic acid; contains sodium and potassium;

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride  - Naturally derived from Guar tree, thickening and stabilizing agent. 

Hops Extract - Contains phyto-hormones that tone and soothe skin by promoting blood flow. 
emulsifier, softens and smooths.

Lanolin - A fatty substance made from wool, that moisturizes and emulsifies, as well as absorbs water. 

Matricaria Extract - Known as azulene. An essential oil distilled from flowers of Matricaria chamomilla, or German camomile. One of its major components, chamazulene, is an effective anti-inflammatory that encourages healing.  

Natural Glycerine - Obtained from plants (versus the commonly-used synthetic glycerine, now being investigated as a carcinogenic). Natural glycerine does not fade hair color like synthetic glycerine.

Oleamidopropyl - Derived from coconuts and contains anti-irritant properties.

Peppermint Oil - Is an extract of Peppermint leaves from the plant Mentha piperita. Has a purifying effect and acts as a cooling agent for the skin. Biologically active. Preservative - a product added to inhibit decomposition. 

Pine Tar Oil - Used widely for its antiseptic ability.

Purified Water - Not only clean, but without harmful chlorine.

Rosemary Extract - Rosmarinus officinalis. Essential oil beneficial to both hair and skin for its antioxidant, toning and purifying properties. In hair care products it is said to stimulate hair follicles to grow and encourage circulation to the scalp.  

Spearmint Oil - Widely available in many grades, but Ginesis uses only the purest and highest food grade. It actually relaxes the skin and is used in China for facial neuralgia. 

Stearalkonium Chloride - (From coconut and salt). Reduces static electricity by neutralizing electrical charges on hair. Good conditioning agent.

Urea - A natural element derived from nitrogen and used in the medical community for cleansing necrotic tissue and to combat inflammatory symptoms. This ingredient and its derivatives are thought to contain cell regeneration properties. 

Yarrow Extract - A plant derivative containing anti-inflammatory properties, is recommended for overly sensitive skin and is widely used in the orient for invigorating baths.

Hidden hazards in most other body care products:
Sodium laureth sulfat, sodium lauryl sulfat and propylenglykol - known toxins - lurks in most shampoos.  

By Judith Coleman Cohen, Discovery Research Co.

For years, many men and women have attempted to improve their appearances. But, in their quest for perfection, they have not stopped to consider the consequences of routinely using their shampoos, moisturizing creams, toothpastes or cosmetics. Could the tube of lipstick, moisturizing lotion or baby shampoo be exacting a price on our health?

This very well may be the case. While environmental pollutants and toxins can be easily absorbed through the air, our water and our food, they can also come from other unlikely sources. Launching an investigation of the chemicals found in cosmetics and personal care products, researchers have reported some shocking discoveries. Industrial chemicals, long banned and at 100 times the allowable amounts, can be found in many of the products we use every day.

Cosmetic chemistry is nothing more that a blend of industrial chemicals.

Propylene glycol, a humectant found in most moisturizers, is an industrial ant-freeze and is also used for deicing airplanes. The Material Safety Data Sheet, issued by the chemical's manufacturer, states that it is systemic, and "through skin contact, it causes liver abnormalities and kidney damage in laboratory animals."

Other ingredients have also raised cause for alarm. Dioxane, found in baby shampoos, has been determined by the FDA to be an animal carcinogen. In a 1978 study done at the Unilever Research Laboratory (present owner of Elizabeth Arden), a common surfactant, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) found in most cleansers, toothpastes and shampoos was found to irritate the skin, corrode the hair and contribute to significant hair loss. Further tests indicated that it can keep children's eyes from developing properly and contributed to the development of cataracts in some adults. In children under the age of six, SLS prevents proteins from linking up properly. Furthermore, it was found to mix with other chemicals present in shampoos to form nitrosamines, a human carcinogen. This very same ingredient is used in research clinics to irritate skin for healing tests. It is also used to degrease automobile engines and clean garage floors because of its corrosive nature.

Another common ingredient in most moisturizers, mineral oil, comes from crude oil (petroleum) used in industry as a metal cutting fluid. It may suffocate the skin by forming an oil film. Healthy skin needs oxygen, and to release carbon dioxide it should not be inhibited. Holding large amounts of moisture in the skin can "flood" the biology and may result in immature, unhealthy, sensitive skin that dries out easily. Glycerin (synthetic/non-natural) acts in a similar fashion, drawing moisture from inside the skin and holding it on the surface for a better feel. While these two ingredients may not necessarily be toxic, they can dry the skin from the inside out, and ultimately cause premature aging.

There is cause for concern. The average woman applies more than two hundred chemicals a day to her body, (men, somewhat fewer), most of which initiate an immune response. In this day of chemical overload, it is ridiculous to think that this toxic abuse is not affecting our health.

So what do we do now? Throw away our make-up and go "au naturel?" No, alternatives are out there, we just need to take the initiative to educate ourselves in a little biochemistry, read labels, learn about ingredients, scan a few reports and attend a few lectures. Then when it is time to replace those products, it will be done with knowledge. No, we don't have to give up our skin care products, we just need to be informed and choose wisely. We then need to teach this valued information to our children and others we care about.