QC Terme Products - Bagni Nuovi

Over New Years this year I was getting some rest and relax in Northern Italy.  One important part of this regime was my trip to Bagni Nuovi outside Bormio.  Bagni Nuovi are the thermal springs next to the Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi with a great spa full of all kinds of pools, saunas, and general relax activities.  Being a self professed impulsive spendaholic I had to snap up all of the products that were used as part of my facial.  A 126 euros later I was the proud owner of a cleanser, toner, mask, scrub, and moisturizer.  All of the products contain thermal water and I have been using them all twice a day since (except for the scrub and mask which I’ve been using twice a week).  My skin really liked this regime.  It remained calm, no break outs.  I didn’t always like the smell, there was something artificial smelling about them.  As you’ll see below there are no essential oils contained.Happy spa-goer who refused to take my picture in the hot tub, hence why his photo is on here instead of mine!

Smoothing Milk Toner – All ingredients are rated below a 5 on EWG’s skindeep cosmetics database except for triethanolamine (6) and parfum.  However, given that you’re removing this product from your face after a few minutes, there’s not much risk of triethanolamine penetrating the dermis at significant levels.

Thermal Water Aroma Spray – First ingredient: aqua.  Second ingredient: benzyl alcohol. Strike out!  This chemical is a 6 on the EWG but also it’s drying on the skin which is the exact opposite impact you want on your skin when you’re trying to hydrate.  Since it’s the second ingredient listed on the label, this means that it is the second ingredient greatest in volume.  I’m not going to dignify further analysis of this one’s ingredient list because by the look of the unpronounceable names there are more baddies in here.

Regenerating Face Mask – Things are going from bad to worse here.  This product contains benzyl alcohol (6), PEG-75 Stearate (4-7 depending on usage), Steareth-20 (4-5), and parfum.  As the PEG-75 Stearate and Steareth-20 are close to the bottom of the list then their toxicity will come in at the bottom of the EWG’s skindeep cosmetics database scale.  However I’m becoming ill at ease.

Vitamin Face Scrub - First ingredient: aqua.  Second ingredient: almond oil.  Third ingredient alcohol denat (5).   Strike out number 2!  Alcohol denatured is too high on the list and as such is a deal breaker for me.  However, a quick glance at the rest of the list I did see benzyl alcohol and parfum again.

Anti-Oxidising 24h Face Cream – I’m too depressed to continue.Even more depressing - dogs make me feel unfashionable in Livigno

Had I done my formulation analysis before I bought these products then I wouldn’t have bought them.  However, it was a useful exercise nonetheless since I always learn something new from EWG’s skindeep cosmetics database.  Apart from dropping an undeserved bomb on the products, I did have a lovely holiday.  Check me out below with US ski champion Bode Miller.  I’ll bet his hat-head would be even worse than mine if he actually took off his hat.