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Cuban natural cosmetics enter
international market
BY LILLIAM RIERA
—Granma International staff writer—
A
natural and ecological line of cosmetics containing
highly mineralized Cuban mud and water as active
ingredients is entering the international market in
diverse forms: dermatological soap, nutritive masks,
thermal clay, anti-cellulite mud, facial toners and
sunscreens.
For
centuries, humans have used nature’s resources, such
as curative clay and mud, to cure various
osteo-muscular and skin afflictions.
Ricardo Páez, from the José Isaac Corral Central
Laboratories (LACEMI) where the cosmetics are
produced, explained to Granma International
that the company’s production capacity is small in
terms of the demand for these so-called
dermo-cosmetics, marketed by international natural
pharmacies in Cuba and for exportation primarily to
Spain and the Dominican Republic.
These natural and ecological products can be used
alone or mixed with treatments containing other
basic ingredients such as plants, fruits, milk,
etc.
Therapeutic muds are highly valued because they can
be gently applied to delicate areas of the body
where massage techniques, frequently employed in
today’s treatments, are too extreme.
According to Angelina Borrego, the muds used in
these skin cosmetics are of marine origin and
composed of many types of sediment, microorganisms,
and vegetable and animal elements. They are
extracted from salt mines in Diez de Abril, in the
central province of Villa Clara; Bidos in the the
western province of Matanzas; Santa Lucía in
Camagüey (east) and Puerto Padre in Las Tunas east),
respectively.
She
explained that these sediments contain chemical
elements such as magnesium, copper and zinc, and
silica, which are very useful in combating wrinkles.
They retard the aging process by revitalizing cells
and by strengthening skin tension and delicate
facial muscles.
The
natural skin cosmetics manufactured by LACEMI
nourish and soften the skin. Moisturizing creams
help to eliminate toxins, stimulate blood
circulation and normalize cellular rejuvenation. Due
to their high sulfur content, the sediments also act
as antioxidants neutralizing free radicals.
Thermal clay, for example, is notable for its
unclogging and regenerative properties, while the
anti-cellulite mud encourages natural tissue
drainage and activates microcirculation.
The
dermatological soap eliminates blotches caused by
such conditions as pityriasis versicolor (a
discoloring fungus), and treats acne, scabies, lice,
psoriasis, dermatitis, and dandruff.
Páez
added that at the moment the company is trying to
introduce into the hard-currency markets a medicinal
talc made of iron zeolite (a nonmetallic mineral)
from deposits in Las Villas, and a exfoliating soap
made of this mineral and volcanic glass.
These Cuban skin cosmetics are widely used in heath
spas around the country.
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