I only like to use natural skin care products on my skin. No one can be sure how the chemicals in products affect us over time, especially when they are combined. Natural skin care and health products are often the best solutions because they do not contain harmful chemicals. The problem is that many cosmetics companies paste all natural on a product without actually being “all” natural. There may be some natural ingredients in the product but they also include harsh chemicals.
It is now much easier now to find natural skin care products that are 100% natural. There is no reason to have synthetic preservatives in your makeup just so it will be able to stay on the shelf longer.
Skincare is a top priority for me, and I am always looking for innovative, natural new products. I am always looking for natural cleansers, masks, day creams, night creams, scrubs, bath oils, anti aging creams and body lotions.
Companies have made a lot of progress in the last twenty years through the use of carefully selected whole plant ingredients. There have been a wide variety of new products launched with 100% natural ingredients, which are proven effective. Natural skin care is huge business. People are willing to pay for skin products that are natural, if they are effective and if they believe in the product.
Organically grown, cold-pressed oils, organically grown wildcrafted herbs and unrefined, unbleached butters and waxes are all ingredients you want to look for in natural skin care products.
Some of the ingredients you want to avoid is mineral oils, fragrances, dioxane, parabens, ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol. These ingredients are in hundreds of products I have looked at.
Mineral oil may also go by the names liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, and petrolatum. Mineral oil is used in skin care products for one reason, it is very cheap. The problem is mineral oil clogs the pores and prevents the skin from breathing. This will interfere with your skin’s natural ability to eliminate toxins, and can lead to acne. Mineral oil is irritating to the skin and if used for a long time your skin can become dependent on it and cause chapping and dryness.
Dioxane is widely used in skincare products, it is a synthetic derivative of coconut. It often contains high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane which is considered a chemical known to cause cancer.
Many fragrances are produced from ingredients that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Anything put on the skin is absorbed into the body. We all like to smell nice but, why would you want to put an ingredient that is known to be toxic or carcinogenic into your body?
Methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben. Parabens are effective preservatives to make shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, spray tanning solutions, toothpaste and foods have a longer shelf life. They are used for their bacteriocidal and fungicidal properties. There are studies that suggest that parabens may cause cancer, interfere with the body’s endocrine system and cause allergic reactions and skin rashes.
Alcohols can be very drying and irritating and they can strip away the skin’s natural protective oily layer that helps regulate moisture loss and water retention. This can make your skin vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses.
The point is to read your labels, just because a product says it is natural does not mean it has all natural ingredients. Use products from companies you can trust.
By Herb B. Lewis, visit The best herb store ever and Enzymedica.