As our skin changes and Earth’s environmental issues become more apparent, the demand for clean products has never been higher. In 2018, the natural personal care market had an estimated worth of 13.33 billion dollars. This market value is expected to grow by 9.4 percent by 2025.
With so many natural skin care products in your local pharmacy, beauty store, and online, are they worth the hype? Many mainstream products that claim to beautify your skin have harmful chemicals that can have the opposite effect. While natural skin care products often come at a higher price, they include fewer traces of these damaging ingredients.
Before you decide on your next moisturizer, toner, or cleanser, read on to discover the top natural skin care benefits.
Safer for Your Skin
When you put lotion, toner, makeup, or any other product on your skin, remember that it seeps into your pores and absorbs into your body. While not all chemicals are bad, many unnatural products have harmful ingredients. These can affect more than your appearance.
With many natural products, their shortlist of ingredients are clean, simple, and safe for your body.
Synthetic products refer to any products made in a laboratory by manipulating or copying other ingredients. While it’s important to remember that not all laboratory-made products are dangerous, many can be. Parabens, fragrances, and other preservatives can wreak havoc on our skin.
Founded by Lindsay Giguiere, companies like Greenfield Groves work to re-imagine health and wellness. Natural ingredients continue to move to the forefront of skin care. Certified natural and organic products have strong remedial properties that often come with less of a risk of health issues.
Safer for the Environment
A surprising, important fact to know is that the US currently doesn’t require health studies or personal testing for cosmetic ingredients. In fact, 89 percent of skin care ingredients have not been evaluated for safety.
With certified natural ingredients, the number of toxic pesticides and additives decreases. This positive impact on the environment is one of the top benefits of natural skin care.
For example, many mainstream facial cleansers contain plastic beads that work to remove dead skin cells. However, these plastic beads can wreak havoc once they’re used and dumped into the ocean.
Fish and other sea life can mistake these micro-beads for food, which is detrimental to their health. Also, studies show that these tiny spheres can carry many toxic chemicals throughout the marine ecosystem. This is just one example of an unnatural ingredient causing harm to the environment.
Natural skin care products also require less manufacturing and mining. Because certified natural products use simple ingredients, this reduces the industry’s environmental impact.
More Packed With Nutrients
As natural products often have shorter lists of ingredients, you’ll likely receive a higher amount of nutrients. While many brands advertise vitamins and nutrients, it’s important to read your labels carefully. Healthy, safe, and certified natural products will have a simple, easy-to-read label full of nutrients.
Some of these nutrients may include vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium. Here are some of these natural nutrients and their main benefits:
Vitamin C
- Limits harmful ultraviolet sun rays
- Neutralizes free-radicals
- Regenerates damaged skin
- Evens out skin tone
- Promotes natural radiance
Vitamin D
- Protects skin from harmful elements
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Aides in cell growth, repair, and metabolism
Zinc
- Contains anti-inflammatory properties
- Helps acne-prone skin or injured skin repair itself
- Reduces scarring and dark spots
- Promotes anti-aging
Selenium
- Protects and firms skin
- Reduces premature wrinkles and other signs of aging
- Reduces hyper-pigmentation
- Limits harmful ultraviolet rays
Ingredients to Stay Away From
While beautiful skin care packaging and advertising is tempting, it’s important to conduct your own research on what to buy. When shopping in the stores or online, be sure to read and understand your product’s ingredients. After all, these products will live on the surface of your skin and inside your body.
One of the top ingredients to stay away from are parabens. Parabens allow our products to have a long shelf-life and remain visually appealing. However, these preservatives can remain in our tissue for years.
One study found that among 20 patients with breast cancer tumors, 19 of them had trace amounts of parabens in their tumors. While this does not conclude that cancer is a cause of parabens, this study shows a significant correlation.
Another ingredient to stay away from in your skin care products is mineral oil. While mineral oil is a common ingredient in many skin care products, it can coat the skin with a heavy residue and clog pores. This can create breakouts and interfere with our skin’s natural processes.
You also want to stay away from synthetic fragrances. Most laboratory-made skin care products use synthetic fragrances to mask chemical smells. However, many brands are not transparent with what their synthetic fragrances are made from. It’s best to steer clear of ingredients that you’re unsure of.
Finally, another top ingredient to stay away from in skin care products is sulfate. Sulfates are often found in laundry detergents and soaps due to its foamy, lathering effects. While sulfates are effective in removing debris in clogged pores, they can strip the skin of its natural oils.
Above all, be sure to read the ingredients in every product you use. You’ll want to know and understand all that your body is absorbing.
Invest in Natural Skin Care Products Today
While there are many natural skin care products on the market, they may not all be right for you. Remember, just because a product claims to be natural doesn’t mean it always is. Be sure to read your ingredients list and research your skin care products.
With natural, simple ingredients, you can feel confident that you’re providing your skin with quality care. By using natural cosmetic products, the appearance of your skin, overall health, and the environment will thank you.
Did you enjoy learning about why to use natural skin care? For more helpful tips, information, and the latest in health and wellness, be sure to check out the rest of our website.