making the transition to organic and natural skincare
Switching to non-toxic, chemical free beauty can be easily and simply implemented into your daily routine. There are many choices we can make to limit our exposure to chemicals with potentially adverse side effects.
You probably have heard of the ingredients to avoid in your skincare, knowing they can be toxic, but never researched what they actually are. Here is a list of most common synthetic ingredients widely used in conventional cosmetics explained:
1. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are closely related synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives in lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics
2. Parfum or Fragrance - thousands of hidden chemicals. Most fragrances are stabilized with phthalates, which are large class of chemical compounds to increase the flexibility and strength of plastics.
3. PEG Compounds - synthetic polymers also known as liquid plastics.
4. Mineral oil - a petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging its pores and causing breakouts and more lasting acne conditions.
5. SLS Sodium Laureth/Laurel Sulfate - derived from petroleum. The biggest concern is the long-term side effect of sulfate production, linked to climate change, pollution, and greenhouse gases so they come with a long list of the reasons why we shouldn't use them.
6. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamide), and TEA (triethanolamine) - synthetic compound that may not be harmful on its own, but over time reacts with other ingredients in cosmetic formulations and forms nitroso diethanolamine (NDEA), a powerful carcinogen that is absorbed through the skin.
7. Formaldehyde Preservative - A highly toxic ingredient and is known human carcinogen found in a range of product mainly nail polish and is used as part of the embalming process to preserve deceased individuals.
8. Dibutyl phthalate - plasticizer aka liquid plastic that is mainly used in nail polish and colored cosmetics.
9. Siloxanes - manmade industrial polymers. The most common form used in cosmetics is Dimethicone.
10. Triclosan - A synthetic antibacterial agent
11. DMDM HYDANTOIN & UREA (Imidazolidinyl) - Preservatives that often release formaldehyde which is highly toxic and may cause joint pain, skin allergies, headaches, and loss of sleep.
12. Coal Tar Dyes- a thick liquid contain heavy metals such as aluminum which are toxic to the brain.
The common characteristics among the listed ingredients are that they are synthetic chemicals or some form on liquid plastics or by-product of petroleum. They don’t contain any vitamins, minerals or essentials fatty acids that our skin needs. If they do not have any positive effect on our skin’s health, then why use them?
The best way to know what’s in your skincare is to check the ingredient list. Here are two different labels to compare:
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trisiloxane, Trehalose, Sucrose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Silybum Marianum (Lady'S Thistle) Extract, Betula Alba (Birch) Bark Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment, Caffeine, Sorbitol, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Oleth-10, Sodium Polyaspartate, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Tromethamine, Peg-8, Hexylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium EDTA, BHTd, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4 (Ci 14700), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140).
Aqua (Mineral Rich Spring Water),Linum Usitatissimum (Flax) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil*, Rosa (Rosehip) Canina Fruit Oil*, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (Plant Derived), Cetyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Glyceryl Stearate (Plant Derived), Harpagophytum Procumbens (Devils Claw) Root Extract*, Lycium Barbarum Fruit (Goji Berry) Extract*, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate (Probiotic)****, Rosa Canina (Rosehip Fruit) Seed Extract*, Benzyl Alcohol, Inulin (Prebiotic)****, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid) (Plant Derived), Glycerin, Arnica Montana (Arnica) Flower Extract*, Avena Sativa (Oat) Seed Extract*, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract*, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide (Prebiotic)****, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (Antioxidant)*, Althaea Officinalis Root (Marshmallow) Extract*, Ginkgo Biloba (Ginko) Leaf Extract*, Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Leaf Extract*, Helichrysum Angustifolium (Immortal) Flower Oil*, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) (Plant Derived), Withania Somnifera (Indian Ginseng) Root Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder*, Litsea Cubeba (May Chung) Fruit Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil*, Leuconostoc (Root) Ferment Filtrate, Myrtus Communis (Myrtle) Leaf Oil*, Dehydroacetic Acid, Rosa Damascena (Rose Otto) Flower Oil*
Can you see the difference?
Organic and natural skincare is more focused on what is in the product and how each element has its purpose to feed and nurture your skin. There is no place for chemicals that don’t serve us well. There can be a bit of a stigma around the efficacy of natural and organic beauty products. Fortunately, through constant innovation and developments and abundance of potent botanicals we have access to organic and natural skincare that outperforms their chemical-laden counterparts. As conscious consumers we all can make good choices, not just for ourselves but for our wonderful planet too.