NATURAL SKIN CARE: WHAT IS IT REALLY?
Using natural skin care products and organic skin care products, is a growing desire for most
people. You want skin care that is effective, safe to use and good for the environment. There
are many natural products in the market place and an increasing amount being sold as organic.
Why choose natural and organic skin care products?
The natural vs. synthetic debate has become very intense and polarized. Which is better?
Which is safer? What should you use? There is so much information - much of it inaccurate - on the internet. There are consumer groups hellbent on scaring the consumer away from buying practically anything, natural or synthetic. Every ingredient seems to be hazardous in their opinion. It's gotten a bit out of control. It can be made quite simple. If your desire is to use a skin care product with an effect on the skin use products that actually have ingredients that will provide that effect. Most synthetic ingredients used in skin care products are in there to make the product look good in the bottle. These are emulsifiers that keep the oil and the water from separating, surfactants that cleanse and preservatives. A majority of natural products will have mainly active ingredients in the product. This would be vegetable oils, herbals, essential oils and nutrients (though many nutrients like vitamin C, CoQ10 and others are synthetically made).
The choice in this direction is now between a majority of active ingredients or functional - just
there to make the product look good - ingredients. Ingredients that are synthetically composed of petroleum are also viewed as more environmentally hazardous. As an environmental concern, natural ingredients should be sustainable, and not in danger of extinction.
There's a lot more depth to this discussion.
Organic skin care products
It's best if you play the role of the skeptic when it comes to labels and marketing. If a label says organic skin care it should have an official seal, like the USDA NOP certified organic seal. If an organic skin care line is coming from Europe it may have the ECOCERT label.
What is natural skin care?
The bigger challenge is in identifying what defines natural. Many ingredients labeled as natural are really synthetic. This doesn't make them bad or dangerous, as many people are being led to believe. Several ingredients, such as vegetable emulsifying wax and cetearyl alcohol, are derived from plant sources and altered to become a new compound used in skin care. These start as natural so are often described as natural ingredients by the brands using them. Natural soap is another chemically altered ingredient that is no longer natural. Coconut oil is used in a reaction with sodium or potassium hydroxide to create a cleanser. The resulting compound, or soap, is called sodium cocoate - if made with sodium hydroxide, potassium cocoate if made with potassium hydroxide. This compound does not occur in nature so cannot be defined as a natural ingredient. These two examples are used to show the difficulty in defining a natural ingredient. The ingredients are fine for use in natural products as they are safe, effective at their function for the skin care product, and are not disruptive to the environment.
TIPS FOR NATURAL SKIN CARE
Skin care, once thought of as expensive and time-consuming, can actually be a surprisingly easy, effective boost to your health and confidence. There are several ways to take care of your skin, including diet, exercise, cosmetics, and the use of natural skincare products. Simple products and choices can elongate your skin's youthful appearance and prevent future problems. Good skin care can simple. From proper cleansing to using the right skincare solutions, here are a few
healthy tips:
1. HYDRATION
The appearance of our skin is affected by our digestion. Many common skin conditions like
rosacea and psoriasis have possible root causes in digestive issues. Regular daily hydration -
specifically water - is the most effective way to combat problems in digestion. Water cleans out the cells in your body, removing the bacteria and waste that infects your skin. Drinking the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day will speed the process of cell-cleansing and will lead to better skin cell content.
2. FIBER
The best source for regulating digestion is dietary fiber. While many people lack fiber in their
normal diet, it is one key factor that can help your digestive system work properly and make
your skin look better. Men and women should consume an average of 30 grams of fiber per day for their digestive system to operate optimally. The average person only consumes about a third of that. An easy way to increase fiber in your diet is to add snacks like seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. Food sources such as oats, flaxseed, peas, beans, apples, carrots and citrus fruits also boost your fiber and power up your digestive system.
3. EXERCISE
Exercising helps blood circulation and creates perspiration which allows you to sweat, secreting excess waste that sets in your skin. Exercising tightens skin tone and helps the texture of the epidermis. The circulation restores the natural glow that your skin possesses which is usually dulled by the sedentary skin. Exercising will have you feeling more energetic and confident, helping esteem and eliminating stress.
4. AVOID SUN OVER-EXPOSURE
The UV rays can be very damaging to your skin; it is important to protect yourself from the sun if you are outdoors for long periods of time. The sun is the leading cause of wrinkles, age spots, dry skin, and skin cancer. The sun is the hottest in the middle of the day and when the rays are most damaging.
Sunscreen is a must: apply sunscreen before you go outside so it has time to seep into the skin providing you with the most protection. Wear sunglasses when it's bright out -- the UV rays are one of the top reasons for impaired vision. Over time, the sun damages the eyes even when not looking at the sun.
5. EXFOLIATION
Exfoliating is a process that should be performed daily to ensure healthy, more youthful-looking natural skin. The first step is choosing the proper product for your skin. There are many different cosmetics but there are some that contain ingredients that can be harmful to the very goal you are trying to achieve.
Using natural skin care products is a good way to ensure safe, healthy results. Natural sea salts and dead-sea salts are great for exfoliating the body and natural sugar scrubs are a little less irritating for the face. Some products contain hemp seed oil, and avocado, apricot, jojoba or Vitamin E oils as added natural emollients. When cleaning and exfoliating skin use warm, not hot, water.
Water that is too hot will extract the moisture from your skin leaving it rough and less healthy
than before. Use a circular motion when washing your skin because the rounded movement
opens the pores allowing you to clean hidden dirt. When drying your skin pat it, do not wipe it.
Patting will allow some of the remaining water to seep into your body and help with the
moisturizer you apply following the cleansing.
6. MOISTURIZING
Daily use of moisturizing natural skincare products is one of the easiest and most important
ways to care for your skin. When bathing or showering, many people find ordinary soaps drying to the skin. Shower gels infused with skincare oils such as hemp seed, vitamin e, or natural vegetable-based glycerins soften as they clean. Try to avoid products that use either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate, as studies have shown damaging and even toxic effects with long-term use.
Whether it be an all-natural after-bath or shower skin oil spray, a moisturizing skin lotion or skin butter, daily skin moisturizing will offer protection from the elements, anti-aging properties, and will give skin a feel-good healthy glow.
7. NATURAL INGREDIENTS
When looking at skincare products try to shop for those containing natural oils and botanical
extracts. Popular moisturizing skin care ingredients include hemp seed oil, argan oil, avocado
oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil, coconut oil, vitamin e, and shea butter. It should be noted that not all
synthetic chemicals are necessarily bad or unsafe.
Many naturally-based skin care products require a few chemical compounds to work
effectively, maintain stability, and to preserve shelf-life. However, one should try to avoid skin
care products that contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Parabens,
Phthalates, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, or artificial dyes.
Natural skin care is a key part in benefiting your outer appearance. Apply these simple tips and you will soon have smoother, brighter skin that leave you feeling healthier and more confident!