As we grow more and more interested about our own health and well-being, the use of beauty products comes naturally into our daily routine. However, there are plenty of options available in the market and choosing the right one can be an overwhelming task. One thing is true, not all beauty products are created equal. In fact, using bad facial skin care can cause some serious damage to your health in the long run. This is one of the reasons why natural beauty products have become a popular alternative to conventional cosmetics.
Natural beauty vs. conventional beauty
We use beauty products to nourish and maintain a healthy skin – so it would shock us to learn that they may contain harmful chemicals. You probably do not want all that toxic stuff entering your body!
The main difference between natural and conventional beauty products is the origin of their ingredients. Natural means that the ingredients have been extracted from natural sources and are not created synthetically in a lab. Many benefits come from using natural ingredients – less inflammation, less toxins and overall improved well-being. Furthermore, by using natural cosmetics, we care about our own health and the environment at the same time. It is clearly the conscious choice to make!
Here are some examples of natural ingredients and their effects:
Natural anti-aging skin care
Natural ingredients have a ton of beneficial effects for aging skin. You may have heard of antioxidants, organic chemistry and oxygen concentration in your cosmetics, but there are plenty of other plant-based ingredients that help us fight against the main 5 processes that lead to aging. Learn more about them here.
Best moisturizer for dry skin
Skin moisturizing agents can belong to three types: occlusive, emollient and humectant. You can find these three effects in natural ingredients. Beeswax, jojoba and coconut oil are excellent occlusives and prevent water loss while keeping your skin hydrated. Shea butter, argan and avocado oil are emollients, which make the skin soft and smooth. Honey and glycerol are great humectants, and help bring water to the external layer of the skin.
All of that sounds great – but what about the price of natural beauty products?
When choosing a beauty product, we expect it to be the best for our skin, but also for our wallet. You may have noticed that natural skincare products are a little bit pricier than your regular drugstore products. You might be asking yourself, is it really worth paying that extra price? If you still have doubts, do not worry, we got you covered.
Here are our top 5 reasons why natural beauty products are worth every penny:
Gentle long-lasting effect
Chemical-based products might sell themselves as a quick fix, having a fast action. Unfortunately, skin care is not a sprint run, it is a marathon. Truth is, unnatural products can be very rough on your skin. They might seem to work better on the first try, but they will cause more damage over the long-term.
On the contrary, natural beauty products have a gentle and sustained action that will only improve over time. This makes them perfect for people with sensitive skin, giving you all the long-term benefits without the nasty side effects.
Better for the environment
The production of conventional beauty products has a big impact on the environment. The manufacturing of synthetic ingredients produces chemical waste that pollutes our air and water. Moreover, when we use these products, the chemicals do not only affect our skin, but are also washed down our drains.
The ingredients for natural beauty products are collected and processed in a more environmentally-friendly way, avoiding the use of chemicals and pesticides. The cost of sustainable production is higher, indeed, but this means fewer harmful substances contaminating our air and water, which is ultimately better for our planet.
Safer for you
Regular beauty products contain many ingredients that can trigger undesirable reactions on your skin. Synthetic preservatives, dyes and fragrances are present in beauty products more often than you think. They are the main culprits for contact dermatitis, an itchy rash due to skin sensitivity or an allergic reaction. Furthermore, synthetic toxic ingredients such as parabens have been linked to immune malfunction, cancer, psychological and hormonal imbalance and a general decline of quality of life.
Natural beauty products limit the risk for skin irritation and other adverse health outcomes. No synthetic preservatives, no artificial colorants, no artificial fragrances and no heavy metals – only the best for you and your skin.
Full of nutrients and vitamins for your skin
What do natural beauty products and a healthy diet have in common? They are both great for you because they come directly from nature. Just as a natural, healthy, organic diet is the best for nourishing your body, natural ingredients are the best to nourish your skin. For instance, we mentioned that healthy fats such as avocado oil or shea butter are the best moisturizers for dry skin. Additionally, they have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin repairing properties. Also, fruit extracts or other organic chemistry used as active ingredients and coloring are full of vitamins and antioxidants. Your skin will thank you for this feast!
Free of artificial fragrances
Artificial fragrances are very strong, as they are used to cover the smell of other chemicals in the product composition. Besides being potential allergens, these synthetic odors can cause discomfort in sensitive people, and even trigger headaches in people prone to migraine.
To save you the headache and take care of your nose, natural cosmetics are mostly fragrance-free. Natural products smell just like their natural ingredients, not like some unidentifiable brew of chemicals. Get ready for the gentle face cleansing!
Do you feel ready to switch to natural beauty now? Remember to take one thing into consideration. The words “natural” and “organic” might look appealing, but do not let them convince you so quickly. Keep an eye on the label. The ingredient list is organized from the highest to the lowest amount contained in the product. Make sure that the natural ingredients are on top of the list to get all of their benefits!