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Natural Skin Care: How Can I Tell If Products Are Natural?

09/28/2007

Many people have become very conscious of chemicals – they don’t want them in their food, their water, their air, their home or their skin care products. But sometimes chemicals are almost impossible to avoid. With food, it’s pretty easy: shop at a health food store or local fresh market, buy organic, and buy daily. In fact, buying and cooking fresh food daily is a tradition still followed in many countries. However, when products need “shelf life” or have to travel long distances in destabilizing conditions – jet cargo holds that reach 40 degrees below zero are a good example – something has to be done to preserve the integrity of the product. This is true of imported foods, and natural skin care products.

So, where do you draw the line?

First of all, be aware of the chemicals that are most harmful: petroleum products such as mineral oil that clog the pores, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl and laureth sulphate, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, FD&C color pigments, formaldehyde, and fragrances are good examples. These aren’t the only potentially dangerous ingredients, but they are among the most common. And some are known carcinogens.

You also have to find out the ratio of chemical to natural ingredients. If the percentage is not listed on the packaging, a manufacturer of natural skin care products who really is concerned about chemicals will be happy to answer your questions.

Many products listed as natural have basically just included a little Vitamin E or some such so the company can call the product ‘natural’ and capture that market. Really, it’s a marketing ploy. A similar thing happens with food. Add a little bran and you suddenly have a product that promotes health – but the other ingredients have been stripped of nutrients and bear no resemblance to what came from Mother Nature.

Determining whether a product is safe to use, whether it’s food or natural skin care treatment, takes a little research. But, considering that our health and the condition of our skin have deteriorated since chemicals became so widely used, it’s well worth it.

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