Oat milk shampoos, coconut cleansers, kale and spinach anti-aging creams, oh my!
Natural and organic products have taken the beauty industry by storm, and there’s no going back.
When it comes to getting swept up in the natural skincare craze and keeping your skin safe, it would be a good idea for all of us to consider a few important facts.
1) This Is One Serious Market Trend
In the world of search engines, natural skincare is exploding.
Searches for skincare-related terms and words such as “organic,” “vegan,” and “paraben-free” occurred nearly 8x as often in 2017 than 2016.
This boom in the search for healthy, natural beauty products is one result of the growing awareness and shift in our society toward a greater concern for health and wellness.
The move towards natural and organic ingredients can be seen at every level of the industry.
CVS recently made a move to get rid of chemical ingredients like parabens and phthalates in 600 in-house products. (The same company that stopped selling tobacco products in 2014).
2) A Market Trend Does Not Equate to Safety and Effectiveness
So, the beauty industry has been forever changed by our health-conscious ways – and it’s good to have awareness!
But, since large-scale market trends like this can be driven by dollars, it’s always a good idea to ask the critical question in individual cases: Does “natural” mean safer and more effective?
That question requires a bit of digging, my beauties.
Don’t worry, I got you!
For starters, and it won’t surprise you to hear me say this: it all boils down to ingredients.
And, this is exactly where it can get confusing.
Sometimes we equate natural with simple – but some natural ingredients are extremely powerful and complex in their actions.
Sometimes we equate synthetic with dangerous – but many synthetic ingredients are just more predictable, more manageable versions of natural ingredients made in labs to create better formulas at a lower cost.
And, obviously, many things that occur in nature are not safe or suitable to apply to your skin.
Take lead or mercury, for instance.
Natural? Yes.
But not to be applied to your skin and definitely not safe! Read more
Also read Why Your Hands May Be Peeling This Winter, According to Dermatologists
