"Natural skin care are products made with simple ingredients"
In today's world It seems like everyone’s about clean or “natural” beauty. You see it on social media, billboards, and ads. Even influencers making outlandish claims that going all-natural has helped their skin look and feel amazing. Countless products market pictures of plants and use terms like “nontoxic" and "organic.” Because of this fact, the market for natural skincare is expected to double, to $12.27 billion, from 2021 to 2030, according to 2022 market research carried out by the Brainy Insights.
Problem is that the term “natural” is pretty nebulose, and undefined. “There isn't a formal system that regulates ‘natural’ on a legal scale. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, says - “This gets complicated for consumers, as companies can make a claim that a product is natural even though it contains ingredients that don’t constitute as natural,” she says.
Terms Natural Skin Care Brands May Use.
5-free You may find this, and similar terms such as 7-free, 10-free, and 15-free, on nail polish labels in brands that claim to be nontoxic. These numbers refer to the number of chemicals that a product does not include. For example, if a nail polish is “5-free,” it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin, and camphor, though debate continues over whether these "-free" products are safer for the consumer, according to Harvard Medical School.
Organic Contrary to what you might think, the FDA doesn’t regulate the “organic” label on cosmetics or skin care. But if the formula is made from agricultural ingredients, it can be certified organic in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP). For a product to carry the USDA Organic Seal, it must be made of at least 95 percent organic ingredients. If something is labeled “made with organic ingredients,” that means it contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients, but it can’t use the seal.
Toxin-free or nontoxic According to the EWG, companies use this term to “suggest that a product is safe.” Yet the term is unregulated and, as they note, even water in large amounts can be toxic. Point being: It’s a marketing claim only and doesn’t guarantee safety.
Paraben-free Parabens are preservatives, used to prevent nasties like bacteria and mold from proliferating in your products, says the FDA. You’ll see these listed as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben. The FDA says that though research is ongoing, “at this time, we do not have information showing that parabens as they are used in cosmetics have an effect on human health.” A product labeled paraben-free will contain no parabens.
Phthalate-free Phthalates are chemicals found in a variety of household items, including personal-care products such as soap and shampoo, according to the FDA. One called diethylphthalate (DEP) is commonly used in fragrance ingredients. The FDA has not found that these ingredients are a danger to health. But if you wish to avoid them, phthalate-free labels on products indicate that no phthalates have been used.
Sulfate-free Sulfates, like sodium lauryl sulfate, are essentially soaps. But the clinical term for them is “surfactants”; they help ingredients like oils and water mix together, according to Cosmeticsinfo.org. As a result, they may be in shampoos and other bath products. If there is "sulfate-free" lingo on the label, the product does not contain sulfates.
So what exactly is Natural Skin Care???
Simply put, natural skin care our products derived from natural ingredients. Thes can be lotions made with shea butter, blended oils from plants, or products mixed with botanical extracts such as Chamomile or Dragon fruit. In many cases there are other ingredients used to bring out the natural properties, but they normally do less harm and provide a safer product to use on the skin.
How to Make the Switch?
If you are interested in the natural-beauty movement, and want to get involved take time to do some research. Read between the lines on labels and understand exactly what's in your products.
Talk to your dermatologist. Take all of the products you use to your next dermatologist visit. They will review the ingredients and let you know if something may be causing a reaction. It is important to know what you use can be used together.
Start slowly. Don't switch everything at once. Many times, that can have adverse effects. Find one product that you would like to incorporate and see how it goes from there. Skin care does not have to be tricky.
Be patient with the results. “If you previously used conventional skin-care products and are now making the switch to natural, it may take longer to see a change in your skin,” says Garshick.
Look for targeted ingredients. "Willow bark extract is a derivative of salicylic acid, and it can help with breakouts," says Garshick. Likewise, if you’re looking to reverse or slow signs of skin aging, antioxidants (like those found in vitamin C or vitamin E, or extracted from various plants) can help prevent the DNA damage that degrades collagen (which ultimately leads to wrinkles and discoloration). Newer on the scene is bakuchiol: “This is the best thing we’ve found as an alternative to retinol/retinoid,” she says. Retinoids have long been considered the gold-standard in anti-aging, as they stimulate collagen production to smooth fine lines, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
Natural skin care does not need to be hard. We live in a world where so much is changing at a rapid rate, but we can take the time to learn what will allow us to effectively make healthy changes for our skin. Find trusted sources and small beauty company's that provide natural alternatives. The ones that promise eco-friendly and organic skincare. Many times, smaller brands have done the work and research needed to provide safe and effective skincare for the everyone.