Skin care products are not a one size fits all type of buy. We have various skin types, different youthfulness levels, and diet factors to consider. It is important to ask yourself when putting together a skin care routine, "What are you looking for?"
This billion dollar beauty industry has various classifications of what skin care is and its bombarded with falsely capitalized phrases to catch your attention. With so many options out there, it may pose a challenge on deciding which one to get. Do you go with the mainstream products, get Natural, buy Organic or somewhere in between?
It is know that our skin is the largest detox organ we own, its is no secret what we put on is being absorbded. Whith that point in mind, let's say you find a Natural Chamomile Eye Wrinkle Cream for night application with a beautiful picture of a chamomile flower, what you might not know is the paraben and preservatives may cause actual pigmentation. Yet have no worry because this Nourishing Greet Tea Extract Serum is perfect for your sunspots aging needs, not mentioning the added fragrance and binder will lead to sebum imbalance and that you should never inhale the product or your lungs will be unhappy. Shortly after use of these an acne product catches your naturally curious eye. A Natural Citrus Face Wash containing Aloe Vera for all your break out needs with only one morning time scrub, without notice of the foaming agent that high jacks your hormonal and endocrine system which in turn can cause more breakouts. Wonderfully accompanied in a package together with Daily Moisturizer made with Shea Butter and Coconut Oil for your anti-aging prevention needs.... and the cycle has begun. If you skim over this article and take only pieces I would have it be this one, "Your skin care may be doing you more harm than benefit." It is important to look past the advertising and see a product for its ingredients. Which leads to the ideas of Natural, All natural, Organic and Certified Organic.
Natural Skin Care
The #1 nonsense term in the skin care industry in my opinion. In the U.S., beauty products are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines such products as, “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body…for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance.” Also here the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, "... manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredients and market the product without an approval from the FDA." The law doesn't require cosmetic products and ingredients, except for color additives, to be approved by FDA before they go on the market. However, cosmetics must not be adulterated or mis-branded. This means that they must be safe for consumers when used according to the labeling, or as people customarily use them, and they must be properly labeled. FDA has not defined the term “natural” and has not established a regulatory definition for this term in cosmetic labeling. Now that we got that information in front of your eyes buy with awareness and read the labels. So when we see phrases such as Natural this may be misleading. When we understand the intent behind those words may not be quality nor health and instead intending to promote a sense within the consumer of purchasing a largely natural and safe product when the opposite may the case because point blank lab ingredients are cheaper. Whether you are a thrifty shopper or one with an specific goal in mind it is best to recognize that All natural in no way means Organic or safe. Natural products can be grown using highly chemical or unnatural means. Growing in-organically can have a large percentage of the effectiveness diluted and negates the benefits completely on top of the literal amount used in the solution. Aloe on an ingredient list is far more valuable at the top of the list rather only a bit at the end. It only requires a small amount to have advertising ability on the label. I will admit I am attracted to the beneficial properties of natural ingredients, exotic scents and smells and beautiful pictures of the ideal plant I wish to harvest myself.
Being honest here, beaver anal juice, infant foreskin, cow intentional waste, crushed beetles and slug slime are not something many people would knowingly use on their face yet are acceptable natural ingredients cleverly disguised. Yet to deny the value of science and laboratory created ingredients would be inappropriate and limit the scope of effective products available to us beauty lovers. Labs can take a pineapple then extract the sugars and transform it into Glycolic Acid. Glycolic Acid is a naturally occurring addition to many beautiful faces. I personally removed some smudged freckles from my face with Glycolic Acid after years of using the organic products I make which include potent ingredients such as Essential Oils. Hylaouronic Acid is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory from products and is responsible for attracting and retaining moisture which visibly helps with fine lines and wrinkle. This Acid also occurs naturally in your body, mostly our eyes and joints, and many people take it internally regularly for promoting comfortable joint cushion. Some Lab influenced ingredients are easily processed and beneficial to our bodies. It is only a matter to being able to recognize which additions to a solution are not if this matters to you.
- Remember Fragrances, Sulfates and Borates are the ones our bodies hate. Probably Best If Everyone Mentions the "YL's". B-B-I-E-M the YL's : Propyl, Butyl, Isobytls, Ethyl, Methyl are the Parabens to steer away from. Keep it simple with Phenethyl Alcohol or Glyceryl Sodium levulinate & anisate and naturally preserve our bodies sake.
If you care about the environment, chemicals entering the bloodstream or delicate baby skin then natural may not be for you. If you want quicker results, concentrated ingredients, cheaper price and don't mind side effects then go All Natural.
Organic Skin Care
Organic skin care sounds so lovely and gentle, does it not? While these may hit the wallet differently than lab works it also effects our bodies differently. First lets look at who awards such a pronounced label. The FDA does not have regulations for the term "organic" for cosmetics. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the use of the term “organic” for agricultural products under the National Organic Program (NOP). The FDA regulates cosmetics under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The term “organic” is not defined in either of these laws or the regulations that FDA enforces under their authority. The USDA requirements for the use of the term “organic” are separate from the laws and regulations that FDA enforces for cosmetics. Cosmetic products labeled with organic claims must comply with both USDA regulations for the organic claim and FDA regulations for labeling and safety requirements for cosmetics meeting alot of demand to earn the badge. Being organic means a large percentage of the ingredients are grown without chemicals and minimally processed therefor do retain more integrity of plants effectiveness. There may be some additional ingredients that can not be certified as organic such as minerals. Also there may be fillers, foaming agents or binders that are not of an organic origin. Some may be harmless yet some additions to the solution may be carcinogen or disruptive on the hormones. Rest assured the label organic insure at least 70% of the ingredients are legitimately organic and care has been put into preserving the benefits of raw ingredients.
Certified Organic is a label well earned ... usually. Cosmetics, body care products, and personal care products may be certified to private standards and be marketed to those private standards in the United States. These standards might include foreign organic standards, eco-labels, earth friendly, etc. USDA’s NOP does not regulate those labels at this time. In the US any skin care product that does not meet the production, handling, processing, labeling, and certification standards required, may not state, imply, or convey in any way that the product is USDA-certified organic or meets the USDA organic standards in addition to the FDA's requirements. They do crack down on this legally. To be certified organic means the product is a minimum of 95% organic and the remaining 5% must be natural. Water and salt are not figured
farmed using organic farming methods that recycle sources and promote biodiversity. Natural products from that 5% are simply derived from natural sources without added synthetic compounds. Certified is organic is wonderful well earned label getting us as close to the beneficial properties of a raw plant as you can through the consumerism world and does come with a higher price tag. This does not mean there is not risk. Some allergic reactions may happen unexpectedly. You could build a tolerance to the treatment after a while and need to switch up the routine as with any product applied to the skin. As always test a patch spot of skin first. No matter what skin care product you are purchasing make sure to read the ingredients.
When you are putting together a skin care routine asking yourself 'What am I wanting to achieve?', we have so many solutions available. It is important to understand what we are paying for, after all we create the demand. What is a product without its customers? Yes, our opinion matters. Certified Organic is as close to Mother Earth in a container and for some this is the preference. Others prefer to simply spark a change in their appearance or prevent further treatment needed. This industry is loaded with options behind the labels.
Putting that cream, oil, spray or scrub all over you body is quite a treat. We are more than overloaded with reasons why as beauty standards are defined yet
this need to be a stressful decision when information is available.
Blindly consume we shall not, wisely choose according to our desired outcome, yes please and shop happily.
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