The skincare industry today is overflowing with information and a wide range of products available worldwide. Consumers are constantly bombarded with bits of advice on what they should be using and what’s good for them. Many labels state that the product can do wonders for our skin and we buy them based on the story that brands try to sell us, without questioning the ingredients. Afterall, it’s all marketing, right?

Thankfully, many brands are working on changing the narrative and pushing through the biases surrounding the skincare industry. These companies strive to sell all-natural products that are safe to use and do not require animal testing to prove their safety.

Ingredients that come from natural sources are very gentle on the skin and do not cause any damage to the planet and wildlife. Investing in a natural beauty product of quality comes with many benefits, and you’re only a step away from leading a more sustainable life.

What Does “Natural Cosmetics” Mean?

The information available online regarding natural cosmetics is rampant and oftentimes misleading. There are many brands calling themselves natural, but the question is, are they really what they claim to be? So let’s explore what a natural beauty product is.

Before diving further into the world of natural skincare, it’s important to emphasize that everything is a chemical. Oftentimes, many brands will label their products as free of chemicals which is a misleading representation of chemicals. Even water is a chemical and that does not mean that water is toxic to our bodies. What matters is if that chemical comes from natural sources or is synthetically produced.

That being said, what makes a cosmetic natural? Every beauty product labelled “Natural” means that the ingredients used in the production come from natural sources. It means that the ingredients are obtained from plants or animals and, as such, they are processed into a formulation that can easily be absorbed by the skin.

Natural products contain vegetable oils, waxes, fats, floral waters, gels, etc. A few examples of natural ingredients are aloe vera, beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, oils such as rosehip, grapeseed, argan, almond, jojoba, vitamin C, rose water etc. The vegetable oils used in natural cosmetics and skincare are cold pressed, meaning they contain all the healthy fats necessary for a healthy skin barrier and well-nourished skin.

Although not all-natural cosmetics brands are vegan and cruelty-free, most of them are thanks to the increasing demand for cosmetics that care for the welfare of the animals. And more often than not, switching to all-natural and organic skincare means indulging in guilt-free self-care.

What sets natural skin care products apart from mainstream beauty products is that preservatives and all the binding substances that make up the formulation of natural cosmetics are sourced from natural raw materials. Thus, natural cosmetic is also called non-toxic or clean cosmetic.

Although natural skincare and makeup are suitable for all skin types, even for the most sensitive skin, natural doesn’t always mean “allergen-free”. Many people can be allergic to natural ingredients as well. If that’s the case with you, it’s best to consult a dermatologist to guide you on what you should use and what ingredients in skincare to avoid.

5 Reasons to Start Using Natural Beauty Products

Switching to organic skincare comes with many benefits not only for the skin but for the well-being of the planet as well. Natural cosmetics are loaded with nutritious ingredients, rich in antioxidants, essential vitamins, minerals and fats and can greatly improve the overall health of the skin.

1. Gentle on The Skin

Synthetic substances can be pretty harsh to the skin. This is especially evident in people with very sensitive skin that tends to react with itchiness, redness, breakout or skin rashes. Prolonged use of these invasive chemicals can actually lead to weakening of the skin barrier and may cause more damage in the long run.

Natural ingredients, on the other hand, may take more time to act and it takes longer for the results to be visible, but they work in building the protective barrier of the skin and are more effective in the long run. They soothe and nourish the skin, without causing any damage.

2. Rich in Nutrients Beneficial for the Skin

Nature is incredible. It’s full of natural sources that are rich in vitamins and minerals essential for our overall health. As the saying goes “You are what you eat.” The same principle can be applied when it comes to our skin health. If we feed our skin with natural ingredients rich in nutrients, we are slowly but surely building our way to healthy-looking skin.

The natural beauty products are rich in antioxidants and vitamins as well as minerals and fatty acids. They all play an essential role in promoting skin health, soothing and hydrating our skin, and reducing the appearance of scars and blemishes or any skin imperfections.

3. Lack of Non-toxic Ingredients

The cosmetic industry is worth millions of dollars. It’s a highly competitive market and for a beauty company to be successful, they often resort to fast and cost-effective production which involves the use of cheap, synthetically produced chemicals that are often harmful to our skin.

The natural beauty industry focuses on finding permanent solutions and alternatives to the use of toxic ingredients by switching to all-natural ingredients. There is a huge difference in the chemical formulas between synthetic and natural substances which is an indicator of the possible harmful effects of a certain ingredient. Natural ingredients are safe for human use and don’t cause potentially harmful effects on the skin. In fact, they are used to restore skin health and protect it from outside harmful elements.

4. Environmentally-friendly

With every purchase of natural beauty products, you’re making a conscious choice to reduce your personal carbon footprint and cut down on waste. One of the biggest challenges today is to find a product that is free of toxins and palm oil. The use of palm oil is one of the major factors contributing to the loss of wildlife. The higher the consumption of cosmetics that contain palm oil, the greater the damage to the forests and wildlife in general.

Also, many chemicals used in the production of mainstream beauty products contain toxins harmful to the oceans and the soil, leading to irreversible damage to wildlife and the planet’s wellbeing. Many brands in the natural cosmetics industry prioritise environmentally friendly packaging that is free of plastic and micro-plastic ingredients. This is a way to minimize the environmental impact and help preserve the life on the planet as it is, without causing further damage.

5. You’re Supporting Vegan and Cruelty-Free Brands

The cosmetic industry is facing a huge backlash from animal lovers and activists all over the world, and rightly so. We all know that one of the biggest names in the industry has been conducting tests on animals for decades. The reason for this is primarily the testing of ingredients with potentially harmful effects that are used in many mainstream skincare products.

With the use of all-natural ingredients, there is no need for testing on animals, because these chemicals are safe and harmless. Also, the number of companies that care for animal well-being has been on the rise over the past few years.

They are making sure that all of their products do not contain any ingredients that come from animals, thus, making them vegan-friendly. By buying natural skincare products you’re supporting the cruelty-free industry and ensuring that you’re receiving the best nurturing products for your skin.