Natural Skincare: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

With so many skincare products on the market, it’s important to know which are the good, the bad and the ugly. We unpack the differences between all-natural skincare products and their synthetic counterparts to show you how to buy safe, effective and beautiful skincare that doesn’t cost the earth. 

The good: Quality naturals

When it comes to taking care of your skin, it helps to pay attention to the ingredients in your skincare products. The best products are made from all-natural ingredients for the following reasons:

• Nutritious

All-natural ingredients are packed with nutrition compared to synthetic skincare products. These include healing antioxidants and collagen-supporting acids.

• Toxin free

All-natural skincare is completely free of nasty chemicals. If it’s safe to eat, it’s safe to put on your skin.

• Ethical

Our all-natural skincare is never tested on animals and is even presented in lovely eco-friendly packaging that’s either biodegradable or recyclable. 

Ingredients

Now that you understand the benefits of using all-natural skincare, it’s time to take a closer look at the ingredients. While many substances found in nature have healthy properties, not just any ingredients will do for your skincare. Here are some of our favourite natural ingredients and why you should look out for them:

Raw Honey

While bees perform the important function of pollinating plants, their sticky and tasty byproduct also comes with astonishing health benefits. 

Honey is rich in antioxidants, which, when applied to the skin, help to reduce the effects of sun-damage and aging. As a potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, honey also promotes healing and collagen production. 

Beeswax 

Like honey, beeswax is also an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory full of antioxidants. It’s also a natural exfoliator and a humectant (it attracts water), helping to nourish and hydrate your skin. 

Macadamia oil

Whether your skin’s in need of repair or you simply want to keep it looking supple, macadamia oil is a wonderful choice. It contains linoleic, oleic and palmitoleic acids, which are so rejuvenating they can even reduce stretchmarks and chapped lips. 

Peppermint

Aside from its delicious fragrance, peppermint packs plenty of impressive attributes. It is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, working to sooth irritated and tired skin. With its cooling and cleansing effects, peppermint has the power to reduce inflammation. 

The bad & the ugly: What to avoid

While many skincare products are sold legally over the counter or even regulated by authorities like the FDA, their true long-term effects remain largely unknown. Most disturbingly, many toxins that have been detected in skincare products are not even listed on the labels. This is why it’s so important to choose all-natural skincare products to take the best care of your skin.

While the true spectrum of toxins within skincare remains unclear, here are some major offenders to look out for and avoid:

• Parabens
• Formaldehyde
• Propylene glycol 
• Nanoparticles
• Fragrance
• Sodium lauryl, laureth sulfate & ammonium laureth sulphate 
• PVP/VA copolymer
• Diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), monoethanolamine (MEA)
• Diazolidinyl urea & imidazolidinyl urea
• Phthalates

Love natural skincare

If you’re looking for a beautiful, safe and eco-friendly way to keep your skin looking supple and healthy, the choice is clear. All-natural skincare products beat synthetics because they’re nourishing, ethical, and toxin-free.