If the events of the past two years have taught us anything, it’s the importance of paying greater attention to our health – and from the foods we put into our bodies to the products we apply to our skin, we’re becoming more discerning when it comes to ingredients lists as we seek to reduce our exposure to unwanted additives, preservatives and chemical nasties.
The luxury beauty and skincare industry has had to adapt quickly in order to keep up with our current demands, embracing natural and organic ingredients to ensure that users feel confident putting products onto their faces. But leaving out those ingredients we just can’t pronounce isn’t enough. Now, we’re demanding not just chemical-free products, but cleansers, toners and moisturisers that are packed with nourishing, wholesome and organic ingredients, with the focus no longer on just making our skin look better, but on up-levelling its health at every opportunity.
According to a Statista survey, 50 per cent of US consumers now prefer skincare products that are organic or all-natural, with a higher number than ever shifting from synthetic skincare products to all-natural ones, like the natural deodorant balm: Orange Grove. In the UK, a further 34 per cent agree, and that number is growing. In fact, natural cosmetics are so popular that the global organic beauty product market is estimated to reach $22 billion by 2024.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of the natural beauty movement, many products in the market labeled as all-natural aren’t genuinely organic, which means we, as customers, must be prepared to do some digging to get to the truth before we buy.
In America, because the terms organic and natural are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many companies market their skincare products as organic despite them having little to no natural ingredients. Therefore, as a shopper, it’s good to be knowledgeable on what constitutes a natural skincare product. You should also know if such products are really beneficial to your skin compared to artificially produced skincare products.
Here, we take a look at what the term ‘natural’ really means for skincare products and whether they are worth the hype and the extra price tag they come with.
What are natural skincare products?
A natural or organic skincare product is, in essence, one that is made up of ingredients that are sourced from naturally occurring plants and minerals. Organic ingredients shouldn’t undergo much modification to produce the final product, which means that in an ideal world, they should be present in as close to their natural form as possible.
Unfortunately, when used in the beauty industry, the term ‘natural’ doesn’t have a formal definition, and in America – where many of our favourite beauty and skincare brands are based – it is also not regulated by the FDA. Thus, any company can define the term natural in its own way, which is why two comparable natural beauty products may, in fact, be totally different.
To determine whether a skincare product is really natural, look out for certifications from bodies such as Ecocert, Natural Products Association, NaTrue, and COSMOS.
Are natural products better for you?
All-natural skincare products have many benefits. However, there are many misconceptions around synthetic ingredients, and the fact that a product contains them doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad for the skin.
It’s important to know what works for your skin when you shop for skincare products, as everyone is different. Knowing your skin-type and looking for products designed specifically for it is a great place to start, and from here, it is often a case of trial and error.
If you’re looking for reasons to go the natural way, then there are plenty. Here are four benefits of natural skincare products:
1. They’re gentler and safer for your skin
A truly natural skin product won’t contain parabens or phthalates – often dubbed ‘chemical nasties’ – that can cause your skin to become sensitive and can cause irritation. Most natural skincare products are fragrance free, which is a good thing, because many fragrances can also cause irritation and aggravation, resulting in redness, dryness, inflammation and even breakouts. The chemicals added to synthetic products can also cause skin breakdown, which is another reason they are best avoided.
The skin aggravating ingredients often found in synthetic beauty products can make it impossible for your skin to renew itself naturally and also open up your skin to environmental damage – but natural and organic products are gentler and more likely to leave skin looking and feeling its healthiest yet.
2. They come with reduced chances of an allergic reaction
Most synthetic skincare products tend to contain deleterious substances that can irritate both the skin and the sinuses. Such products often comprise a combination of dyes, preservatives, UV-absorbers, stabilisers, and solvents, which can lead to allergies and other serious health complications.
Many allergy sufferers see a dramatic improvement in their symptoms when they switch from synthetic skincare products to natural ones, because natural skincare products aren’t just devoid of the ingredients that cause them, but are instead, packed with ones that offer a wealth of healing properties. For instance, shea butter, from the shea tree, is packed with vitamin A, which can help boost skin health in a variety of different ways.
Himalayan pink sea salt is another natural ingredient often used in skincare products that can help promote skin balance – so looking for these instead of chemical names you don’t recognise could make a huge difference if you just can’t seem to shake those allergies.
3. They are better for your health
There is much debate surrounding the safety of ingredients used in artificial skincare products and while some believe that they are safe, others will argue that we don’t necessarily know this to be true, with the effects of long-term use often unknown.
People who use synthetic skincare products are throwing caution to the wind by hoping that these products are safe for their health – but natural skincare ingredients have already stood the test of time, so you can feel more confident when adding them to your routine. Most natural ingredients have already been being used for centuries and are known to be good for the skin, so it’s a win-win.
4. They are environmentally friendly
Another great reason for choosing organic skincare products is that they are better for the environment – so it’s not just you who benefits from doing so, but our planet, too.
Chemicals used in synthetic skincare products make their way into our waterways through our sinks and can potentially harm animals and plants they come into contact with – plus, should these chemicals seep into the ground, they can also cause harmful effects to the surrounding ecosystem. Add to that the fact that the process involved in manufacturing synthetic skincare products is stressful to the environment, too, and there are plenty of reasons to swerve them and opt for natural, organic ingredients instead.
Organic skincare products are naturally grown without fertilisers and pesticides, and are free of toxic chemicals and preservatives, which means that – provided they are grown and harvested ethically – are doing no harm.
The bottom line
When it comes to taking care of your skin, natural and organic products are the obvious choice, and will give you peace of mind that what you are using is doing more good than harm. You might be surprised to find how much happier your skin feels once you’ve made the switch – and with the added benefits to the health of the planet, if you haven’t tried them yet then now is the time to experiment.
