Natural Skin Care: Five Things You Didn't Know About

• Many experts often debate on what should be considered “natural” and what shouldn’t. 
• It’s a common misconception to think that because a product comes from a natural source, it means that it will also be processed naturally.
• An organic ingredient is grown without synthetic fertilizers and/or any pesticides, which is a more sustainable choice for our planet and your body.
• Vegan products are frequently cruelty-free, but cruel products are not always vegan.
• When you come across “natural” products, you will find multiple certificates and marketing words. Some are regulated, and some are not.

 

Eating fresh fruits over canned fruits is similar to using "natural" skincare products; it can be a refreshing & effective way to take care of your skin.

Okay, so what should you know?

Sadly, there’s no accurate definitions or exact answer on this topic, so you basically have to do the research on your own.

We believe that skincare doesn’t have to be complicated. With a cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer & SPF, you are good to go!

The first thing that you should be asking is: where is this product coming from?

So, what is in this product? Does it come from a natural source such as a plant, animals or even marine sources? Or is it made from some petrochemical products?

 

Here are a few answers you might come across.

It occurs naturally: This means that the ingredients are used in their natural, unprocessed state. A few examples of this would be raw honey, aloe vera or patchouli.

Identical to nature: This refers to ingredients that have been created in a laboratory but are chemically similar to the natural ones. A good example would be sorbic acid. Obtained from rowan berries, sorbic acid is used as a food preservative.

Synthetic: This includes every ingredient that is strictly produced and processed in a laboratory. Once again, parabens are a popular example. They are used as beauty preservatives.

 

Next up: how is this product processed?

 

It’s a common misconception to think that because a product comes from a natural source, it means that it will also be processed naturally.

 

Every ingredient can be physically or chemically processed.

Physically processed refers to a composition or molecular structure that remains the same after.

Chemically processed refers to a composition or molecular structure that has changed.

A few examples of ingredients that have a natural origin but are physically processed would include raw, unrefined oils and butter. These ingredients will be processed by cold pressing or filtering.

When it comes to ingredients of natural origin but chemically processed, we could think of castor wax, a vegetable wax made from castor beans made by adding hydrogen to pure castor oil. You might also know this process as hydrogenation.

 

Okay, what about the common buzzwords AKA “labels”?

When you come across “natural” products, you will find multiple certificates and marketing words. Some are regulated, and some are not.

 

Organic

Let’s start with this: any company can choose to use organic-certified ingredients.

Using this label is a way to indicate that all ingredients are from organic sources. These ingredients are grown without synthetic fertilizers and/or any pesticides, which is a more sustainable choice for our planet and your body. 

Rest assured, all of the ingredients used in our products come from USDA-certified, vegan, and certified organic suppliers by The Organic Council of Ontario.

 

Green

Another term that is not regulated by the beauty industry. It refers to the environmental impact and sustainability of the company.

Organic products are usually produced to reduce their environmental impact as the product is manufactured using renewable and sustainable resources. 

When reading about a green product, it should contain raw materials that have been collected in a way that is kind to the environment rather than harming the environment. The product itself should be made of recyclable components, or at least be recyclable. 

Our organic brand is free of parabens, sulphates, and artificial colours. We source our environment locally & use recycled packaging. 

 

Clean

When someone talks about “clean beauty” or a “clean product,” they’re describing a product that typically focuses on its non-toxicity. These products won’t be harmful to the environment, even if it doesn’t mean that they are always naturally derived.

The only way to really make sure it is? Read the ingredients and look them up.

 

Fragrance

Definitely a no-no in your skincare products. As most artificial fragrances have phthalates, you want to steer clear of them. Mentions of “fragrance” or “parfum” in your ingredients could give you allergic reactions or other health problems, so be careful.

 

Vegan

These products are made without any animal or animal by-products. This means no beeswax, no honey, and no gelatin, just to name a few.

It’s important to note that many non-vegan ingredients can come from a no-animal source; once again, research is your best friend!

But using a vegan product isn’t everything. Some ingredients, such as glycerin, very common in moisturizers and some cleansers, might come from palm oil. The issue with this material is that palm oil production has been proved to affect mass deforestation in Indonesia & Malaysia, resulting in a decrease in this region’s biodiversity.

 

Cruelty-free

It’s imperative to understand that vegan products are frequently cruelty-free, but cruel products are not always vegan. A good example would be a company making organic lip balm containing beeswax.

 

At the end of the day, natural skincare is a way for you to give your skin, body and endocrine system a break from all the stressors in your life. With all the tension, pollution, and different synthetics that you consume in a day, using natural products is a way to decrease this burden.

 

Since everybody’s skin is different, what you might need to use for your skin will differ from what another individual might need. So if natural skincare is something that works for you, why not use it?