Our skin constantly performs many different tasks: it protects us while at the same time giving us information about the world around us and within us. Many health problems are caught through symptoms that manifest on the skin, and the fact that it’s our biggest organ doesn’t mean it can protect itself. But if our skin is so important, why do we pay so little attention to the products we put on it? Our skin isn’t just a canvas on top of which we can put whatever we want to make it look good. It absorbs the things it comes in contact with, and just as you wouldn’t pour any chemical down your throat, you shouldn’t put it on your skin either.
How to find natural skin products
Unfortunately, the smiling faces, green packaging and “organic” labels aren’t painting the true picture of the cosmetic industry. In fact, there aren’t any real regulations put into place to control how cosmetic products are made and what’s put in them, so a brand can easily proclaim that they are organic and all-natural and nobody will bat an eyelash. Still, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any companies that are natural, but rather, that you have to do some detective work to find them. Your best friend is the label. Read through the ingredients list and look for any ingredient unfamiliar to you. Research it and see whether it is claimed to be harmful, or if it’s just a fancy word for coconut oil. As a rule of thumb: a short, simple ingredients list that you understand completely is better than a long and complicated one.
How natural products work with us
Our bodies are natural, and for thousands of years we’ve been using nature’s goods to treat everything from acne to heart disease. But the major difference between now and then is that we’ve stopped trusting our bodies to fix our issues and started using chemicals and procedures instead. In doing that, we’ve started working against our bodies instead of with them. The goal of natural products like Swisse, which are made with natural ingredients full of vitamins and antioxidants, is to work together with your skin to fix any problematic areas. Instead of attacking it, it will provide your skin with the boost it needs to fight off bacteria and infections on its own.
The perfect routine
You should start and end every day with a little bit of pampering. Wash your face with lukewarm water (use a filter if the water in your city is particularly contaminated) and a mild cleanser or some plain oats. After that, you want to moisturize. Listen to your body and adjust the moisturizer accordingly: if your skin is very oily, there’s a reason it’s producing all of that oil, and you might need to use a natural, oil-based moisturizer to give it what it needs. If you want to apply a mask, go for something natural like clay or another sustainably sourced material. As for makeup remover, which can so often be full of chemicals, you can use olive or coconut oil for a completely natural option, but beware that it might not take off makeup that is made with chemicals. If you are still using makeup that isn’t organic, natural, vegan and cruelty free, you should switch to it immediately, because anything that will be spending so much time on your skin needs to be as natural as possible to give you the care you need while going about your business.
When you switch to Natural Beauty Products from Canada or wherever you are, you might not see the difference instantly, but over time you will find your skin to be a lot healthier and happier, because it is recovering and learning to fight back on its own. Using organic products is not only helping you, but it’s also helping the planet, because they are produced through much cleaner processes. So do yourself a favor, and the next time you’re restocking your empties, think twice and check the labels to find something truly good.
Which natural ingredients are great for the skin?
When it comes to natural skincare, you might like to try the following raw ingredients on your skin:
- Honey: If you want a great moisturizer that leaves your skin youthful and smooth, honey is the perfect ingredient. It’s great to reduce blemishes and acne, plus it has fantastic anti-aging properties.
- Avocado: To make a lucious face mask, avocado is exactly what you need. Avocado contains vitamin A which helps to keep the skin youthful, and plenty of minerals to nourish the skin.
- Green tea: Try making a DIY green tea facemask, to give your skin a healthy glow. Green tea is especially great for getting rid of dark circles under the eyes.