Skincare is an important part of any beauty regime but it doesn’t mean that you are limited to the products offered by the major beauty retailers.  There are natural and organic alternatives available that do not use harmful chemicals, and may actually be better for your skin. These products may take a little searching for but their increasing popularity means that you can find them online or in major beauty or department stores with very little effort on your part.

But why is organic skincare becoming so popular?

Why Use Organic Skincare?

Traditional skincare and cosmetic products contain chemicals which are easily absorbable through the skin or the lungs, and from there enter the bloodstream.  These chemicals are often harmful and can cause skin reactions, irritation, allergies, headaches, and other undesirable conditions.

Organic, natural ingredients are also more effective than the synthetic and petroleum derived products that can be found in traditional skincare.  These ingredients work with your skin to enhance its own regenerative and healing  properties and have more nutritional benefits, due to the fact that the ingredients are more potent and effective.  This has the added benefit of you using less of the product in order to get the same benefit!

Because the ingredients are farmed organically, there are no chemicals or pesticides used so it is much better for the environment and the body.  Organic products are grown to strict guidelines and must meet the standards set by organic certifying bodies.

However, you should always look at the label when buying organic skincare products.  This is because “organic” merely refers to how the ingredient has been farmed.  Organic skincare may still have chemicals added to it when it is being made.

Chemicals to Avoid

In traditional skincare, there are many ingredients that can be harmful to your health.  Some of the worst are listed below:

• Formaldehyde – is found in nail polish as well as some other cosmetics.  It is a preservative and can cause reactions in the skin.
  
• Imidazolidinyl Urea – is a preservative and can also cause skin reactions.
  
• Fragrances – these fragrances are often synthetic and are found in many cosmetics and skin products.  These are not required to be listed on the ingredients label so it is worthwhile seeking out products that use natural fragrances or essential oils.
  
• Methyl Paraben – is a widely used preservative and it can cause skin irritations.
  
• Isopropyl Alcohol – is a petroleum-based anti-bacterial agent.
  
• Methylisothiazoline – is a preservative that has been shown to cause irritation and allergic reactions.
  
• Paraffin – is used in creams, hair removal products, eyebrow pencils, as well as other cosmetics.  Paraffin is made from petroleum or coal.
  
• Propylene Glycol – is a moisture-carrying agent and it is traditionally derived from petroleum.
  
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – is a detergent that can have a drying effect on the skin and cause irritation.

Natural Alternatives in Skin Care

There are many alternatives to the abovementioned chemicals that can be used in preserving skin products.  These include:

• grapefruit seed extract
  
• potassium sorbate
  
• sorbic acid
  
• vitamin E (tocopherol)
  
• vitamin A (retinyl)
  
• vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
  
• plant alcohols
  
• plant oils
  
• essential oils
  
• semi-synthetic preservatives that have been proven to be safe (such as phenoxyethanol or benzyl alcohol)
  
• airtight packaging

These natural preservatives are a must in organic and natural skincare as they help to combat harmful bacteria and moulds.