Natural Skin Care

In today's time and age, hardly would you find a skin care product that is devoid of synthetic substances, also known as toxins. Inadvertently, you're adding toxins into your body every time you wash your face day and night, cleanse your entire body with a foamy body wash, and apply commercial body lotion or moisturizer to replenish your skin. If that be the case, can you picture what we're doing to our body?

In spite of the increasing information and consumer awareness on the toxicity of chemicals used in most beauty products as science continues with its scrutiny to expose the effects of these toxic ingredients, they remain to be the primary ingredients in the cosmetic industry. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health previously reports that there are around 900 chemicals used by this industry today.

Although topical beauty products are used only externally, many of the substances permeate the skin and enter the bloodstream to become part of the circulatory system, which the liver is unable to metabolize. As a result, these chemicals continue to accumulate in your body and cause health problems eventually and surface as headaches, hormonal imbalance, rashers, allergies, asthma, cancer, and a myriad of medical and emotional problems.

Even natural skin care products today contain not-so-natural ingredients. The US FDA has issued specifications in order to differentiate organic and natural, all natural, and natural skin care products. Natural organic skin care contains 100 percent natural ingredients derived from organic sources. All natural skin care products contain 95 percent natural products though not necessarily organic. And "natural skin care" products are made from 80-85 percent natural products.

Don't be surprised to see professional natural skin care products that still contain amounts of synthetic preservatives.

The big difference between natural skin care and commercial skin care products (containing synthetic ingredients) are that natural products are sourced from natural plant extracts which is a mixture essential nutrients and natural substances our body has been acclimatized to for millions of years.

They work harmoniously with our system by giving it the natural boost it needs, strengthening and nourishing the skin's protective layer. And whenever absorbed into the bloodstream, substances in natural skin care products protect the body against free radicals and pollutants. The synthetic versions, meanwhile, do more harm by adding unhealthy substances into a body system already confused by the daily rigors of modern living.

Even the gentlest baby body washes are no exceptions, threatening the sensitive, immature skin of infants. When shopping for products for yourself or natural baby skin care products, look out for these key ingredients from the labels:

1. Natural vegetable oils (i.e. olive oil, coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, sesame oil, and wheat germ oil), as they contain high concentrations of essential nutrients that help keep your skin protected and healthy.

2. Distilled or deionized water. Water generally aids in the moisturizing process but make sure they are free of chemicals present in public water sources.

3. Botanicals. They comprise the therapeutic properties of natural skin care products. Several botanicals are renowned to have soothing effects for thousands of years, such as seaweeds, myrhh, rose, lavender, chamomile, comfrey, Melissa, geranium, and so much more. They are combined in various products in the form of infusions, herbal extracts, hydrosols, and essential oils.

These oils have moisturizing and nurturing properties that help delay the aging process. Most consumers complain of showing signs of aging as early as 25, and some of the leading causes of premature aging are the harsh chemicals in cleansers (that dehydrate the skin of essential oils and moisture) and regular exposure to UV rays from the sun.

Natural skin care is your best defense in fighting off pollutants that surround us everyday throughout our lifetime.