Why should you pay more attention to organic and natural skincare ingredients?

All of us love our skin and try hard to keep it clear and glowing every day, in the due course we tend to use a lot of skincare and personal care products. Majority of these cosmetic products are synthesized in laboratories and contain chemicals. They are heavily marketed to us via advertising and other offers and we spend a lot of money on buying them. These products are produced in large batches and stocked together for months before they end up on the shelf of our retail stores. While we may be feeling pleasant after their use due to their look and feel that was promised to us in the advertisements, we necessarily may not be benefiting from them.

Why are chemical-based cosmetics harmful?

Majority of cosmetic products contain harmful chemicals like parabens, sulphates, formaldehyde, phthalates, sulphates, toluene, PEG and Triclosan. These chemical-based products wash away the natural moisturization of your skin and disturb its pH balance. These chemicals can have adverse side effects on our health, some of them like Triclosan are even carcinogenic and when washed away through our bathrooms and drains they get mixed with water disturbing the water life. The washed chemicals are dangerous for the animals and birds and can result in their death or result in hormonal changes. Triclosan has also been found to cause hormonal changes in human beings and is dangerous for the use of young children and babies, so avoid using Triclosan products like cosmetics and hand washes.

FDA has also banned some of these chemicals including Triclosan for protection of the consumers. So even if these chemical-based cosmetics may be effective to solve your skincare problems on the go, we recommend you switch to better environment-friendly alternatives like organic and natural skincare ingredients.

What are organic and natural skincare ingredients?

The organic skincare products are free from chemicals or any other artificially synthesized elements and contain only organically produced elements produced from plants and vegetables that have skincare properties. The organic products are manufactured in small batches and do not contain any artificially added flavours or essence. These products are a bit more costly than chemical-based cosmetics since they are obtained naturally and take a long time in making, which is one of the reasons why consumers do not prefer them. But we recommend you to use organic skincare ingredients produced by certified organic brands to maintain healthy-looking skin and overall wellness.

Majority of the natural skincare ingredients like Aloe vera have medicinal properties and are useful for people with sensitive skin to avoid inflammation and redness. Organic and natural ingredients do not have any side effects and some of them are also edible. You can grow some of these natural ingredients in your home gardens and use them whenever needed, it is that simple.

So let us take a look at some of the organic and natural skincare ingredients and understand their benefits.

Coconut oil;

Coconut oil is obtained from coconut shells and is a natural moisturizer for skin and hair which is rich in natural lipids and fatty acids good for your skin. Usage of coconut oil on a regular basis helps to improve the quality of hair, reduce hair fall, giving you long and strong locks that you dream of. Application of coconut oil on the skin before bath during winters prevents dryness of skin and make skin glowing and moisturized. Regular application of coconut oil on skin can also help to tone your muscles.

Shea butter;

Shea butter is a natural ingredient extracted from the Shea nut through hours of manual labour that give a granular form which upon boiling separates oil in a form of fat called shea butter. It is a natural moisturising ingredient that is rich in fatty acids and natural lipids that helps to soften and nourish the skin. Regular use of shea butter on the body can also help to lighten your skin tone and give it a glow. It is recommended to use body lotions and face creams that have a shea butter base if you want to treat dry and flaky skin. Shea butter also helps in healing of the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Aloe vera;

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant and has plenty of skincare applications. Aloe vera gel can be used as a natural toner for your face and helps to prevent acne and reduce pimples and scars. Aloe vera gel can also be applied on hair before washing to reduce dandruff and make your hair smooth and shiny. Aloe vera gel, when applied on the skin, gives a cool feeling and can be used to reduce puffy tired eyes along with your ice packs. Aloe vera soothes your skin and can also reduce redness and itchiness. You can also include aloe vera juice in your diet to benefit from its properties and improve wellness.

Rosewater;

Rosewater is a natural toner and is rich in antioxidants, along with a fragrant smell it can be mixed in your facemasks or bodypacks instead of water giving you a refreshing feeling. Rosewater obtained from pure rose extracts along with rose petals is fit to be used on the face to reduce pimples and scars and give you a fresh hydrated look. Rosewater is also pH neutral and useful for use on sensitive skin. Remember fresh rosewater is more effective than the rose water extracts that contain preservatives and added fragrances.

Tea tree oil;

Tea tree oil is an essential oil with antimicrobial and antifungal properties and is rich in antioxidants. The use of tea tree oil on the face can help to fight acne, so it is advised to use tea tree oil as a natural toner or for spot treatment. It can also be used in shampoo to reduce dandruff and moisturize the scalp. Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to reduce redness or swelling of the skin. It can be also used to relieve discomfort caused by skin problems like eczema and itchy skin.

Sea-Buckthorn;

Sea buckthorn oil is extracted from the berries and leaves of the sea buckthorn plant shrub found in cold hilly regions. It has many medicinal properties and has been used for years to promote health and skincare. Sea-buckthorn oil is rich in vitamins and fatty acids and is essential for skin. When applied directly it nourishes your skin through the omega-3 and omega-7 fat content that boosts your skin texture. It is rich in vitamins like B1, B2, B6 and vitamin E all of which are good for your skin’s health.

Now let us look at some of the natural ingredients necessary for healthy skin.

Oleic Acid;

Oleic acid is a type of monounsaturated Omega-9 fatty acids that are commonly found in many plant-based or animal-based sources like in Olive oil and egg yolk. This ingredient is very good for our health and has many nourishing properties that are essential for our skin and hair. Many pharmaceutical companies use oleic acid in drugs and cosmetics, but we recommend you to use natural ingredients rich in oleic acid such as avocado, milk, eggs, vegetable oil, nuts, cheese and pasta in your diet rather than falling prey to cosmetics.

Linoleic acid;

Often referred as Vitamin F Linoleic acid is a dominant N-6 polyunsaturated acid that is good for our skin and is found in foods like meat, eggs, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, corn and soybean. Majority of western diets include these abundant sources of linoleic acid and if consumed in the right proportions are useful for health and wellness. It helps to strengthen the outer layer of our skin in order to retain its natural moisturization and healing properties.

Palmitoleic acid;

Palmitoleic acid is present in marine oils and in food sources like sea-buckthorn and macadamia nuts or hazelnuts. It has healing properties and helps to fight inflammation. This fatty acid has many applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The best way to benefit from it is to include macadamia nuts in your daily diet in the form of smoothies or by soaking them overnight and eating them in the morning. Palmitoleic acid has natural anti-ageing properties and reduces wrinkles by tightening your skin.

Alpha-tocopherol;

Commonly known as Vitamin E, Alpha-tocopherol is an extremely essential ingredient for having healthy, glowing skin. Regular use of vitamin E oil or serums rich in vitamin E help to give you a nourished and moisturized skin. This ingredient helps in new skin formation, removal of dead skin cells and reduces dark spots and scars. Organic ingredients rich in alpha-tocopherol are nuts, whole grains, and leafy vegetables. Vitamin E oil directly applied on skin also helps in skin lightening and whitening. We recommend you to include foods rich in alpha-tocopherol like vegetables, fruits, fruit juices in your diet rather than paying large amounts of money to buy vitamin E tablets sold by pharmaceutical companies.

100% organic products are difficult to find on retail store shelves and can also be extremely costly, that’s why we recommend you to include the foods mentioned above that are rich in natural ingredients good for your skin. We hope our guide will help you to choose organic and natural ingredients and make a better choice for long-lasting health and wellness.