Although none of these poses an immediate threat to life, they can have negative long-term effects on health, ranging from mild issues such as allergies and dry skin all the way to asthma, hormonal disbalances and even cancer. The good news is that there is a much healthier alternative – natural beauty products.
Today, you can find a variety of natural cosmetics to choose from which don’t include any of the abovementioned questionable synthetic ingredients. But while healthwise these are much better than regular cosmetics, they too have their downsides. Since I’m into a healthy lifestyle myself, I wanted to explore this topic further and find out what these beauty products really are and what are their pros and cons compared to traditional formulas.
Most people use cosmetic products on a daily basis, from moisturisers to shower gels, creams, lotions, foundation and other beauty essentials. Unfortunately, not everyone is entirely aware of what they’re putting onto their skin. Some problematic ingredients found in conventional cosmetics include silicones, parabens, and microplastics, to mention a few.
What Are Natural Beauty Products?
To be certified as natural, a cosmetic product should have at least 95% naturally-derived ingredients. This percentage must be met in order for the label to be valid, but there are also limitations on what can make up the remaining 5%. There are many ingredients that are forbidden, including silicones, PEGs, artificial scents, colours, parabens, sulphates, and phthalates.
Many of these products can contain organic ingredients or botanicals that offer healing properties for the skin. But to be clear, not all natural beauty products will be organic too. To be organic, the product needs to be made of ingredients that are naturally sourced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or other artificial chemicals in the process.
Are Natural Beauty Products as Effective as Regular Ones?
When it comes to cosmetics, there are two groups of people. The first group obsess over the list of ingredients and the other group only wants an effective skincare routine, no matter what the products contain.
And since natural formulas are usually labelled as mild and gentle, many think they aren’t as effective. The truth is, whether a product will be effective or not, depends on what your needs are.
Generally, these products are easier on the skin and are less likely to cause irritations or allergies. For that particular reason, it’s recommended that those with sensitive skin types should go with a natural alternative.
On the other hand, whenever there is a bacterial infection on the skin involved and problems like acne, active ingredients are required. And in natural products, these are usually in low concentration. So, in this case, regular medicinal products should come to the rescue.
What Are Some Other Pros and Cons?
Pro – Better for the Environment
By using synthetic materials in the production of makeup we are polluting the environment. On the other hand, natural skincare and cosmetics are better for the environment. They use bioplastics as much as possible for skincare and makeup containers, use sustainably sourced ingredients in the process of creation and also reduce the number of unnecessary ingredients in a product.
Other than the fact that certain brands come in biodegradable packages, some can also come in packaging-free packaging, which makes them the ideal products for preserving the environment by creating zero waste.
Con – Shorter Shelflife
While natural beauty products are free from artificial preservatives, that can often mean that they don’t last as much as regular beauty products. While regular beauty products mostly last 12 months from the open date, natural ones might go bad in half of the time. The change in the texture, colour and smell can be a sign that the product has gone bad.
However, this can be solved by buying smaller packages rather than overstocking or purchasing your preferred product in a bigger size. Also, if you have a natural product that you are fond of, then you will probably use it way sooner before its expiry date.
Pro – Cruelty-free
Compared to synthetic cosmetics which usually test on animals and use animal ingredients, most of these products can be vegan and cruelty-free. This means that in the process of creation, no testing on animals has been done. By choosing natural cosmetics, you’re making a sustainable choice that’s not just good for yourself by being toxin-free, but also good for animals.
Con – Pale Colours in Mineral Cosmetics
For those that love vibrant makeup, natural products come in not-so-vibrant shades. This is because most of the time to obtain lively colours, producers are using synthetic ingredients. So, the effect that one can obtain with just one stroke of regular eye shadow can’t be achieved with natural makeup.
Last Thoughts
Well, it seems that natural cosmetic supplies aren’t just a fad. They are truly better for your skin and health. And, now that you know some of their pros and cons, you may feel free to buy natural cosmetics online from the comfort of your home. There are plenty of natural cosmetic stores with different brands that you can choose from.
