One of the fastest growing segments of the skin care industry is natural skin care. Many people want to remove synthetic chemicals from their lives in general and this includes what they put on their skin. Manufacturers, for the most part, decide what is called organic or natural. For our purposes these terms refer to ingredients derived from nature, such as plants and the earth; with a minimal amount of processing.
Organic ingredients are natural products that have been raised without the use of chemical or petroleum based fertilizers. Organic is best because natural fertilizers return macro- and micro-nutrients to the soil, making the resulting plants more concentrated in effective nutrients. A label that claims to be organic does not automatically mean that it’s so. You need to look on the label for a recognized organic certification seal to be assured of a product’s purity.
One of the trendiest natural skin care ingredients is shea butter (derived from the shea tree). It works as an anti-inflammatory, emollient or moisturizer. It is a panacea for skin conditions. It is useful in battling scars, spots, dry skin, psoriasis, wrinkles, acne, blotches, and on and on. Shea butter’s main downside is the fluctuation in price due to its limited supply.
Honey is the oldest recorded natural skin care remedy. Evidence shows that Egypt’s queen Cleopatra even used it as a beauty treatment. Honey has stood the test of time and is still used today in many products – from facial masks to hair conditioner. Honey has three properties that make it an excellent choice for skin care:
1) Antioxidant – destroys the free radicals that destroy cells, including skin cells.
2) Anti-microbial – kills the internal and external germs that cause blemishes.
3) Humectant – absorbs and retains moisture, Maklon Kosmetik keeping skin hydrated, smooth, and wrinkle-free.
Oats not only have humectant properties, but are mildly abrasive. Adding oats to your bathwater relieves the itching associated with eczema, chicken pox or poison ivy, etc. and hydrates dry skin. Oats make a wonderful soluble exfoliating facial scrub. Besides being beneficial to the skin, oats are an excellent food to eat, helping the skin from the inside out.
Late night infomercials tout the benefits of earth derived mineral cosmetics. These are natural and tend to be made with little refining. Most of the minerals are safe, but a few may have troubling effects. Consult your dermatologist if you have concerns about any specific ingredients. Application can be tricky so it may be helpful to apply a base of shielding lotion.
Organic and natural products have their place in any skin care regimen. Even if you find you prefer the skin care chemical engineers have provided us, it’s a sure bet that you can work in natural products into your routine.
