Natural Organic Skin Care - A Safe Way for Beauty

Were you enamoured by the beautiful smooth skin of the model in the ad for a moisturising lotion? Have you rushed out to try the new shades of lipstick that the fashionable television presenter was wearing? Of course, all of us regularly watch in envy at the impossibly silky straight hair of the models in shampoo advertisements and reach out to buy that brand. Before being attracted by the glamorous marketing promotions of skin care products, we must stop and think about the chemical contents used in these products. Chemicals used in cosmetics such as lipstick, perfumes, shampoo and soaps can have serious harmful effects to human health. Organic skin care, which uses natural and organic ingredients, can protect your skin and health from the adverse effects of chemical ingredients.

This article explores the idea behind organic skin care, why it is needed and also takes a look at some organic products and those specially made for kids.

What is Organic Skin Care?

Organic skin care follows the sample principle as organic food, which is to avoid the use of any harmful or synthetic chemicals in ingredients or during the manufacturing and processing stages. Natural skin care or green skin care are other names for organic skin care. The ingredients used may include plant sources, minerals and animal sources.

While the natural organic skin care movement pushes for 100% organic ingredients, some preservatives may be required in the product to increase shelf life. That's why many products may list the percentage of organic ingredients or indicate the organic content in their ingredient list. For example, an organic herbal shampoo may have 80% of its contents from organic sources and the rest from chemical sources.

Some examples of products for organic skin care are herbal hair care shampoos, organic moisturising oil, green chemical free soap, face washes and organic lipstick.

Why We Need Natural Organic Skin Care

The natural organic skin care movement followed the lines of the campaign for organic food in rejecting the use of harmful synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and body care products. Many of the ingredients in normal beauty and body care shampoos, creams and soaps are said to be toxic and carcinogenic. The use of carcinogenic chemicals can cause breast cancer or other types of cancer in humans through prolonged use. Some synthetic chemicals are associated with birth defects and hormone disorders.

As skin care lotions, creams and soaps are directly applied on the external skin surface, and permeates directly into the body without being filtered by organs such as the kidney. The kidney performs the essential function of removing waste products and toxins from our blood. The liver also works to remove toxic substances from our bloodstream. Unlike ingredients used in organic skin care, the effect of harmful ingredients used in chemical-based skin care products can have significant health effects on human beings when they reach the bloodstream.

Some chemicals, which can have a negative effect on our health, include

• chemical 1,4 dioxane - This chemical sometimes found in soaps and is considered to be carcinogenic.
• phthalates - These are found in perfumes and are a factor in infertility and male reproductive problems.
• Triclosan - This is a pesticide used in disinfectant soaps and can cause hormone disturbances.

Using chemical skin care products can also affect the environment and other people indirectly. This happens when the residue of soap and shampoo reaches our rivers and water sources. When this water is used for irrigation purposes or fish from these sources is eaten, it indirectly enters our body.

Natural Organic Skin care products can be a safe alternative not only for our skin care but also for our overall long-term health and the safety of the environment.

Organic Skin Care Products and Organic Skin Care for Kids

Many products may claim to be organic, but it's a good idea to use certified products. In the US, a bill has been proposed, entitled the Safe Cosmetics Act, which seeks to regulate the ingredients used in cosmetics and skin care products. This bill is to ensure that companies are not able to mislead the public by making false claims about their products being organic.

Here's a brief view into some generic organic skin care products and their ingredients:

• Organic moisturising lotions - These may contain aloe vera, natural oils such as safflower oil, almond oil or jojoba oil all of which are sourced or produced without any chemicals involved. The organic skin care lotions may also have herbs. Green organic creams should be free of parabens, a chemical preservative which can cause hormonal disorders.
• Natural Organic Lipstick - Normal lipsticks use chemical colours and contain traces of lead. Organic lipsticks are lead-free and contain natural colours. They may contain ingredients such as beeswax, seed oil and minerals.
• Organic Soaps - Natural soaps may have organic ingredients olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, herbs and flowers. The herbs or flowers give the colour for the soap. Organic skin care products such as natural soaps generally avoid animal fat, and do not contain chemical dyes and preservatives.

There is a special range of organic products for kids which avoid harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde preservatives and chemical colouring. Organic soaps for babies may be made out of aloe, coconut or palm oil, herbs and flowers. They do not use animal fat, chemical fragrance, Triclosan or petroleum-derived ingredients. Other organic products for kids such as organic baby oils may have almond and jojoba oil and herb extracts.

Natural organic skin care can ensure that your body is not exposed to harmful chemicals, which may have long-term effects on your health. When buying organic products, you should check the ingredients list to check if any synthetic chemicals such as preservatives are included.