Can you really believe everything you read? When it comes to selecting skin care products, the answer may surprise you. There is debate as to whether products that contain all natural ingredients are really better than those that contain synthetic ingredients. With both sides of this issue taking a strong stand and issuing ‘official’ report after report, it is the consumer who most often gets lost in the maze of unsubstantiated marketing promises and supposedly ‘guaranteed’ results.
Are skin care products with natural ingredients better?
This seems to be the million dollar question, literally. Skin care manufacturers right now are spending millions of dollars researching everything from alfalfa to cassava in an attempt to not only gain a competitive advantage, but to get more dollars from consumers as well.
With marketing departments working overtime, skincare manufacturers are hard at work cleverly combining catchy phrases, flashy packaging, and testimonials from “experts” in the field of natural product research and development. The end results of these efforts are expensive moisturizers, cleansers, shampoos, masks, scrubs, and cosmetics that claim to work miracles on your skin, safely, and most importantly, naturally.
But are these claims true? Again, that depends on which side of the fence you’re on when it comes to supporting natural products versus synthetics. Before you take sides on this highly controversial issue, there is one very important fact you should know. The federal government has yet to define the guidelines and regulations governing the use of the term ‘natural’. That means marketers can use the term however they choose, regardless of the ingredients used in their products or the manufacturing processes used to produce those products.
Although a skin care product may contain natural products such as aloe or vitamin E, what you are not told is that the processes used to extract these components often use many synthetic materials. And even once the natural ingredients are extracted, they are often combined with synthetics like preservatives and stabilizing agents that help extend shelf life.
One of the biggest risks associated with using natural ingredients is the possibility of an allergic reaction. Many people have food allergies, so putting products containing plants or plant extracts on the skin can increase the risks of an allergic reaction. And even if a full-blown allergic reaction does not occur, natural ingredients often cause skin irritation or sensitivity. Focus more of your attention on putting natural ingredients in your mouth and not on your skin. One thing everyone can agree on is that eating a diet loaded with antioxidants and vitamins is extremely beneficial for healthy skin. The body is very efficient at processing natural foods and using the bloodstream to transport these nutrients to the skin.
Find a line of skin care products you trust and that works well for your skin type. Then become a loyal customer of that product line. Your skin will be happy as a result.