Even if you are not a die-hard skin care enthusiast, you’ve figuring out ways to take care of your skin. Harsh New England seasons only guarantee a need for some sort of daily regimen to keep your skin soft and hopefully, blemish-free. For those of us with extra dry skin, starting off the spring semester in the midst of Boston’s coldest season is a nightmare.
These days, everyone seems to be going crazy for anything organic: organic oils, organic extracts, anything you can think of. Current skincare fanatics declare plant-based products as the way to go.
The fact is there’s too much hype and not enough specifics to support the obsession. Much of the craze seems to stem from a lack of understanding of what exactly certain terms actually mean. There is a false assumption that because something is untreated, somehow, it makes the product safe to apply to skin.
Before one can discover what regimen is best for their skin, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that language is power. Certain words are used by skin care companies in misleading ways, like “all natural,” or “organic”. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declares on its official website that it has not created a regulated definition of the terms “natural” or “organic.” In other words, a product can claim to be natural or organic by a definition quite different from the FDA because in reality, the definition has not been provided.
Furthermore, if a product contains organic or natural ingredients, as the FDA points out, it may not make it safer than products made from other materials. In the FDA’s words, “an ingredient’s source does not determine its safety. For example, many plants, whether or not they are organically grown, contain substances that may be toxic or allergenic.”
It’s important to remember that just because an ingredient is synthetic, it is not necessarily bad for you. It may be safer by removing natural toxins that otherwise occur in the natural alternative.
The most important thing to keep in mind while developing a daily skin regimen is to research the ingredients. For instance, many popular products contain natural oils because they are deemed as the most hydrating and effective ingredients in skin care products. Personally, I love the Charity Pot body lotion made by LUSH Cosmetics, a brand known for its plant-based ingredients. Number two on the ingredient list of my favorite lotions is Fair Trade Olive Oil, one of these highly acclaimed natural oils.
While researching the ingredient, one clinical study published in volume 30 of “Pediatric Dermatology” compared the use of olive oil on adult skin over the course of five weeks to the use of sunflower seed oil for about the same time. The study found that olive oil could cause slight skin irritation while the sunflower seed oil was hydrating. The study concluded by advising against the use of olive oil in a skin care routine.
That’s not to say olive oil is bad, either. Although it may be tested to be an irritant, the product containing it may just so happen to work for a specific person. You may also be able to do the same with synthetic ingredients. I know I can, in every case, rule out sulfates as too harsh for my hair and skin. Many of my friends avoid sulfates in their skin and hair care as well. At the same time, other friends continue to use body products with sulfates in them and have healthy hair and skin.
Perhaps your best move is to do your own research and keep an open mind. Be willing to try both synthetic and natural ingredients while, at the same time, willing to do the work before you leap into a new regimen. What works for someone else’s skin may not work for yours and going all-natural may not be the fix-all solution to your skin care needs.