Natural Ingredients - Are They Really Better For Your Skin and Hair?

Today we find a growing number of cosmetics screaming out the benefits of their natural ingredients enticing us to part with our hard earned pennies. As we strive for healthier looking skin and hair through the associated benefits of such naturals ingredients, the story seems incredibly plausible. However, while the discerning shopper may be super equipped to spot a paraben or a sulphate, how many of us really understand what's in our cosmetics.

As we search for answers to keep us staying young and beautiful, cosmetic companies heavily sell us the story of bio-actives, extracts,organics, botanics, herbal and the like. Yes, those lovely exotic ingredients, from far away shores with the potential to relieve all our problems and transform us into visions of loveliness.

As a manufacturer myself, I would like to share a few tips to help you make more informed choices.

These natural ingredients more often than not are processed so much that by the time they get to into your product,their potency has somewhat diminished if at all existent and bares very little resemblance to its original form.
Natural extracts need to be mixed with other chemicals, leached or masticated to be preserved. Often the preservatives used can be harsher than a regular synthetic product. Sometimes the extract will be preserved in oils and so avoid the heavy preservative.
Some natural ingredients such as clays can be also be unpredictable. Their potency and effectiveness can differ considerably, depending on a variety of growing conditions, such the soil and weather.
Finally always read your labels to see how high in the ingredients list your yummy ingredients feature. As a rule of thumb, I would say with any natural products worth its salt, if you can't grow or drink the first three ingredients, then maybe look somewhere else.

There is currently no definition of natural in the UK, so cosmetics only need to contain 1% of natural ingredients to be called natural. So try not to put all your focus on the marketing hype around the bamboo, yucca and shea butter, you may actually be buying a 99% synthetic product. Instead look for products which are certified or have listed their percentage of natural. That way you know you're getting value for money. However, beware there are many organisations stamping products as natural all with differing criteria. Help though is at hand for the consumer, with Ecocert working to unify certification. So hopefully, the minefield of natural ingredients will finally be more consumer friendly simplifying choices when what natural really means.

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Are These Common Ingredients in Your Health and Beauty Products Safe?

ByKristen Anders

To keep health and beauty products, such as cosmetics, soaps, and lotions, safe for human use and effective, preservatives and other chemicals are added. However, in recent years the safety of some of these ingredients, despite decades of use, has been questioned, especially by companies selling all natural products. Here's a look at three common ingredients called into question and what scientific studies say about their safety.

Parbens

Parbens, including ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, act as a preservative not only in cosmetics, but also in foods. This common preservative added to hundreds of cosmetic products can be absorbed into the body through the skin. There's growing concern that parabens may be linked to cancer because of a 2004 study in the "Journal of Applied Toxicology" that reported finding breast tumors with parabens. However, parabens in the body is not a new discovery, so finding it in tumors does not mean it caused the cancer. Studies following the 2004 study failed to show that parabens actually cause cancer, leading the FDA to still consider this a safe and effective preservative.

Sulfates

Sulfates are mostly found in cleaning agents such as shampoos and toothpaste. It's also found in food and water. The sulfates are the cause of the lather created by soaps, but also work as a surfactant. As a surfactant, sulfates remove dirt and grease. Some claim that sulfates can cause cancer. Concerns over sulfates have led it to be extensively studied. And like parabens, these studies have not resulted in a cancer connection. In fact, the FDA, American Cancer Society, and governmental health organizations around world have stated that although sulfates can irritate the skin and eyes, it is considered a safe cleaning agent and not a carcinogen.

Triclosan

Triclosan is another preservative added to cosmetics to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Its effectiveness is without question and has even shown to prevent gingivitis when used in toothpaste. However, its safety is a bit of a mix bag. Studies have shown triclosan may increase the risk of producing antibiotic resistant bacteria and in animal studies has shown to be a hormone disrupter. What this means for humans is unclear however, but it has gotten the attention of the FDA and EPA which called for more studies and a final review set for 2013. This extensive review of all the research regarding triclosan and human health will determine if changes in the regulation of triclosan will be required to protect human health.

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