Is your Skincare and Beauty Routine safe?
You would assume that if a product is being sold, especially in the United States, that it would be regulated and 100% non-toxic. Sadly, you and I both thought wrong because believe it or not, personal care products are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The words used to entice you on the bottles of your favorite products are not legally regulated or defined. Brands can and are blatantly lying straight to your face without any repercussions!
The first step in fighting the crazy marketing tactics is to understand the words that big brands are throwing at you. Don’t be fooled and see how you can make the safe decisions for your body.
When we step into Sephora, Ulta, or any drugstore there are thousands of products and advertisements being shoved in our faces whether we like it or not. If the companies aren’t held to what is written on their bottle, how do you know if it is really safe for your beauty needs? The ingredient list will show it all! Why should we mindlessly believe the narrative that a company has been strategically curating towards getting us to spend our money? Instead check out my Non-Toxic Morning Skincare Routine with products you can trust!
In order to make an educated purchase, consumers should first know the differences between Natural Beauty and Clean Beauty.
The most common mistake consumers can make is believing that Natural = Good. Not everything that occurs naturally in nature is safe for you to put on your beautiful face!
The products labeled with the words “Natural” or Organic” are not necessarily safer or more effective than products that don’t have all of that neutral Earth imagery covering their bottles. Lead, Arsenic, and Poison Ivy are all found in nature, yet you would never put these on your skin, right?! Natural ingredients can be very unstable and reactive, so it is difficult to fully trust that the companies have accurately tested sufficiently for each skin type or condition. Companies love to make it seem like natural products are more gentle, however they can actually be extremely stripping to the skin and unpredictable, especially if used incorrectly.
Natural DIY skin care is all the rage, but 9 times out of 10 it is actually harmful to practice. Concentrating too much of a specific acidity level can cause reverse effects and actually enhance wrinkles, dark spots, and redness over time. Leave it to the experts to formulate the ingredients in the perfect amounts instead of potentially damaging your skin. Certain ingredients may be harmful to the skin due to the harsh acidic pH found in particular extracts that can either throw off your natural pH levels, or even cause accelerated ageing due to irritation.
The natural pH level of the skin rests between 4.7 and 5.7 which is slightly acidic on the scale. By adding products containing very basic or acidic ingredients, the natural processes of the skin may be disrupted and negatively affected. The slightly acidic level of the skin allows for the "resident bacteria flora," which is good bacteria, to stay attached to the skin. However, if the pH is disrupted into the Alkaline level (pH 8 or 9) the good bacteria is dispersed and the skin will not function the way that it naturally would (Bloem). High citrus fruits are ones to watch out for as they can cause intense irritation and effects that will only show up later in life.
Instead of looking for Natural Beauty in the stores, look for Clean Beauty! What does that even mean?
Clean Products are items that contain no toxic ingredients, are cruelty free, and sustainable all while having little to no possible irritants and allergens!
This is the perfect blend of everything you need in a product if you are looking to shop responsibly.
Click to see the Best and Worst Ingredients in Your Skincare Routine
Substances like Aluminum, Parabens, and Phaletes are excluded from the clean beauty selection as they are toxic for the human body. In the doses that are sold in stores there are stated to be no direct harmful effects, however when used in conjunction with other products with similar ingredients, the effects can be damaging. A controversial topic is the toxicity of ingredients found in major band deodorants and their connection to breast cancer. Why put your body at risk of absorbing carcinogenic matter if there are many effective alternatives with a nice price tag?
Clean Beauty has been a trend on the rise in the beauty community as it is catering to the abundance of new conscious consumers. You still have to watch out for exaggerated labels, but a product that formulates without Parabens, Formaldehydes. and Phaletes is definitely better than one that does. It is difficult to make the transition to 100% non-toxic beauty, but every product in your routine helps to decrease tour toxin intake.
If you tend to have common breakouts, clean beauty could potentially be non-reactive with your skin and resolve the issues of clogged pores and excess oil production.
Our nails are not safe from toxins either believe it or not! Next time you decide to get a manicure, think about the pores on your nails and how the toxic ingredients from the polish actually gain access into your bloodstream! It is important to do your research and be aware of what is going on your body, but how does one even know where to start? Use the "Think Dirty" app.
“Think Dirty” - App that rates the toxicity of your favorite products
This app gives any product that you search a rating on a 0 to 10 scale and clearly outlines what ingredients could be harmful or even toxic to use on your body. Products range from foundations all the way to toothpastes, so you will be undoubtedly shocked to see what you find. Trust me when I say that I was scared to see what my favorite makeup products contained.
Treat your body with kindness and be the conscious consumer that can make a difference in the personal care industry. Products do not need a long ingredient list to be effective, and you should be able to pronounce and understand what is going into your body. As consumers, we have more power than we believe and it is up to us to make a positive change. So, are you ready to see what you are really putting on your face? Download the free app to find out!
With Love,
April Ann :)
Sources:
Think Dirty App