Should all synthetic skin care products be banned? The reality is that it is very difficult to find 100% natural products because they have a shorter shelf life. Manufacturers prefer synthetics because of this.

Some natural skin care products use natural preservatives, but their cost can be prohibitively expensive. Some considerations in your selection of a natural product includes your skin type, climate conditions in which it will be used, and the application of the product.

The internet, as well as most book stores, have books that include recipes for making your own natural skin care products from organic fruits and vegetables, essential oils and herbal oils.

Healthy eating habits, drinking several glasses of pure water each day, and a regular exercise program are some additional components to maintaining beautiful skin throughout your lifetime.

In most women’s magazines you’ll encounter numerous ads for anti-aging face creams. These so called products are often called “natural” or “allergy-tested”, but regulations give manufacturers a lot of leeway in what those terms mean.

It is a good idea to read the ingredient labels. Some naturally occurring ingredients are beneficial, and not all man made ingredients are harmful. A few of these common ingredients that can be harmful are:

Parabens: These chemicals are used as a preservative to inhibit microbial growth in face creams. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors and also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Better preservatives include vitamins A, C and E and grapefruit or grape seed extract.

Petroleum derivatives: You’ll find these products listed as petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin. Petroleum products are used as a skin softener and moisturizer. However, they interfere with the skin’s natural oils and can actually make dry skin worse over time. Better moisturizers include a variety of natural oils including olive oil, sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil and beeswax.

Chemical sunscreens: Oxybenzone and avobenzone are the most common chemical sunscreens. They often cause skin irritation and disrupt hormonal balance. The preferred natural sunscreens are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Synthetic colors or fragrances: Synthetic colors are often carcinogenic. Avoid products showing FC&C or D&C followed by a number on the label. Synthetic fragrances cause headaches and skin irritation. Be aware that many products labeled “fragrance free” actually contain a neutralizing fragrance to mask the odor of the product. Look for products labeled as containing only natural coloring agents and “no fragrance added”.

One other product you need to be wary of is propylene glycol. As a natural product derived from vegetable glycerin, it makes an excellent moisturizer. However, the chemically derived forms of propylene glycol, PEG and PPG, are known to cause allergic reactions, including hives and eczema. If you see polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, PEG or PPG on the label, it’s probably best to pass on that face cream.

Trying to avoid so many unhealthy chemicals in a vast number of products will pay many benefits to your wellness programs as well as slow the aging process.

Have a fun and productive day,

Vida

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You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential. Steve Garvey

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