Many people around the world find themselves wanting to switch to organic, natural cosmetics in this day and age to protect their health. Increasing worries around using chemical cosmetics like makeup, soap and shampoo, as well as cleaning products and even medications, are causing people to switch to natural versions of these everyday items.
While this sounds pretty easy in theory, in practice, it can be pretty hard to find natural versions of your favourite cosmetics. Some companies use the word “natural” in order to boost sales, but still use harsh chemicals.
In this blog, we will explore some chemicals to spot on ingredient lists, and how to find actual organic products you’ll love.
Which chemicals should you avoid in cosmetics?
One question many people ask is, “What should I be avoiding?” In truth, there are no chemicals in our everyday cosmetics that are genuinely harmful to the human body in the doses they are used in, but some of them are environmentally unfriendly, and not particularly healthy for us either. Here are some chemicals to avoid when shopping for natural products.
- Parabens. Parabens are preservatives that are found in many cosmetics and other household products. If something is advertised as “paraben-free” this generally means a green light for finding a natural product. If you are looking to see if a product has parabens, look for the words butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben on the ingredients list.
- Formaldehyde. Although formaldehyde is widely known to be a carcinogen, a lot of products, such as nail varnish and fake eyelashes, still contain it.
- Teflon. You might know Teflon as a non-stick pan coating, but Teflon is also found in some cosmetics as a texture emulsifier.
How to recognise organic cosmetics
One easy way to recognise organic cosmetics is to search for the word “organic”. That sounds a little wishy-washy, but by law, a product can’t use the word “organic” unless it actually is. Unlike the word “natural” which is thrown around by all sorts of brands, “organic” is a word that has gravity – so look for it on labels when you are shopping for cosmetics.
What does organic actually mean? An organic cosmetic means that the cosmetic product you are buying has been created from naturally grown ingredients. This means that they can’t contain parabens, or other harmful chemicals, for example.
What kind of products can you buy organically?
Some products are very difficult to find organically, while others are easy to make the switch. Supplements, like all natural hemp oil, for example, can be sourced organically from independent companies that have a transparent approach to their advertising.
The best way to find organic products is to shop in stores that are designed for this purpose. Your average drugstore is unlikely to stock organic cosmetics, whereas a natural beauty store or online retailer is more likely to have the all-natural products you’re searching for.
Final Thoughts
Switching to organic cosmetics can be tricky, but it is ultimately a great choice, for your own health and for the sake of our planet!