Quarantine has me looking into my own life and see how natural my life is from food to skincare. It is easy to overlook what chemicals create these substances we put into our bodies. What we put in our stomach and put on our face has a big effect on our bodies, so it is important to make sure you are using natural products. My high school health teacher once told us that if you did not know what 5-7 ingredients were, you should not consume or purchase the item. At the time, he was talking about food, but I think this ideology also goes hand-in-hand with skincare. Our skin absorbs most of the chemicals it comes in contact with.
The first place I went to for research was the Internet. It was important for me to find out what chemicals not to come in contact with first. I wanted to compare the ingredients to what I currently use in my skin care routine. After reading many online articles, I came up with a consolidated list. Here are some chemicals to watch out for:
- parabens (methyl, butyl, ethyl, propyl)
- triclosans
- phthalates
- sulfates
- petrochemicals
- ethanoxylated ingredients (anything ending in -eth, phenoxyethanol, and polysorbates)
- synthetic color
- synthetic fragrance
- polyethylene glycol
I discovered that most of current skincare products include MULTIPLE of these chemicals. My products vary from drugstore (Clean&Clear) to name brand (Clinque). I was shocked that my Clinique products had as many harmful chemicals as it did. I plan on finishing the products I have to avoid waste, but I am going to implement natural ingredients with them.
Essentials oils are a great natural ingredient for skincare routines. They are naturally forming and do not rob your skin of nutrients. Each skin type calls for different essential oils. I have combination skin, so I focused on oils that would foster to my skin. These five essential oils are recommended:
- lavender oil: anti-bacterial, balances oil levels, detoxes toxins in body, prevents wrinkles and UV damage, should be diluted in carrier oils
- frankincense oil: balance oil production, tighten skin, heals wounds (like acne scars), beneficial in eye cream, should be diluted in carrier oils
- jojoba: carrier oil, moisturizing, provides anti-oxidants, decreases oil production, removes makeup
- grapeseed oil: softens skin, increases elasticity, evens out skin tone, high in omega-6 fatty acid, high in Vitamin E, use at night mixed with water, lavender and frankincense, avoid formulas with Hexane (look for cold-pressed formulas)
- argan oil: AKA moroccan oil, protects skin from sun damage, moisturizes skin, heals wounds, reduces stretch marks, decreases oiliness, carrier oil, use after applying moisturizer
It is important to moisturize in your skin care routine. One myth is that it makes your skin more oily, but it is actually the opposite. If you do not moisturize your skin, it creates more natural oil. I, also, found out that alcohol and witch hazel formulas are very bad for combination skin. To help combat these harmful chemicals, I am going to
- stick to a clean diet
- switch between my moisturizer and tea rose oil
- research into natural skin care brands
It is important to remember that you should ease into lifestyle changes. Whether it is changing eating habits, sleep schedule or skin care, start small and gradually switch over.
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