Conscious Beauty, to me means taking the time to make sure there are no harmful chemicals in your makeup or other beauty products. I have said before that it is very difficult to eliminate all possible dangerous compounds from your beauty routine, but just like changing your diet you can start with the easy stuff and then learn more as you go.
When you make a decision about what to use on your hair and skin, take this list of the top 5 worst chemicals that are commonly used in over the counter beauty products and start reading the labels, you will be shocked at the number of products that list them in the first three ingredients. The highest concentration of ingredients is usually in the first three listed.
Here are just a few of the worst chemicals that are found in an alarming number of products sold every day
• Petrochemicals
• Paraben
• Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Laurel
• Phthalates
Petrochemicals are used to dissolve heavy grease from car engines, and in cleaners for concrete floors. The damage from repeated exposure to these chemicals over time has been shown to be substantial and there is a long list of possible effects.
Phthalates make lotions absorb into the skin faster but are classified by the Department of Health and Human Services as a potential carcinogen. It isn’t necessary to add dangerous chemicals to make-up and beauty products, but it is cheaper.
Research over the past 20 years or so has shown that there is no need to include anything harmful to animals or humans when it comes to the products we want to use in and on our bodies. They have come a long way in producing natural safe alternatives to ingredients that should never have been used to begin with.
If you are interested in purchasing any organic product, the most important thing to look for is the “100% organic” label. This tells you that everything in that product is natural and organic. There are no harmful chemicals in organic products, therefore the quality is exceptional. If the label just says “organic” that is still pretty good, an average of 95% of that product is considered organic. There are probably still some fillers lurking in there. Check the list of ingredients to know for sure.
If the label says “Made with Organic Ingredients” you might as well put it back on the shelf, since less than 2% of the product is organic.
Most importantly – over and above searching for the word organic on labels- is to become aware of the ingredients being used, and start eliminating the harmful ones.
Chemical free products enhance your natural beauty and prevent negative effects like irritations and free radical damage. Your skin will be healthier and free from harmful, toxic chemicals. It may take some time to replace all hair and skin care products you already have with safer, chemical free products, but your skin- and the environment- will thank you for it.
