Why Switch to All Natural

Quick Tip

from Lori Stryker

The human skin wraps and protects our bodies. It is a living, dynamic tissue system. It has the remarkable ability to absorb applied products, partially or completely, into the bloodstream. In fact, up to 60% of the products we use on our skin are absorbed and deposited into the blood stream. For instance, the average woman absorbs 30 pounds of the ingredients contained in moisturizers over sixty years.

So, we have to think about several factors before we buy cosmetics:

• What chemicals are used, and how do they mix? This is called the "chemical cocktail effect".

• Many ingredients come from petroleum or are synthetic imitations of natural substances. Many of these cause cancer, make the skin sennsitive or clog pores.

• The price of a cosmetic does not mean it is more natural or better for your skin. Reading the labels, and being able to tell the difference between a chemical and a natural ingredient is the best way to choose.

• We eat about 1-4 tubes of lipstick in a lifetime, so choose makeup and skin care that is all natural rather than petroleum based.

Using cosmetics that are made from plant waxes and botanical oils, as well as mineral pigments and beeswax is better for you than cosmetics made from petroleum or animal based ingredients. Animal based ingredients are often irritating and allergenic to the skin.

Caring for your whole body means being careful about what you eat, but also what you feed your skin on the outside too. Natural cosmetics are safer, healthier choices. Natural cosmetics are free from artificial chemical additives and made of all natural and ingredients simply derived from nature. Be careful about cosmetics that say they are natural, but only contain a small amount of natural ingredients but are mainly composed of petrochemicals.

Switching to organic cosmetics can help you avoid feeding your skin harmful chemicals. Many skin problems like acne disappear or are reduced when you make that switch. Using all natural cosmetics can contribute to healthy skin and a healthy body in the short term and in the long run.

Written by Lori Stryker, B.Sc., B.H.Ec., B.Ed. President and Founder of The Organic Make-up Co.Inc., a company devoted to producing all natural skin care and make-up cosmetics.