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How "Natural" are Natural Skin Care Products?
The market in beauty products has grown
significantly in the last 25 years but in the last 10
years there has been an increasing interest in the ingredients
contained within the lotions, creams and potions we
apply so liberally to our skin - the largest organ of
our human bodies.
Many main stream manufacturers still
include a range of not so natural ingredients in their
products:
- waste products from the petrochemical
industry
- lead and other heavy metals
- products extracted from animal carcasses
Many of these ingredients are given
scientific sounding names. While the cynic may say this
is a deliberate attempt to confuse the consumer, a more
charitable view is that this is done in pursuit of accurate
labeling.
As a result of the heightened awareness
of health matters and the confusion concerning ingredients
and labelling, a new sector of this lucrative market
has arisen. The need for natural skin care and cosmetics.
But just how natural is natural?
Many consumers require natural ingredients
but are not prepared to accept the necessary compromise
in product performance. A classic example is with the
ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. This is a synthetic
detergent derived from coconut oil and it appears in
a wide range of shampoos, bath products, toothpastes
and liquid soaps. It is what gives these products the
luxurious bubbles and lather to which we have all become
accustomed. A number of studies have suggested that
this ingredient is harmful and many consumers now seek
products containing an alternative.
Manufacturers then developed Sodium
Laureth Sulphate, which is considered less irritating
than Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. When this was condemned,
Ammonium Laureth Sulphate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate
were substituted. Once again these are synthetic detergents
developed from coconut oil and they are still considered
to be an irritant. Some studies have also suggested
they may be carcinogenic.
Unless consumers have a knowledge of
bio-chemistry it is almost impossible to discern what
ingredients are natural and what are not. The SLS saga
is but one example of this confusion.
It is ironic that a number of "natural"
manufacturers aggressively promote their products by
denigrating the products of competing companies - despite
the fact that the ingredients they contain are essentially
the same.
Consumers need to make themselves aware
of the real meanings behind the mysterious names on
their cosmetic bottles and jars and educate themselves
about the various aliases they are likely to encounter.
Depending on the reasons for wanting
to purchase natural products, some ingredients may be
more acceptable than others. Take Lanolin for example.
Lanolin is extracted from the fleece of sheep. It has
been shown to contain a large number of chemicals used
to kill parasites that may live on the sheep. Many eczema
sufferers find that treatment with lanolin based products
- despite the chemicals - helps to reduce symptoms.
The benefits of Lanolin treatment outweigh the disadvantage
of potential contaminants. This is a value judgement
that individuals will need to make.
Of course, one of the best ways to ensure
that your products are natural is to make them yourself.
There is a growing number of companies providing organic
based ingredients to facilitate home manufacture of
products. Natural cosmetics are surprisingly easy to
make in the home using nothing more than regular kitchen
equipment. This may be an alternative worth checking-out.
1howto.com
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