Do you have doubts about natural and organic skincare or makeup products?

You don’t have to know that the skin is our largest organ to understand our obsession with it. We gaze longingly at our skin, picking at it, nurturing it, loving it, hating it, and ultimately spending a lot of time trying to figure out the great mystery of making it look and feel better.

With every passing year, natural and organic beauty products continue to grow in popularity. We are becoming more educated about what we put on our skin, regardless of our skin type, by studying labels and learning about individual ingredients and their benefits. As a result of this shift, people are turning toward natural skincare and makeup powered with fruit pigments, natural-based oils that are hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and free of gluten, parabens, phthalates, and products that do not rely on animal testing. Oftentimes, it’s unclear how some ingredients that our skin absorbs can impact our health, especially potentially harmful ingredients found in some products.

As the largest organ in our body, skin serves as a key protector. Skin isn’t like a sponge that absorbs just anything. Skin can serve as master protector because it consists of multiple layers. Multiple is the key word here, having each one of the layers play a specific role. The outermost layer protects our body from environmental threats while helping to keep the moisture and hydration in our body. Skincare products, such as cleansers are applied topically, therefore they don’t reach the deepest layers of our skin. When the ingredients are absorbed by the skin, which is awesome, it means the ingredients are doing their job. These ingredients were designed at the molecular and structural level to absorb into the skin.

The way the skin absorbs skincare ingredients depends on many factors. First, the thickness of the skin varies in different parts of the body. For instance, the skin in your eyelids feels and is different than in your cheeks. Second, the types of ingredients used such as oil-based products, which can more easily penetrate our skin compared to water-based ingredients. Third, the composition of the ingredients. Natural products containing ingredients with large amounts of vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, a top ingredient in serums, have smaller molecular structures, tending to absorb more easily.

Although we know that not everything gets absorbed by our skin, we must be mindful of what we use as part of our skincare and makeup routine. Making the switch to natural or organic skincare and makeup can help your skin because your skin is not exposed to potentially harmful ingredients that are artificially produced. Having said so, while natural and organic makeup have many benefits, it isn’t for everyone. Before you make the switch to natural or organic skincare, consult your doctor if you have severely sensitive skin or your skin is prone to allergies. Test for allergies on a small part of your face because your skin could be sensitive to some of the organic or natural ingredients, causing your skin to react to some of them.

If you decide that you can make the switch to natural and organic products, here are some key facts about these products: 

• Contain organic vegetable oils and organic and natural essential oils. Organic skincare and makeup products are generally more nutrient-rich and tend to contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are good for the skin and the environment;
• Do not contain fragrances, and if they do, these products contain flower-scented oils;
• Have been used by our ancestors for centuries. Flower-based scents, vegetable oils, and natural pigments are all that the skin needs;
• The shelf life of natural and organic skincare and makeup products are shorter, as they do not contain preservatives;
• Organic makeup is not waterproof – because it doesn't contain the additives that make a mascara for instance waterproof;
• Not for everyone - Some skin, especially sensitive skin types, can react to natural and organic ingredients. If you’re not sure, test products with a variety of ingredients until you find the right one for you.

If you find products that work for your skin, you’ll reap the benefits with your skincare routine, whether it’s 3 or 10 steps. Select skincare that hydrates and nourishes for glowing, healthy skin. Your makeup will look more flawless too!