Those beauty products you apply to your face, lips, hands, and hair aren’t something you ingest like food—but that doesn’t mean they aren’t going into your body!
When you apply a cosmetic product, your body absorbs it through your pores, hair follicles, and nail plates. So, it only makes sense that, as our culture becomes aware of risks associated with certain synthetic ingredients, consumers are leaning toward natural ingredients, even organic ones.
So, is this just a bunch of hype? Or should we really be paying more attention to the ingredients in everything from lotion to makeup?
Good questions. Let’s break this down:
What does it mean for my cosmetics to be “organic” or “natural”?
The important thing to remember is just because something is marketed as “natural” or “organic,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t pose potential health problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. Plenty of products are natural—in other words, their ingredients are derived from nature instead of created in a laboratory somewhere—but they could still be unhealthy. A clay-based facial cleanser, for example, could be made from clay contaminated by toxic metals. That’s natural, but it isn’t very healthy. Or some consumers may have an allergic reaction to certain natural ingredients, so those ingredients might pose very specific risks for them.
Anything that’s marketed as organic means these natural ingredients were grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified ingredients; however, even when a product claims that its natural ingredients are organic, the Food and Drug Administration is not regulating these claims the way it would with a food product. Therefore, a certain level of discretion is smart.
Why are organic and natural ingredients gaining popularity?
Trends come and go very quickly in the beauty industry, so cosmetics and other care products could be popular one day and fall out of favor only a few weeks later. But products with organic and natural ingredients have been gaining in sales steadily over the past few years, particularly as more consumers become aware of the risks associated with synthetic ingredients. They perceive organic, natural ingredients as healthier, safer, more environmentally friendly, more sustainable, and in some cases, more effective. With this increase in popularity, these natural products become a status symbol—it’s admirable to care about your health and the health of the planet, so you look smarter and sensible by making such choices about your cosmetics.
What should I look for in my cosmetic products?
“Sounds great,” you’re saying. “I’d love to start using healthier, more sustainable products. But which ones do I choose?”
Here are some of the common natural ingredients you’ll find in cosmetic products—look for ingredient lists that feature these toward the top of the list, indicating they are the primary ingredient(s):
Oils: Natural oils like jojoba, argan, and coconut are good for moisturizing without the aid of any synthetic ingredients.
Extracts: Compounds in aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea can be extracted to soothe your hair and skin and offset damage caused by environmental exposure. Extracts from fruits like pomegranate and acai provide antioxidants that can be absorbed through the skin.
Butters: Like natural oils, butters like shea butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter can moisturize the skin while delivering vital nutrients.
Beeswax: Yes, wax made by bees can be used to emulsify and synthesize cosmetic formulas without any synthetic stabilizers.
What are the risks of synthetic ingredients?
There’s no all-inclusive list of risks associated with synthetic ingredients. Some synthetic ingredients aren’t even bad for you. The Mayo Clinic notes that some manufacturers rely on lab-created ingredients to maintain safety and achieve a more consistent product. However, there are some synthetic ingredients that studies have linked to cancer and hormone disruption.
For example, consider parabens, a type of preservative used in some cosmetics. When parabens are absorbed through the skin, they pose such risks as endocrine disruption or neurotoxicity at their worst. At their least harmful, they might be a mere skin irritant. Many manufacturers have been phasing out parabens.
Another ingredient to watch out for is triclosan, an antibacterial agent that the FDA banned in 2016 for use in soap. But even though it isn’t used in soap, manufacturers are still using it in cosmetics like toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, and much more. The big concern with triclosan is that it can lead to resistant strains of bacteria, plus it can potentially disrupt our hormones.
It’s important to remember that even if a synthetic ingredient doesn’t pose a serious health risk, it might still cause minor problems. Sulfates in foaming cleansers could be abrasive to sensitive skin, and synthetic fragrances could be a respiratory irritant. Mineral oil, once used in many moisturizers but since replaced by other ingredients, is derived from petroleum, and carries a huge carbon footprint.
What should I do when I’m out shopping and need guidance on a product?
Here’s a quick tip: Consider downloading the SkinSAFE app from the Mayo Clinic. It has info compiled by doctors, and you can use it to search for specific products and get details on the ingredients in each.
