Posts Tagged ‘Natural Ingredients’
Natural and Organic Products
How do we determine the difference between natural and organic cosmetics? Natural products are made from plants and minerals that occur in nature and have not been produced in a laboratory. Organic products are also made from natural ingredients; they are grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. Seaweed, for example can be classified as a natural product, but it’s not organic because it is not grown in natural conditions.
Truly organic products do not contain any genetically modified ingredients or petrochemicals. They do not undergo any animal testing, unless it is required by law, and are only subjected to minimal processing. If a product is purely organic, as read on a cosmetic label, it will be certified by an organic certification agency. Some cosmetic companies add natural ingredients in the form of fruit acids, vitamins, hemp, and borage to skincare products. Some products use ingredients that mimic skin’s natural functions, like Hyaluronic acid, a moisturizer that occurs naturally in the skin.
Some experts hold the theory that your skin absorbs 60% of everything you put on it. Your skin is a highly effective delivery system, so it would seem to be a better choice to use organic beauty products to ensure the highest level of nourishment to the skin.
You can still have an allergic reaction to a natural product. There is no 100% guarantee that any skin care product or cosmetic will not produce an allergic reaction, regardless if it is labeled hypoallergenic. For instance, if you where a fragrance and a body cream and both of them label the product as hypoallergenic, it doesn’t mean that using both of these products used together won’t cause an allergic reaction. If you have sensitive skin or have a known allergy, look at the products label to determine if the ingredients list contains your known allergy.
However, chemicals made in the laboratory for skin care products have been safe and effective as well. We may insure that organic is the safest by nature, but man-made chemicals and product have not only been good for us, but they can actually save lives.
It is quite difficult to make a skin care product or cosmetic that is 100% natural. This is because in order for the product to last or preserve vital nutrients, preservatives are needed. Take the example of a skin care product that contains apple extracts. Imagine your skin care product on your vanity or in your cosmetic bag. How long do you think an apple will last until it goes rotten? Probably not too long, and that is why preservatives are needed in your skin care products. They would go bad otherwise.
Natural products are naturally good for us, but as you can see, natural isn’t always the best choice when it comes to putting something on your skin. If you have political, health, or social views that prevent you from buying anything other than organic, then you will be happy that organic products are taking the market by storm. There are many to choose from. For those that do not have a specific need for natural or organic skin care products, we have a host of cosmetic companies with that have spent many hours in the laboratory to insure our safety and satisfaction with them.
Bearberry for the Skin
Historically, Bearberry has been one of the most successful treatments of urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and a host of other illnesses. Bearberry is a powerful tonic for the body, and its antiseptic properties are excellent for the skin as well. Bearberry is one of the many ingredients that are becoming more prominent in skin care products today. Cosmetic companies are seeing the need to create skin care products with natural ingredients to fight skin conditions and offer safer alternatives, especially for those with sensitive skin and allergies.
Common antiseptics like witch hazel are still widely used today to treat wounds, acne, and other skin conditions. Natural resources like herbs and berries were the only form of medicinal or cosmetic treatment available. Now, these natural enhancements are making way to today’s mainstream cosmetics. These cosmetics happen to be the most successful product lines available to combat a variety of skin conditions.
One of the little known secrets to bearberry is the hypopigmenting component. This component has a whitening effect on the skin, making bearberry perfect for those want to treat freckles, age spots, or vitiligo. Used alone, bearberry can dramatically change the tone and color of the skin. Because of the powerful whitening effects, bearberry is combined with other ingredients in cosmetics to have a subtle effect on the skin. This way, the bearberry will be mild enough to lighten problem areas without overbleaching. Used regularly, bearberry can remove the most stubborn pigmented areas of the skin.
Another benefit to the potent properties of Bearberry is the bacteriostatic action that works against Staphylococci, the staph responsible for the MRSA superbug. Any skin care product with Bearberry may also help the fight against the superbug, in addition to the other benefits for the skin.
Bearberry also increases the cell turnover rate and it is an excellent antioxidant. It works to fight free radicals, preventing additional skin conditions, and works as a natural sunscreen.
Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, and the first sign of skin cancer is the presence of melanoma, usually in the form of freckles, age spots, and moles. Bearberry can reverse the damage from the sun, and may very well play a role in the prevention of skin cancer.
Various studies have concluded the benefits and the risks of using sunscreen. Dermatologists only look at the skin, so they are going to recommend using a sunscreen. While sunscreen may block out the sun’s rays, it will also block out the needed Vitamin D component, the same component responsible for the prevention of breast and other cancers. It may seem like a catch 22, but keep in mind that natural ingredients like bearberry will let you have your cake and eat it too. With Bearberry, you can enjoy the sun, reverse the signs of sun damage, and protect against further damage of the sun.
Bearberry, like any other herb or medicinal remedy, is not allergy-free for everyone.