Consumers these days are increasingly choosing products with natural ingredients because they are concerned about their skin’s reactions to chemicals, the products impact on the environment and the perception that natural products are functionally superior. As long as consumers are educated there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to choosing skincare products. I suggest everyone decide on their own criteria of what they will and will not use and be exposed to.

I believe skincare products should not harm your health. They should be good for your body and benefit your skin and the environment.

Ingredients I suggest you avoid:

• Parabens
• Formaldehyde
• Phthalates
• Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA)
• Diasolidinyl urea and Imidazolidinyl urea
• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth sulphate (SLS and SLES), Ammonium laureth sulphate
• Propylene glycol
• Nanoparticles
• Synthetic fragrance

Many of the chemicals that go onto our skin end up in our bloodstream and therefore affect the whole body. Artificial fragrances can have a cumulative effect that may cause skin problems including redness, itching and pigmentation.

Most toxins in beauty products are known carcinogens – and science proved that. For example, we’ve heard a lot about the toxicity of Parabens in body products and its links to breast cancer. It is also true that more studies are needed to give more information about its toxicity. Formaldehyde releasing preservative is often used to prevent bacteria from growing in water based products but research has suggested that it is linked with allergies, skin sensitivities and eye irritation. It is banned from use in cosmetics in Japan and Sweden and restricted in the European Union and Canada. PEG’s are petroleum-based compounds that are used as thickeners, solvents and moisture carriers. A small amount of 1,4-Dioxane (a known carcinogen) can be found as a by-product in polyethylene glycol ingredients.

Ingredients I suggest you use:

• Pure cold pressed oils (Jojoba, Avocado, Olive)
• Pure butters (Shea and Coconut)
• Essential oils
• Extract that list what are they extracted in
• Colourants from minerals in place of synthetic dyes
•  Non-foaming facial cleansers

Cold-pressed seed and nut oils have excellent skincare qualities that contain nutrients for regulating moisture. Essential fatty acids will provide intense nutrition to the skin by strengthening the elasticity and firmness of the skin’s support tissue. Essential oils are ideal for skincare since they heal and vitalise skin tissue and stimulate the renewal of the body cells, cleanse and rejuvenate the skin, and prevent or soothe irritations and infections. They have the effect of regulating sebaceous gland production, which is an important effect in the treatment of oily skin.