When my eldest daughter was a baby, I was instinctively driven to only buy organic natural skin products for her. Wherever possible I was trying to preserve her untainted skin and use only products made from plants on her. However, I wasn’t quite so instinctive when it came to my own skin. For years I had been using products with synthetic chemicals and had never paid much attention to it. For me, the move to natural skincare was part of a bigger process of moving towards a healthier lifestyle. I had already changed my diet, moving away from processed foods and towards making homemade meals, made from scratch using healthy produce and lots of fruit and vegetables. I also began exploring natural stress relief, using techniques such as mindfulness and meditation.
Having felt the positive impact of this healthier lifestyle, it felt like an obvious step to then look at what I was putting on my skin. After all, the skin is the body’s biggest organ and around 60-70% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our body. I was already reading labels on food because it helped me to understand the ingredients, so I started reading the labels on my skincare and trying to learn more about the ingredients I was putting on my skin and hair. Not recognising the majority of the ingredients, I spent time looking them up and often found that I wasn’t comfortable with what I found out. So then, I started looking at the alternatives and discovered that everything I needed to look after my skin was provided by nature. As a result, it was an easy decision to move in that direction.
The beauty of natural skincare
Looking into natural skincare, I discovered a world of natural, plant-based ingredients. Carrier oils, smooth, creamy butters, protective waxes and beneficial essential oils all generated from plants and herbs. From my research, it appeared that these would be as effective as the products that I was already using. Plus, more importantly, it would also reduce the number of toxins and potential allergens I was introducing into my body. I decided to give it a go. The results have been amazing, so much so, that I decided to study for a diploma and learn how to formulate my own skincare. Having used natural products for quite a few years now, I can honestly say that I won’t be changing back.
The benefits of natural skincare:
- Natural skincare is like food for the skin. Using healthy skincare ingredients is like eating healthy, nourishing food
- Herbs and plants contain some amazing properties that are beneficial to both the body and mind. A great example of this is lavender which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties while also reducing stress and anxiety
- It is better for the environment as it reduces the number of synthetic chemicals and other ingredients entering our waterways
- Natural ingredients reduce the number of synthetic chemicals entering your body. We absorb between 60% and 70% of what we put on our skin.
When looking for natural skincare, please check the ingredients carefully as there is no governance over the term ‘natural’ . Ideally, you want to use products containing a high proportion of plant-based ingredients
For more information on looking after your children’s skin, please see my blog post: https://craftybynature.biz/helping-children-look-after-their-skin