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3 Surprising Facts About Organic Skin Care

Published November 11, 2015

When it comes to skin care, there's no question that natural products are a must. We're constantly exposed to pollution, chemicals, and different types of pesticides from our environment that are absorbed by our skin. Being mindful to avoid additional toxins can do wonders for your health, especially when you start to consider products directly applied to your skin and face.

1. Going Organic is Better for Your Skin

Non-organic skin care products can expose your skin to any number of endocrine disruptors including heavy metals such as mercury, emulsifiers and parabens, and even the flame retardant propylene glycol. These can be absorbed easily by your skin and spread throughout the body, causing accumulation and unseen damage. Not only can going organic eliminate exposure to such toxins, it can provide your skin with a much needed boost. One recent study suggests many organic ingredients demonstrate antioxidant properties that support anti-aging effects, while another suggests they are beneficial for hyperpigmentation and inflammation. ^[1]^[2]

2. Organic Skin Care Helps the Environment

Traditional skin care products such as makeup, lotions, and other personal care products may contain chemicals that can also do a lot of damage to the environment. Think about it: after you use these products, they go down the drain, where all those toxic chemicals can then accumulate into our water supply. But that's just the tip of the iceberg; these toxins can spread from wastewater to the environment. Looking to hair care, for instance, a recent study suggests climbazole, a common anti-dandruff additive, contains a fungicide that kills off algae and is toxic to fish.

Perhaps you've also heard in the news how microbeads, the tiny plastic pieces used in many beauty and personal care products to exfoliate, are ending up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans. Fish and other marine organisms ingest these microbeads, and the toxins carried by the microbeads move up the food chain. And, as you might have already guessed, all these toxins end up in our bodies. ^[3] When you use vegan skin care or any organic product, you can take comfort, knowing you aren't adding to those poisons.

3. It's Important to Verify that Organic Label

While you should make the switch to organic for yourself and the environment, be sure you understand exactly what you're purchasing. Sometimes, the “organic” or "natural" line on the product label might not mean what you think. ^[4] Some of the ingredients to look out for are fragrance, parabens, and triclosan. For a complete list of harmful chemicals check 19 Chemicals to Avoid in Skin Care.

Because additives and toxins can irritate and damage your skin, make sure you're researching the ingredients in your skin care products! Consider the luxury face cream Parfait Visage®; it's formulated from only 100% natural and organic ingredients, and provides your skin with all the vitamins and nutrients it needs for a healthy appearance. Compare the organic skin care product to your typical face cream product – there are no harmful chemicals, irritants, or preservatives but rather ingredients you can pronounce and recognize such as hemp seed oil and whole leaf aloe vera. It would make an excellent start to your organic skincare regimen.

Do you use organic products for your skin? What type of ingredients do you look for? Share with the community in the comments below.