I did my research and feel that natural skin care products, organic skin care products or aromatherapy products – whatever you would like to call them, do provide great benefits to your skin. I found out some startling facts about what was contained in the skin care products I had currently been using and converted to a natural skin care regime. Why did I change my ways? Well, just over two years ago I turned 50. The shock was not how old I was but how my skin had suddenly began to lose its elasticity and the ageing process had taken hold.
This couldn’t be happening as I’d always had such a young appearance with lots of friends saying I always only looked around 35. Were they still saying this? I’d noticed that compliment hadn’t come my way in some time so I decided to adjust my lifestyle and renew not only my vigour but perhaps what went into my body and onto my skin.
Firstly, I opted for a healthy balanced diet and lost a little of that excess weight I’d seem to build up from too much wining and dining with friends. I began to exercise – that really got the blood rushing to my facial tissues! Next I took a good look at the products I was using on my skin. Previously I had used many off-the-shelf products, ranging from moderately priced to expensive well-known brands. I had never tried natural skin care products before. I began to research all about natural skin care and found some alarming discoveries of the harmful chemical substances that were in many of the skin care creams and potions I had been using. Do a search on chemicals used in skin care and you will find out some shocking facts that should convert you to natural products forever!
My own research was a life-changing career path as I discovered the many fantastic benefits of natural skin care and of the potent and fantastic vibrancy to be found in organic skin care products due to the concentrated effect that the organic ingredients contained. It prompted me to create my own range of natural skin care products which I have called Essentially Me Australia. Today, I’m writing articles about natural skin care – who would have thought? The one thing however that confused me back then the most was how to decipher the skin care ingredients on packaging or claimed to be in products? Some of those names are very complex but what do they mean. Well, chemical ingredient lists are extensive so I’ll leave this to you to do a browse and find out about all those harmful chemicals in skin care as I mentioned earlier, but for the natural ingredients that are beneficial – here’s an overview:
A natural compound, found naturally in the skin of fish (especially wild salmon) is called DMAE or Dimethylaminoethanol. It is especially well known for providing excellent collagen support to outermost layers of skin. DMAE or Dimethylaminoethanol helps to tighten the skin providing a firmer skin reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Next we have a natural acid, Alpha Lipoic Acid, which is a very potent antioxidant that eliminates free radicals. Free radicals are one of the primary factors in the aging of skin and breakdown of skin elasticity. You can actually take Alpha Lipoic Acid internally as a skin supplement or apply externally. This wonderful natural acid dramatically improves the skin’s appearance very quickly and visible results are evident within weeks.
How many times have you heard that Vitamin C is good for you? Well it is great for the skin – this is for sure. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is proven to increase the production and synthesis of collagen. In skin care it also protects the skin from sun damage, and even helps reverse the damaging effects that the sun has on the skin. This does not mean that a sunscreen can be abandoned but rather products that contain Vitamin C will actually be more likely to be able to neutralise free radicals. Vitamin C can be included in any skin care type product.
Lastly in my article I’d like to mention ,b>Retinol (a natural form of Vitamin A). Retinol is excellent in skin care products that are aimed to regenerate and rejuvenate skin. It is especially effective on sensitive skin since it does not cause redness or peeling.
Essential oils – so many that are fantastic for the skin. Natural oils used as a base in skin care should be cold pressed. The most beneficial plant oils (like rosehip, borage and evening primrose oils) are polyunsaturated, which means they oxidise and go rancid fairly quickly (about 6 months) so some natural products actually use synthetic preservatives and a natural preservative for example could be wheatgerm oil.
Some common natural ’safe’ ingredients you may see listed are: Aloe vera, purified water, cold-pressed oils such as jojoba, safflower, sweet almond, olive oil and so on, herbal extracts, non-gmo lecithin, calendula, essential oils of various types, cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, clays, d-panthenol and of course the other ingredients mentioned earlier to name a few.
Finally we suggest you avoid skin care products that contain the following: mineral oils, petrolatum, propylene glycol, parabens, phthalates, SLS and SLES.
I invite you to and I encourage you to take a look at just what you are putting into your body and onto your skin. Also feel free to visit my own site for Natural Skin Care Products | Organic Skin Care Products.
Annie Weatherburn of Essentially Me Australia
Annie has a Diploma in Aromatherapy and Herbal Medicine and is committed to creating natural skin care products that regenerate, renew and repair skin of all types and conditions.
[tags]natural skin care products, organic skin care products, aromatherapy products[/tags]