A 3-Step easy guide to transition to organic skin care products
What the earth provides us with, is a gift that we must use in a mindful manner. Incorporating this in skincare by using sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients in their purest form, is a practice that has been followed by our ancestors for years but lately consumers are more cautious about reducing their carbon footprint and being conscious about what they consume.
With this in mind, moving to ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ products for your skin may be the next step. It may seem daunting at first, but doing your research about the products that you use on your skin is good practice. When you know where the ingredients come from and how they benefit you, you make a conscious choice to care. But beauty should not be a confusing process, it should be an easy one and we are here to guide you on your journey as you make that switch to organic skincare.
1. Start slow
When you decide to try something new, always start small. Products formulated with natural ingredients may react differently to different skin types. Instead of switching everything on the shelf overnight, start one by one. To begin with, instead of using it on a smaller part of your skin (like your face) try it on a larger area. Swap out your body lotion, see how it feels on your skin and then, slowly move on to face creams, toners, soaps, etc.
When you choose a product that is formulated with natural ingredients, you choose to practice clean beauty, the kind that gives you love in its purest form.
2. Avoid harmful ingredients. Get to know their alternatives.
Read up about ingredients that are harmful to your skin and their potential negative effects on your health. The more knowledge you acquire the easier it will become.
Take Phthalates for eg; they are the furtive bunch hiding within regular cosmetics and fragrances that can cause irritation to your skin while scents that are naturally derived from rose petals, lavender or vanilla are gentle on your skin and smell glorious! Some other harmful ingredients like DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are found in products like face wash and soaps. With organic soaps or face wash the naturally retained glycerine from ingredients and oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, help create that rich lather but also keeps your skin moisturized and reduces lines and spots.
Imidazolidinyl urea, mineral oils, Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl) are found in almost every skincare product and are used as preservatives. The organic compound ethylhexylglycerin that is produced from plant sources of glycerin, typically coconut or palm is used in organic skin care as a natural preservative.
Always keep in mind that long term exposure to harmful ingredients causes damage. Customers have observed that making a change towards organic products, the repair work that your skin deserves begins gradually.
3. Read the labels
Labels can be confusing to read. There are plenty of common or naturally derived ingredients that have INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) names. These are systematic names internationally recognized to identify cosmetic ingredients, but are safe to use like Tocopherol which is vitamin E, L-Ascorbic acid - Vitamin c that tackles sun spots & uneven skin tone. If you come across any ingredient you are unsure of, check their website. You can also check the EWG (Environmental Working Group) Skin Deep rating. Look for ratings of 1 or 2, low hazard. Anything higher is considered medium to high hazard.
The USDA Certified Organic Seal indicates that products have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Organic Program (NOP). Cruelty-free means no animal testing and vegan implies no animal products or by-products were used in the manufacture of the products. When you choose organic skincare, you are choosing ingredients that work in harmony with your body, allowing your skin to better balance and mend itself.
Takeaway
Making a choice to use organic skin care products that are sustainable right from sourcing ingredients to their packaging, you are not only doing wonders for your skin & your internal health, but also making a contribution towards bettering the environment and giving Mother Nature a reason to celebrate.
If you are looking to switch to organic skincare, remember, baby steps is the way to go. If you feel confused, ask questions. Always do a patch test to know how different products react to your skin type. Lastly, don’t forget to be kind to yourself and everything that surrounds you.