Why Switch to Clean Beauty?

Our skin acts like a sponge, absorbing everything into the body that we slather, rub, or spray onto it. And this affects all of the systems within. Many of these effects are negative, especially when the products we use contain harmful chemicals not meant for human consumption.

Sadly, the beauty industry’s standards are very low in regards to what goes into their products. The FDA does not even require that beauty brands test their products for safety before bringing them to market! And with only 11 ingredients banned as harmful it is clear that the adverse effect of many substances are deemphasized. No wonder there is a lack of trust from the public.

The personal care products we choose are as important as the foods we choose to eat, and therefore as important to choose wisely. We use these products daily, and most often, multiple times per day. Added to this, we also use these products, such as deodorants, perfumes and body lotions in areas of our body where our lymph nodes are located, thus, they are being absorbed into our bloodstream and clog up our lymphatic system.

One of the most negative effects that toxic chemicals has on our bodies is hormone disruption. Studies and research have proven that nearly 80% of women suffer from hormonal imbalance. leading to a plethora of health conditions, from weight gain, to hair loss, infertility and irregular periods, to name a few. Endochrine disruptors mimic the body’s natural hormones and once absorbed, our bodies will mistake these chemicals as our own hormones and either increase or decrease hormone levels as a result.

If you are suffering from hormone imbalances or thyroid issues, the first step to improving your health will be to exchange your current beauty and skincare products to clean options.

The terms “clean beauty” and “non toxic” have become a trend in the marketplace, which has luckily led to the beauty industry starting to pay attention and cut out harmful ingredients and chemicals in our products. 

Below are a list of the most harmful ingredients you need to be educated on so you can look for them in skincare products and choose alternative options.

PARABENS

Parabens are typically used to increase the longevity and shelf life of products and prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. The intent behind including them is not wrong but the effects are not worth it. The risks of parabens include hormone disruption, birth defects, cancer and reproductive health issues.

FRAGRANCE

Almost all beauty products use synthetic fragrances or perfume in their products, whether that be shampoos, conditioners, lipgloss, lipstick or face and body creams. According to safecosmetics.org, the problem with fragrance is that they “mimic and displace natural hormones, which can potentially disrupt important endocrine and biological processes.”

BENZOPHENONE (UV FILTERS)

These chemicals are used to protect beauty products from UV damage and are most often found in shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, nail polish, fragrance, sunscreen, moisturizers and foundation. UV filters have been linked to damage of the thyroid gland as well as to an increase in breast cancer cells.

The solution lies in avoiding products with these chemicals as well as to keep your clean products in dark, cool places in order to limit their UV exposure.

SULFATES

These chemicals are what create the tiny bubbles when we wash our face and bodies. Although it makes us think we get a deep cleanse they might be responsible for serious health damage. Sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) have been shown to cause skin, lung and eye irritation in humans.

Although sulfates leave your skin feeling clean, milk and oil based cleaners clean skin just as well and won’t strip your skin’s barrier, leaving it dry and dehydrated.

Other chemicals to be wary of:

• Mercury
• Dyes
• Formaldehyde
• Lead
• Silicones
• Talc
• Carbon Black

If you are aware that some of the products in your beauty cabinet contain some the above ingredients, don’t stress. It is never too late to replace them with cleaner options that won’t cause long-term health effects. Nowadays, we also have plenty of resources to help us make better decisions. Some of these include apps like Think Dirty, that lets you scan a product to determine whether or not it contains toxic ingredients. We also have stores such as The Detox Market, Credo and Follain founded expressly to only carry clean and safe products, so you can shop without worrying about the ingredients and their effects on your health. 

It might be a big undertaking to switch your entire beauty cabinet and let go of some of your favorite products. So, start small by giving up some of the most damaging products such as deodorants, perfumes, lipsticks and lipgloss (lip products are the biggest offenders, since we tend to ingest most of our lip products). When you do your research and take your wellbeing into your own hands, you will discover new products that are beneficial for your health in little time.

** Our entire range of Gemelle face and body oils are ultra-clean, leaving you with fresh skin, free from any harm, and also highly nutritious to feed and nourish your skin.