Is Organic Skincare Really Better?

One way to reduce the number of chemicals your body is subjected to is to avoid slathering them onto your skin

From the air we breathe to the food we eat, synthetic chemicals are everywhere and it's impossible to completely avoid toxic exposure.

However, one simple change you can make to reduce the number of chemicals your body is being subjected to is switching from non-natural skin care products to natural and organic skincare.

Organic skin care products contain high quality, natural ingredients that have been farmed without the use of chemicals like synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or herbicides.

Products marketed as ‘natural’ may not be organic, but products can be both natural and organic. The terms natural and organic are often used interchangeably in product marketing, which can get a little confusing.

However, if a product is marketed as being natural, then it contains at least some natural ingredients, but these ingredients may not be organic, so always check the ingredient list on the packaging.

Why choose organic skincare products?

Did you know that on average women willingly apply 168 chemicals to their bodies every day?

Most high street skincare products have an ingredients list that is trickier to decipher than a cryptic crossword because they’re packed full of synthetic ingredients and chemicals with long and complicated names.

A lot of the ingredients in these products are capable of being absorbed into your body when applied to the skin - so if you don’t know what it is, do you really want to be putting it in your body?

Here are our top 5 reasons to opt for organic skincare.

Nourish don’t mask

Organic skin care ingredients are natural, gentle, and nourishing, looking after our bodies and giving our skin a healthy glow.

Gentler, so less likely to cause skin irritation

Many of the synthetic chemicals that are found in non-natural products can be harsh on the skin and body, meaning they are more likely to cause skin irritation or allergies. Many people find that switching to natural and organic skincare products helps to soothe skin irritation and banish breakouts.

Better for the environment

When we wash skincare products off our faces, all the chemicals they contain are being washed down the drain and out into the environment as pollution. Products made from organic ingredients don’t pollute and are usually produced using sustainable methods that look after our environment.

Better for sensitive skin

Those with sensitive skin are likely to notice the biggest difference when they switch from non-organic to organic skincare products. Natural organic ingredients are soothing and free of the nasty toxins that so often cause sensitive skin to flare up.

They look after your whole body

If you apply chemical-ridden products to your skin, a large portion of these toxins will be absorbed into your body. By swapping skincare products that contain synthetic ingredients with organic skincare products, we protect our health by reducing our total chemical intake.

What is the best natural ingredient for skin?

The best natural and organic skincare ingredients are those that work to improve the natural health of the skin by nourishing, moisturising, repairing, and renewing it.

Nature provides us with many different natural ingredients that can be beneficial to the skin. Some of the most popular and effective natural skincare ingredients include:

• Amino acids
• Green tea extract
• Oats
• Witch hazel
• Aloe Vera
• Coconut
• Liquorice
• Vitamin C
• Rosehip oil
• Rosewater

The natural skincare ingredient that produces the best results may be different from one person to the next, depending on their age, skin type, and skincare routine.

What ingredients should I avoid in skincare?

Unsure where to start when it comes to cutting all the nasties out of your skincare regime?

Be aware that just because a product features the word organic in its marketing, it doesn’t mean that everything on the ingredient list is going to be natural and good for your skin.

Here are four synthetic repeat offenders that are found in many popular skincare brands.

Check the ingredients list on your favourite products and think again before applying to your skin if they contain any of the following:

Parabens

Parabens are added to skincare products to preserve them and prevent bacteria from growing.

Unfortunately, parabens can absorb through the skin and into the body where they mimic the hormone oestrogen. It is thought that parabens may disrupt normal hormone function and even be linked to cancer, but there is not yet enough evidence to say for sure.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Sulphates are detergents used in skincare products to cleanse the skin and create a foaming lather.

Whilst they may do a good job of stripping away dirt and oil, they are also very harsh and can leave skin feeling dry, itchy, and irritated.

Phthalates

Phthalates are a type of chemical compound found in a wide range of different beauty products including soaps and body lotions.

It is thought that exposure to phthalates can cause a variety of different reproductive health problems and developmental problems.

Synthetic fragrance

If your skincare simply lists ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ as one of its ingredients, then you should question what the fragrance is made from. Most synthetic fragrances are made using a huge number of different man-made chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Many ingredients found hidden behind the work ‘fragrance’ have been linked to skin irritation, allergies, disruption of the endocrine and nervous system, and more serious health problems.

What are the safest skincare products?

The safest skincare products are those that are organic, contain only natural ingredients and free from man-made synthetic chemicals.

Unnatural, synthetic ingredients can be harsh on the skin, and although applied topically, many of them absorb through the skin and into our bodies where they could have a toxic effect or disrupt the body’s natural processes.

Here at Nereus London, we have worked hard to create luxury, spa-quality skincare products that contain 100% natural organic fragrances and 100% natural active ingredients.

As well as being gentle on your skin and safe for your body, our products are also kind to the environment.

We promise that our skincare products are:

• Packed with nourishing, gentle, natural ingredients
• Free from silicones, parabens, sulphates, animal-derived ingredients, and harsh chemicals
• Completely plastic-free
• Vegan
• 100% recyclable
• Cruelty-free
• Consciously designedIs
• Vegan
• Made using organic essential oils

Find out more about our revitalising and naturally nourishing Madagascan Pink Pepper Natural Body Wash and Madagascan Ylang Ylang Natural Body Wash.