Organic Cosmetics – What’s the Difference?

While organic foods and cleaners have definitely become more and more commonplace in the last few years, there are still a few areas of organic life where people are skeptical. Organic cosmetics, for example, tend to be viewed with more suspicion than other organic products. Often containing many of the same base ingredients, like zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and mica, people have to wonder what advantage they're really gaining if they splurge on the organic product. The answer, however, is a bit more cut and dry than cosmetic companies might have you believe.

Exercise Some Control

The truth is that most cosmetics are fairly unregulated, meaning that all sorts of chemicals and carcinogens could be laced in what seems like a fairly innocuous package. Until stricter regulations are put into place for cosmetic companies, organic cosmetics offer a measure of control over what you're putting onto your skin and consequently, into your body. Skin absorbs all sorts of things into your bloodstream, and when things like mercury, polyethylene glycol, and alcohol are present that's nothing to mess with. These toxins can't be processed by the body and can often linger in the intestines and other organs, causing damage.

Protect Yourself

Over the counter cosmetics are often laced with unnecessary dyes, preservatives, and synthetic materials that can clog pores and damage the skin. Ironically, that usually requires the use of additional cosmetic products, creating an endless loop of demand that can put a hole in your pocketbook and create long term damage exactly where you don't want it. Organic makeup doesn't have many of these dyes and fragrances, decreasing the potential for allergy-related problems or skin irritation. It also usually has some level of SPF, offering a small amount of built in protection against harmful and aging UV rays.

Help the Environment

All of those unnatural chemicals laced throughout over the counter cosmetic products aren't biodegradable, causing more chemicals to leech into the soil and harm the overall environment. While spending a few extra dollars at the cosmetics counter might seem like a small way to make a difference, a lot of small contributions can add up. The more people who switch to organic, the more demand there will be for companies to switch their products from chemical based to organic ingredients. For right now, though, be cautious - educate yourself on what you're buying. There are few regulations on the cosmetic industry right now, so you really have to know what you're buying to make the extra expense worth it.

Top Toxic Beauty Ingredients

Rising concern about chemicals and how they affect us isn't just centered around food anymore. Every product we use in our daily life is under scrutiny, and rightfully so. Beauty products, for instance, are applied daily for most women and more often than not can contain some seriously nasty chemicals. Applied directly to the skin, these chemicals are easily absorbed into the body with all sorts of unpleasant results. Although it requires a little more effort at the makeup counter, we have to ask: why take chances with the largest organ in our body?

First and Foremost: Petrochemicals

It can't surprise anyone that petrochemicals top the list of things you want to avoid in your beauty products. Beyond just being bad for you, they are derived from crude oil and other nonrenewable sources that make them doubly bad for the environment. Ingredients like Denatured Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, and even so-called healthy mineral oils all have a host of nasty side effects including dermatitis, irritating the eyes and skin, and causing extreme acne. If the planet isn't a good enough reason to steer clear, certainly those counter productive results are.

The Runner-Up: Phthalates

Sure, that lotion you're eying may smell like the bee's knees, but you should know that most synthetic fragrances contain phthalates. In fact, these nasty little buggers are in just about every mainstream cosmetic, as well as glues, plastics, and nail polish. Unfortunately, they also mimic hormones and are endocrine disrupters, and are seen more and more often in the blood of pregnant mothers and infants. Early studies are tying these chemicals to genital development and birth defects.

Other Things to Avoid

If just trying to avoid those two major ingredients wasn't enough of a challenge for you, try including these ingredients on your taboo list. Several different types of ureas are known to release formaldehyde and can be a major cause of contact dermatitis. Sulfates like sodium lauryl are used in most shampoos and cleansers to create lather, which seems harmless enough. Unfortunately, they are often either derived from petroleum or vegetable oils that can be mixed with pesticides. Also beware of synthetic colors: often made from coal tar, they can contain heavy metal salts that cause skin irritation and are extremely carcinogenic.

While living green might seem a bit overwhelming at first, isn't the extra peace of mind worth a little effort? Try the beauty sections at your local health food stores to find a plethora of viable options.