Why switching to all-natural beauty products can do more harm than good

The word "organic" definitely sounds more appealing than something artificially created, but this is all an illusion. For example, not so long ago there was mass hysteria around foods containing GMOs (genetically modified organisms). People have been encouraged to go organic and eat clean food, but so far it has been proven that GMOs do not negatively affect us when we consume them. Today we're going to prove the same thing, but with "natural" skincare.

If you are wondering if you should be switching from consumer products to organic skin care products, we at Pictolic have found out exactly what lies behind this choice.

6 PHOTOS

1. “No chemicals” is false advertising.

Let's start with the basics: just because you see the word “natural” on a label doesn’t mean it’s free of chemicals, and the word “chemical” sounds unnecessarily threatening. As you know, water is also a chemical. In addition, dermatologists explain that “natural” foods are not as well researched as properly regulated ones. The bottom line is, start reading the ingredient list on the back instead of trusting what the front label says.

2. All natural products have a very short shelf life.

Keep in mind the shelf life of your natural product, especially if you made it yourself. Organic ingredients have an average shelf life of 3 months, so restocking will be your priority. Do not use expired natural products as they can grow mold and yeast, especially if they contain water.

3. Untreated natural ingredients can be extremely harmful.

When ingredients are developed in the laboratory, whether synthetic or natural, they are manipulated to retain only their best properties and filter out everything else. Let's take a look at aloe vera, a very popular soothing ingredient in many creams that actually work. However, raw aloe vera juice contains carcinogens that can cause cancer.

4. Physical peels are more damaging than chemical peels.

Exfoliation is a very beneficial skincare treatment - it removes dead skin cells to promote regeneration. Obviously, when using natural exfoliants, you can only use a physical route that is much more aggressive on your skin. Sugar, which is one of the most popular ingredients in organic scrubs, contains large molecules that scratch your skin, leaving tiny scratches on it. On the other hand, chemical exfoliants are surprisingly much milder and more effective. Both methods of exfoliation must be done correctly, so always consult a dermatologist first.

5. The risk of allergies and hypersensitivity is too high.

Very often people who turn to natural skincare suffer from skin sensitivity and believe that their rashes are a reaction to chemical ingredients. However, many things that we consider natural can cause allergies, such as eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree oil, and especially anything based on citrus fruits. At the same time, some products developed in the laboratory are much more stable, less acidic, and specially formulated for sensitive skin.

6. Not all parabens are scary.

There is no conclusive research that they harm us, so they are generally recognized as safe if they contain less than 0.1% of the ingredients. In addition, parabens are found naturally in fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, and olives.