Article provided by www.safecosmetics.co.uk

Are you confused by the wealth of so-called 'natural' beauty products on the market? Read on

These days, consumers are becoming more aware of how easily chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and some of them may be responsible for serious health problems. Ironically, many of the products that we use every day on our skin and hair contain harsh synthetic substances. While some of these substances' effects are unknown, others are known to be toxic. So it makes sense to use natural personal care products.

Going natural
Going natural, however, is not quite as easy as it seems because there is no clear definition of 'natural'. Although many manufacturers may use the term on their product labels, this doesn't necessarily guarantee as much as you might think. A product may boast that it is 'natural' simply because it contains one or more plant-derived ingredients. However, this is often in addition to the synthetic substances in its base formula. Hypoallergenic products are often no closer to 'natural' either. Their label only means that the manufacturer believes the product to have less chance of causing allergic reactions than other products. Because there are no regulatory standards for this claim, it often only indicates that the manufacturer has left out a problem-causing ingredient. Similarly, products claiming to have been allergy-tested, dermatologist-tested or sensitivity-tested carry no guarantee that they will not produce an adverse reaction.

Green cosmetics
If you want to be totally sure that your cosmetics are botanically based, you could look for 'green' cosmetics. This trend, which originated in Europe, has been growing steadily in the cosmetic industry over the last 20 years. The 'green' label is not just a marketing ploy but is used within the industry to denote cosmetics that are more natural than 'natural'. In other words, products which contain no mineral oils, synthetic substances, synthetic preservatives or dyes. Again, there are no regulatory standards for 'green' cosmetics, other than those set by the members of the industry themselves.

So how can you tell which products are really natural? The only way to be sure is to check the ingredients and, of course, you need to know what you're looking for. Here's a rundown of some of the most common synthetic ingredients and their truly natural replacements.

Preservatives
Cosmetics need preservatives to prolong their shelf life as well as an antibacterial agent to prevent germs from growing in them once they've been opened. Preservatives pose a particular problem for 'green' cosmetics, because the process used to obtain preservative-free can pose serious health hazards. However, there are ways of preserving cosmetics without using chemicals or boosting bacteria. One is to reduce the water content by using a water-in-oil formulation. The other is to use natural preservatives such as antioxidants, ascorbic acid and essential oils known for their antibacterial and antimicrobial properties such as tea tree, peach nut and lemon.

Emollients
Moisturisers use emollients to help improve and maintain the skin's moisture level. They work by forming a protective coating over the skin. Whereas synthetic emollients use petroleum derivatives, which wrap the skin in a film of oil, preventing the pores from breathing properly, natural products contain plant oils like almond oil, safflower oils, bees wax or avocado. These oils are much lighter and allow the skin to breathe.

Emulsifiers
Without emulsifiers, water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients are unable to combine uniformly. Natural emulsifiers include glycerin, carageenan and lecithin. Some manufacturers avoid using emulsifiers altogether, the only difference is that their products merely need shaking before use.

Fragrances and fixatives
While fragrances are the substances that give products a pleasant smell, fixatives preserve these scents by preventing them from evaporating. Natural fragrances are made using plant or fruit extracts. These may still cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, so those who already have allergies to certain plants, should be sure to choose fruit fragrances or safe plant scents. The most natural products will use herbs or essential oils to preserve fragrances.

Humectants
Humectants are moisturizers that work by attracting and retaining water in the skin. Non-synthetic humectants incorporate water-soluble amino acids and proteins from natural plant sources. They are present in skin moisturizers and some hair care products. Synthetic humectants can suffocate the skin whereas botanical extracts rehydrate the skin while allowing it to breathe.

Phytocomplexes
These are combinations of natural substances including oils, sugars, proteins and vitamins. Phytochemicals are easily absorbed through the skin. They can enable a cosmetic to treat the body holistically through absorption. They are found in body lotions, moisturizers and hair products. Phytochemicals are commonly derived from fruits and vegetable sources.

Vegetensor
These lotions contain vegetable amino acids and proteins (usually from peas). The lotion forms an even layer over the skin, which moisturises and allows it to breathe. As the lotion dries it retracts, creating a skin tensing effect. Over time this can help to maintain the skin's suppleness.

Synthetic ingredients	Purpose	Natural ingredients
Imidazolidinyl Urea Diazolidinyl Urea Germaben II	Preservatives	Tea tree Grapefruit seed extract Rosemary oil
Methyl, Propyl Butyl Ethyl Paraben	Antibacterial Anti-microbial	Tea tree Lavender oil Witch hazel
BHA BHT Propyl gallate	Antioxidants	Allantoin Tocopherol (Vit E) Vitamin C Selenium
Petrolatum	Emollients	Almond oil Bees wax Avocado Safflower oil
Formaldehyde Phenoxyethanol and musk ambrette	Fixatives	Orris root Angelica root Patchouli oil
Propylene Glycol Butylene Glycol	Humectants	Glycerin Sorbic acid Sorbitol
Sodium lauryl (or laureth) Sulphate cetyl alcohol Cetearyl alcohol	Emulsifiers	Glycerin Carageenan Lecithin