Do you eat organic food?  Do you clean with natural household products?  Then what are you doing with toxic beauty products in your bathroom?  Maybe you believe some common natural beauty myths.

Photo credit: RLJ Photography NYC via Foter.com / CC BY

I am always surprised when I visit different friends’ homes that are organic eating, green cleaning people.  When I use the bathroom, I can’t help but notice the same rules don’t apply when it comes to personal care and beauty products. Maybe they fear the natural deodorant won’t work? Maybe they are attached to brands have used for years?  Maybe they don’t think they can afford natural beauty products on top of organic food?  Maybe they have been tricked by the marketing term “natural” to think they are using safer products?

4 Natural Beauty Products Myths

Photo credit: Viola’s visions (Off – In surgery husband) via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Natural Beauty Products Myths #1:  Natural means natural on beauty product labels

Suki Kramer of Suki Skin Care explains:

Surely, one would think that if a product is labeled natural, you could trust it will not actually contain any synthetic ingredients (and in my humble opinion, will not contain ingredients produced with or obtained by using synthetic or harmful ingredients). Not so. Truth is one brand can contain an essential oil or other plant-derived ingredient (and a whole lot of synthetic chemicals), another can be “inspired by nature” that evokes the idea of nature, but created with a host of synthetic fillers, dyers and fragrances, and yet another brand labeled natural is just that: 100% pure and synthetic-free. There is no single standard out there. So, “know your beauty,” and in this case, “know your ingredients.” You absolutely must read the small print to know what’s inside the bottle. [note]http://www.happi.com/contents/view_experts-opinion/2013-06-25/natural-skin-care-beauty-myths/#sthash.bRbSAIpH.dpuf[/note]

Natural Beauty Products Myths #2:  Natural beauty products are more expensive

Just like conventional beauty products range in prices from affordable to very expensive, so do natural beauty products.  If you want to spend a lot of money on quality products, you can. If you want to spend a moderate amount, you can.  If you want to go cheap, you can.  I do caution that some of the cheaper brands may not be 100% natural even when their label says it.  Always consult Skin Deep to find out the hazard rating.   My favorite moderate to expensive brands are John Masters Organics, Eminence, and Dr. Hauschka.

My favorite cheap natural body product is organic coconut oil. I use it every day after I shower or bath as a moisturizer.  It is also wonderful for your hair!

Natural Beauty Products Myths #3:  Natural beauty products don’t work

The natural personal care product that probably gets the worse rap for not working is deodorant. It’s true. Many natural deodorants have failed me, but not Weleda.

Just like with any product, you need to try out different brands of natural ones to see which you like.  Many stores and companies offer free samples.

It’s not so much that natural beauty products don’t work, it’s that some work better for you than others. for instance, do you like a heavy or light face cream? There are conventional products that don’t work; there are natural products that don’t work.  Why?  We are individual and unique.  Our beauty requirements are also diverse.

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Natural Beauty Products Myths #4:  Natural beauty products are better for your skin and hair

This is one of the most popular beauty myths that gets busted on the internet.  Beauty Myth Busters explains:

MYTH: Natural ingredients are better for skin than synthetic ingredients.

FACT: There’s no factual basis or scientific legitimacy for this belief. Not only is the definition of “natural” hazy, but the term is loosely regulated, so any cosmetics company can use it to mean whatever they want it to mean. Just because an ingredient grows out of the ground or is found in nature doesn’t make it automatically good for skin; and the reverse is also true, just because it is synthetic doesn’t make it bad. The best products contain a mix of beneficial natural and synthetic ingredients.((http://www.beautymythbusters.com))

This is a myth bust I take issue with because I feel it is always better to use truly natural ingredients on your skin.  Many common beauty ingredients are known human carcinogens (even on those pink ribbon breast cancer products). Just browse the ingredients list on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website to learn about the toxicity of common ingredients.

It is true that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is better for you. There are many essential oils that can be irritative to your skin.  What definitely is true about natural beauty products is that they are better for the environment.  

What washes down your bathroom drain will eventually end up in a waterway.  Toxic, chemical ingredients affect wildlife and drinking water supplies. The recent US federal ban on microbeads is just one example where beauty product use has contaminated waterways.  CNN reports:

A microbead is any solid plastic particle that is less than 5 millimeters and is used for the purpose of exfoliating or cleansing, according to the bill.

These tiny plastic beads have become ubiquitous in hundreds of products ranging from body scrubs to toothpastes. They provide an exfoliating sensation for users and are designed to wash down drains.

properties

• provides moisture and protection for a close shave with no irritation
• removes dirt and excessive oil
• soothing and cooling effects to revitalize the skin

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner

Rahua 100% natural!  It promises longer, stronger hair!

This 100% natural, organic and light-lather shampoo creates and maintains healthy, bouncy and lustrous hair. It works for all hair types and is especially effective for color-treated hair.

 

This 100% natural and organic, double-duty product works as both a conditioner and a medium hold styling cream. This thick, super-rich formula creates manageable, soft hair without any build-up while protecting the strands — it is also ideal for color-treated hair.

Erbaviva Baby Cream

Completely nourishing and thoughtfully made with the highest quality natural emulsifiers and organic essential oils. Erbaviva Baby Cream moisturizes tender and sensitive skin with its super-clean and luxuriant blend of premium ingredients including aloe, shea and cocoa butters. Soothingly scented with Erbaviva’s custom blend of organic lavender and chamomile essential oils. A purely perfect formula for body and face on both baby and sensitive adults.

I do love to use a baby cream on my own skin!  It is always so gentle and pure, just like babies 🙂

Stormsister Shhh 3 Way Soap

shhh.

shampoo | shower | shave

A luxury grooming/beauty bar designed for Both Men and Women – created by a hairdresser for Travel – Gym – Home 

shhh. is free of parabens, gluten, phthalates, mineral oils, petrolatum, synthetic dyes, preservatives, artificial fragrance and coloring. All packaging is 100% compostable and recyclable. [note]http://www.3waybeauty.com/#sthash.Eqn8MCVs.dpuf[/note]

I’ve never been able to quite accept using a bar of soap as my shampoo, but a good friend of mine that is a soapmaker says it’s the best!  I do like the convenience of one product for multiple beauty tasks!