Natural products have been available for decades, but they were on the fringes of the beauty world until recently. Organic, natural, and eco-friendly are all terms that have breathed new life into skincare regimens around the world. Even if you have a tried-and-true beauty routine, switching it up and incorporating natural and organic skincare products can deliver results that help you look and feel fabulous. Here are five benefits of using natural products.

Conventional skincare and makeup ingredients can affect wildlife and the environment negatively. The more chemicals used, the more go into the air and water including:

• Preservatives such as BHT and BHA are known to kill fish and shellfish.
• Triclosan can change amphibian biochemistry
• Diethanolamine or DEA reacts with nitrates negatively, forming cancer-causing nitrosamines

Natural beauty products not only have fewer chemicals, but the active ingredients are grown on farms. As more natural products become available, increasing amounts of plant life are supported. As a result, sustainable ingredients are produced with little or no negative impact on the environment.

Studies show that the outer layer of our skin, the stratum corneum, can absorb five to six times its own weight. This means the chemicals found in conventional skincare products and cosmetics can penetrate the skin. By using them, you expose your body’s largest organ to toxic chemicals the exact opposite of what most people want to do. If the harmful compounds reach the bloodstream, they can have more profound side effects.

For example, parabens are used as a preservative. However, they can mimic hormones found naturally in the body. Long-term use could result in detrimental side effects. There are a variety of hazardous chemicals found in mainstream personal care products that can negatively impact the body:

• Lead is a neurotoxin
• Mercury can damage the nervous system and kidneys
• Triclosan may affect the thyroid
• Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen

Natural preservatives, including rosemary oil extract and grapefruit seed extract, are alternatives that are also beneficial to the skin.

Many mass-market skincare products use artificial fragrances to cover up the chemical smell of the products. This scent itself can cause problems with consumers, including migraines, asthma and sinus issues.

Organic skincare products often smell like the natural ingredients used in the formulation, including essential oils and plant extracts.

Using products with concentrated chemicals may lead to allergic or irritant skin reactions, acne flare-ups, and skin rash. Contact dermatitis is common when a person becomes sensitized to specific ingredients that have been applied to the skin. Prevalent allergens to avoid:

• Quaternium 15
• Formaldehyde
• Lanolin
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone

Switching from conventional skincare to natural beauty products may reduce or eliminate specific skin issues attributed to common allergens.

The powerful, natural ingredients in organic skincare can deliver real results. Peptides and antioxidants can lift and firm the skin naturally.

Cleansers, creams, ointments, and serums using naturally-derived, sustainable ingredients are not only earth-friendly but also deliver effective results.