July 2022 | Page 40

BeautyTalk

Skin care – is natural better for you ?

Natural skin care products may be appealing if you want to limit artificial ingredients and chemicals in and on your body . But are natural ingredients , which tend to increase prices , really better for your skin ?
You can ’ t hide your skin , so you want to take care of it . You want to put your best face forward — with clear , glowing , smooth , natural skin . You may even be willing to spend more for skin care products that boast better results because they contain natural ingredients or are labelled “ organic .”
But what do those terms really mean ? Is the “ natural ” or “ organic ” label worth the extra cost ? Is it really any better for your skin and for the environment ? It all comes down to what you want from your skin products and what your particular skin type needs .
Specific Skin Products for Specific Skin Types
If you ’ re curious about whether a particular natural ingredient is better for your skin , try to work out what your skin needs . It ’ s also important to understand that you don ’ t have to choose natural ( or more expensive ) to get a good skin care product that works well with your skin .
While oatmeal-containing products do help moisturize the skin , there are many products that don ’ t contain oatmeal that do a wonderful job , too . Soy has been found in studies to improve elasticity and firmness of skin . Soy-containing products can help improve pigment irregularities that are associated with ageing , but there are several products that can do an even better job .
Decide what you want to get out of your skin care products . Are you looking for something that won ’ t irritate your skin , gives you better results and healthier skin , or has less impact on the environment ? Do you want a combination of all those elements ?
If you ’ re looking for a product that ' s fragrance- or preservative- free , or presented with minimal or recycled packaging , it may be easier to meet those criteria with a natural or organic product . But don ’ t read too much into the labels or make assumptions that may not be true . Natural doesn ’ t always mean better , and natural ingredients aren ’ t necessarily safer or more likely to provide better results . People with sensitive skin may opt for natural or organic products in an attempt to avoid allergic reactions , which may work , but not always .
If you ’ re trying a natural or organic product , allow some time to see if it really is compatible with your skin and if it ’ s worth the additional price . Usually a month of use is enough time to determine if it suits your skin , or if it doesn ’ t .
Many natural ingredients that are marketed as better for skin , including acai berry , green tea , olive oil , chamomile , pomegranate , and many more , need to be better studied and investigated in regard to their benefits to skin . Studies also need to explore any possible negative effects before these products can be said to work as well or better than non-natural products .
Results from a less expensive non-natural product can be just as good as from a natural product , and vice versa . And you could still experience an allergic reaction from an ingredient in a natural skin care product , while a nonnatural product for sensitive skin may not trigger any reaction .
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Natural products can be both very effective in promoting healthy skin and more environmentally friendly . But you don ’ t have to choose natural , organic , or expensive skin care products to find something that works well . What matters is finding skin care products that keep your skin moisturized , glowing , and blemish-free , whether they ’ re natural or not .