Has Toxic Skincare Been Deceiving You?
Women have been crafting skincare routines and using ingredients like herbs, oils, clays, and minerals for thousands of years in some form or another across all civilizations. So self-care and skincare are nothing new. Ancient Greeks were known for using all sorts of colorful cosmetics from eye shadows to skin glosses to hair dyes and perfumes. Ancient Egyptians used varieties of oils to moisturize their skin and protect them from the elements. They crafted masks and scrubs out of clay and salt. There are still many places around the world today that utilize a more organic approach to skincare.
Not much about our skin has changed biologically. Though in recent years, our skin has become exposed to more chemicals and toxins from our environments. And ironically, our skincare products are likely a source of toxins in our environment. Taking care of our skin as we age and keep our protective barrier healthy and happy is important, but the way we go about it has changed. Skincare has become a $140 billion industry. And large corporations have created a system (or what some might call a scheme) that creates customers for life and keeps the profits rolling. Yet, it is clear that they don’t care for their customers when you begin to learn about what is lurking in your moisturizer.
(Corporate Skincare Scheme: large corporations marketing to impressionable audiences, preying on their insecurities by telling them their skin is a problem, and that they have the solution. The solution tends to be one product that causes side effects and the need for another product – turning the very young adult into a customer for life when in actuality the solution can be much cheaper and much healthier for the body)
This targeted marketing started when we were so young before we even realized what was happening. Think about all the commercials that were played on the tv channels like Disney, Nickelodeon, MTV, for brands like Neutrogena, Proactive, Clean & Clear, to name a few.
Then the marketing attacks went further and were directed at young women with advertisements showcasing young starlets with perfect skin who used Maybelline and CoverGirl to hide their imperfections. They convinced us that for a small price and a trip to your local drugstore, you could look flawless like the young celebrities too! What a beautiful age of capitalism we live in.
(Disclaimer: I am not saying that makeup is evil or anything of the sort! Today, many brands are making a great effort to be non-toxic and cruelty-free, and those are the products that deserve our attention. Taking care of your health also means taking care of your skin. It is also important to point out that one of the biggest indicators of skin health is a healthy diet and lifestyle.
When you take a closer look, you see that marketing efforts were directed at us when we were at an age that our hormones and bodies were changing. None of the information we received and viewed regularly taught us how to properly care for our skin and internal health while our bodies were changing. The answer was always a new product, usually to solve a problem one of the previous products had created. It was a great way to manipulate us and turn us into lifetime customers.
The scheme goes something like this: “This acne treatment may cause dry skin, irritation, redness; so please try our dry skin night-time moisturizer; then use our morning cleanser to help wake your skin up; don’t forget the day cream with SPF; and then the deep cleansing wash to help remove it all at the end of the day; follow with the repairing serum and anti-aging eye cream.”
It’s no wonder young men and women have issues with their skin functioning properly, the chemicals and garbage being used in most commercial products throw the skin’s natural rhythm out of whack.
Most importantly, what goes on the skin goes directly in the body and can begin to wreak havoc on the body’s systems (hormones, digestive, reproductive, etc.) Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredients in some of these drugstore products and what they do to the human body? It’s mildly horrifying.
Here are a few ingredients in traditional skincare products:
Triethanolamine (an emulsifier found in many cosmetics and skin creams), is made from ethylene oxide and ammonia – two substances know to be very toxic.
Phenoxyethanol (used as a preservative in many skin care products) is also used as an insect repellent, solvent, preservative, etc.
Fragrance ingredients listed on skincare bottles are made up of hundreds of chemicals and neurotoxins that can cause anything from headaches to asthma to reproductive harm.
Propylene Glycol is extremely toxic and also used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as antifreeze.
Sulfates are also used in floor cleaners and engine degreasers. That will definitely give your face a deep clean! It’ll clean layers of healthy oils and skin right off your face.
Now, that was just to name a few, and I highly recommend you doing your own research. These chemicals mess with your body’s natural healing and hormone functions. We have to remember that our skin is our largest organ, and what you are putting on your body goes directly into it.
What I believe to be the answer is a ‘less is more’ approach. When I was about 19 years old, I began to learn about these issues and immediately ditched everything in my beauty cabinet with the intention of a fresh start. I had also begun to learn about the benefits of carrier oils, plant extracts, and herbs to keep your skin healthy and happy. There are so many carrier oils and different blends of essential plant oils that can heal almost any skin ailment. The only side effect? People might tell you that you smell like a hippie. But hey, I’ll take that as a compliment.
My new, green beauty cabinet has grown to contain products that I know are beneficial to my skin, my health, and the environment. I use a natural bentonite clay mask, a homemade sugar exfoliator, occasionally an all-natural activated charcoal face wash, an aloe vera toner, and my own combination of oils for moisture depending on what my skin needs that day.
Another great option is herbal infused skincare (post on herbal skincare). It is truly amazing what can happen to your skin if you learn to listen to your body and treat it with love. And your skin might take time to adjust to these natural ingredients, so give it some to get a little worse before it gets better.
So where can you start? You don’t need to do what I did and dump everything you own, but maybe think about each time you finish a product, how can you replace it with a healthier, safer alternative? Just becoming aware. Read what you are consuming.
Decide if you want to make changes to make you feel better. Decide whether you want to feed your money into these large companies who are knowingly poisoning our systems or if you want to invest a little more in yourself and others around you by purchasing local, handmade, all-natural products.
Finding out the amount of toxins and carcinogens in nearly every product you consume may cause you to feel powerless, but it’s actually just the opposite. With every dollar you spend, you cast a vote, you have the power. So start sending your message and demanding the type of world you want to see, by way of your dollar. Invest in your face and see the return tenfold. There are also many great ways to take care of your skin at home with products you can make yourself! Once you become aware of how the beauty industry capitalized on your insecurities, how to read and understand ingredients for yourself, it is hard to turn back. The good news is, it’s all up from here!