When it comes to choosing skincare, there are a lot of things to consider: is the brand ethical? Do they use high-quality ingredients? Are their formulations going to be effective for your skin type? However, one of the non-negotiables for some people is looking at whether their products are natural or not.
So, what are the benefits and downfalls of spending a few extra dollars on natural and organic skincare products? Let’s dive in!
Benefits of natural skincare
More effective
By definition, natural skincare products don’t contain any artificial ingredients. This means that they’re formulated using only natural oils, fruit extracts and plants. Products formulated with these naturally derived pure and potent ingredients present a much more effective solution for nourishing and treating the skin.
Natural and organic skincare products are likely to be much more effective than synthetic products due to their higher concentration of active ingredients. Because natural products are formulated using naturally-derived ingredients, they have a higher concentration of active concentrations, while synthetic products typically use much smaller percentages of active ingredients and the remaining portion of the formula is filled with water.
Safe for our bodies
The skin is often referred to as a kind of barrier, but we like to think of it more like a sponge. This precious sponge of yours absorbs everything that you apply to it topically. So, when you apply products filled with artificial ingredients and chemicals onto your skin, a large portion of that product is then absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
On any given day, each of us will most likely massage, spray and lather upwards of 10 different products on our face and body. And while those product formulations have been deemed safe by the cosmetic company, the doses that we expose ourselves to over time are not.
Downfalls of natural skincare
Decreased shelf life
Natural skincare products utilise natural preservatives over synthetic ones, and because these natural preservatives don’t preserve the products for quite as long as synthetic ones do, natural skincare typically has a shorter shelf life.
You’ll find that most products formulated using synthetic preservatives will have a 6-12 month shelf life once they have been opened. While natural products generally have an expiration date of 2-3 years from the date of manufacture.
Where are Bohemian Skin expiry dates?
The tubes have the expiry dates pressed into them at the very top of the crease for the product. The toner and HY C Serum have the expiry dates stamped into the bottom of the product.
Unusual smell
When you opt for natural products it’s important to remember that you’re also opting for a natural scent, so don’t be shocked when you open a new product and it doesn't smell like bubblegum and strawberries.
Natural products formulate their products with natural fragrances like essential oils due. This is because synthetic fragrances can wreak havoc on your health, can be carcinogenic and can affect your endocrine system.