Natural Vs Mainstream Skincare: Which is Better?

Do you feel safe that you are putting Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Emulsifying Wax and Glycerin on your face and body? If the answer is no, then you have some big issues, because those are the six main ingredients that follow the water in many cosmetic products.

Cosmetic industries throw the word “natural” around very loosely, so even though the words above sound too technical to be unrefined. They fall into the natural category since they haven’t been manufactured in a lab.

This reveals how some cosmetic companies have twisted and contorted the natural vs chemical controversy.  

Beauty consumers want ingredients that they can understand and identify. When they do come face to face with products claiming to be natural but containing a list of chemicals, it only makes them speculate that the product could be toxic.

Many of us perceive natural skincare to contain items that are clear and straightforward such as minerals, oils and extracts of flowers and herbs. This is what has led to confusion when ingredients with chemically adapted names are also considered to be natural.

Taking care of yourself inside, as well as out, go hand in hand. It makes no point to put something on your skin, that will penetrate into your body and cause you harm in the long run. It just makes no sense at all.

This is the reason why the natural product market is booming rapidly. It is actually increasing by 20% each and every year. 

The word “chemical” can sometimes translate into something “bad”, “poisonous”. Many scientists will argue that everything in our lives from what we eat, live in, drive, wear or play with is built from chemicals. Also, even if they are natural or synthetic, they are essential for life.

They also continue to stress that ingredients that go into skincare products are tested to exhaustion. However, it doesn’t change the mood of the consumer. It may be safe, but perhaps not safe enough.

Consumers demand chemical-free skincare to prevent toxic and harsh chemicals on the skin and maybe from entering the bloodstream. 

Fair enough, you aren’t going to find traces of lead in modern-day skincare products. But there are ingredients, which consumers who are seeking “natural” products are running away from like it were the plague.

That particular item is a little known thing as parabens and they are found everywhere in cosmetic products. Parabens are put into cosmetics as well as the food we consume.

They are derived from benzoic acid, which is a chemical in plants. It is used to preserve food or in this case cosmetic products. Products that contain parabens have a longer shelf life than those without.

Cosmetic and skincare companies benefit greatly from parabens because they also contain effective fungicidal and bacterial properties and are very economical. Parabens have been used in cosmetic and beauty products for over 50 years.

It has been receiving a lot of negative hype because of the growing concerns about its safety and dangers to our health. 

What is the point of putting preservatives in skincare and cosmetic products, even though some of us might be using organic, clean and natural beauty products? The reason for preservatives is to keep them lasting long enough to be used.

The product’s journey from the manufacturers, to distributers, then sitting in a shop from eventually becoming a purchased item is a long one. So it needs to stand up to the test of time and avoid going off or becoming spoiled with certain types of bacteria, fungus or even mould.

An alternative to parabens is refrigeration, but it still won’t guarantee your cosmetic products will have a long life and not many of us are happy with storing our cosmetic and beauty products in the fridge.

Parabens have been around for ages and most skin types can tolerate parabens. The reason for all the negativity surrounding parabens is that they are thought to be a factor in the development of cancer.

One of the most notorious products are antiperspirants, which are believed to increase the risk of breast cancer. This happens when shaving under the arm allows parabens to be absorbed into the lymph nodes through small cuts made by a razor.

Some organizations, such as the American Cancer Association, have denied that breast cancer can occur this way. Although researchers in the United Kingdom have found evidence of parabens in breast tumour samples, this reveals that parabens can accumulate in our bodies.

Another factor why parabens have been linked to breast cancer is the way it can mimic the hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen encourages the cells to grow, which eventually turns them into tumours.

Many people are getting breast cancer earlier and some scientists believe it is due to the build-up of oestrogen within our environment. Besides cancer, oestrogen is responsible for lower sperm count and other male disorders. Cosmetics and beauty products containing parabens have a hand in feminising men.

Research has concluded that pregnant women who use products containing parabens can affect the development of the male foetus in the womb. 

Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is a natural alternative to parabens. It is a natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. How effective it is as an antimicrobial and preservative in skincare products still have to be determined.

Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate is another alternative to parabens, which is derived from an amino acid called glycine that happens naturally. However, to create Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, glycine has to be put through a synthetic industrial process.