The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Natural Beauty Products

Today, phrases such as, “a natural beauty product,” and, “made with organic ingredients,” are common in the beauty aisle, but did you know that there’s little oversight on what these products actually contain? No one wants to be putting harmful chemicals and artificial products onto their skin, but we often do so without knowing.

Our Glowgetter’s Guide to Choosing Natural Beauty Products is here to help you sift through all the questionable ingredients and make informed decisions to keep your skin radiant and toxin-free!

Know What To Avoid

Before looking for the key words and ingredients you want your products to contain, search for the ones you don’t want! Here’s a list of some ingredients your natural beauty products shouldn’t contain:

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Diethanolamine (DEA)
• Monoethanolamine (MEA)
• Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Propylene Glycol (PEG)
• Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Propyl, Ethyl)
• Isopropyl (SD-40)
• Mineral Oil
• Triclosan
• DMDM Hydantoin & Urea
• FD&C Color Pigments
• Synthetic Fragrances

Synthetic fragrances are a particularly important ingredient to look out for. Fragrances can include thousands of different ingredients that are often labeled as the “secret ingredient” that makes the product special. Instead, use products scented with essential oils.

Certification Labels

Did you know for a product to say, “made with organic ingredients,” it only has to contain 70% organic ingredients? While the remaining ingredients need to meet a quality standard, they may not be the same quality as the organic products.

Products labeled “organic” must contain 95% organic ingredients. While this is exponentially better, it’s still hard to tell what the remaining 5% could do to your skin and overall health.

You want to look for labels that read, “certified organic,” or, “made with natural ingredients,” to ensure there aren’t any hidden chemicals or parabens.

For more information on USDA certified cosmetic labels, read here.

What to Keep in Mind When Purchasing Natural Beauty Products

When you make the change to natural products, you also need to change certain expectations. Natural and organic beauty products are no different than natural and organic food products. You wouldn’t expect healthy, unprocessed food to stay good for months on end, just like you can’t expect your certified natural face mask or moisturizer to have an unlimited shelf life. Without all of the additives, your products will diminish in nutrients over time, which means shopping in bulk isn’t the best move.

Similarly, the more natural the product, the more expensive it’s likely to be. It takes companies more time and money to source, test, and create natural beauty products, but it’s an investment into your future health. You can look at it the same way you look at food. Buying dinner from a drive-thru is going to be cheaper than buying a meal from an organic restaurant, but which will serve your body better?

Spending a few extra dollars on natural products now could save you from a few hundred extra dollars in medical bills down the road. By keeping an eye on the ingredients your favorite beauty products contain, you can support your body and companies creating these quality products.

Ready to make the switch? We promise, your skin will thank you later!