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With so many companies making natural skincare products now, how do you choose. I think we all want the same thing, a good quality natural product at an affordable price. But where do you start? I found myself feeling overwhelmed in the natural food store’s bath and body isle. When did all these brands hit the shelves? I used to make my own, that way I was sure I was getting the most natural product, I still make several products myself but I want to be able to purchase some when I don’t have the time or ingredients to make my own.
My first priority when purchasing a natural product is INGREDIENTS! I read the ingredients first, some times that very small print is difficult to see, but this is a must! The shorter the list the better. My favorite new toothpaste is Earthpaste because the ingredients are literally only 5 things; purified water, Redmond clay, xylitol, salt and essential oils. That sold me immediately, now I am hooked and only use Earthpaste. Also, I feel I must know what the ingredients are at least the majority of them and when I don’t know, I google the ingredients just be to certain. There are some ingredients you definitely want to avoid these are;
- Parabens
- Synthetic colors
- Fragrance
- Phthalates
- Triclosan
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)=the foaming or lathering agent
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene= benzene, toluol, phenylmethane, methylbenzene
- Propylene glycol
- Sunscreen chemicals= benzophenone, PABA, avobenzone, homosalate and ethoxycinnmate
Now if the product is free of the above chemicals and has recognizable ingredients with hopefully a short list, you are pretty safe to say this product is a good choice.
The next issue is price. It is funny that we are actually paying more now for a product that has simpler ingredients (the way things used to be). Although prices seem to be coming down due to the increase of products available on the market, you still want to get the best bang for your buck. Compare brands and prices some products may cost more if they are certified organic but really there should not be a great disparity in prices of similar products. A lot of the new companies run specials and coupons it is good to always be watching for sales. I love natural skincare but I also want to be sure I am getting my moneys worth. Another option is to ask the company for a sample so that you can try it before you buy. A lot of the newer companies are willing to send out samples.
Finally, look for certifications on the label. All organic products labeled as organic have to be certified before they can be sold and will have the USDA certified symbol on the packaging. Products can have organic ingredients but not be certified organic. Another big factor for many, myself included, is that the product is not tested on animals, this symbol should be on the product label also. And if you are interested in Vegan only products they have a symbol of their own too. I have include the symbols below so you know what to look for. I hope these basic guidelines help with your choice the next time you are shopping natural skincare products.
Sources; Huffington Post “10 toxic ingredients to avoid” and Bodhi Luxe “How to read cosmetic labels” viewed on Jan 20, 2015