It?s All in the Name of Beauty? Baby

From firming the skin, decreasing wrinkles to achieving a healthy glow - we now look towards the healing power of nature for assistance. And, manufacturers have responded to your need in some form or another.

Natural and chemical

However, most commercial skin care products that advertise as "natural" or offer "botanicals" still contain chemicals, emulsifiers and/or synthetic elements. We encounter these chemicals every day in shampoos, cosmetics, creams and don't even know it. And aside from the skewed advertising, for most people, there is no problem.

However, for others these chemicals penetrate the skin and cause skin irritations and for some, even an allergic reaction. Chemicals do have a necessary place in our lives. But with the multitude of chemicals found in our skin and health care products and even in some of the foods we eat, we should and can find healthier alternatives.

It is not to say that natural ingredients don't cause allergic reactions and not all natural skin care products fit everyone. But the reality is that anything you apply to your skin ends up inside your body just as if you had ingested it. So, when chosen correctly almost every skin type responds well to natural skin care products.

Being Hip versus Being Educated

While going "natural" in the beauty field is hip, most customers are still attracted to fruity or flowery scents not found in nature.

Yet, this is not the disconcerting issue. What is disturbing is that the beauty industry is becoming two camps. One on the side is the "natural" industry and on the other stands the chemical (mainly traditional skin care products).

What is most interesting is that the chemical camp claims the natural ingredients; natural skin care formulas have no factual basis or scientific legitimacy, a kind of quackery.

The Oxymoron

There is evidence that toxins are eliminated through the skin via perspiration and absorbed through the skin into the body's circulation system, through hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

The chemicals and toxins found in most commercial skin care products also have a detrimental effect on the environment, although this effect is just beginning to be understood.

It is now acknowledged that while these ingredients are in limited amounts; compound these chemicals in almost every product we use and used daily, its allergy overload.

Whereas Aromatherapy (essential oils and blends have very powerful properties to promote and maintain healthy, beautiful and youthful skin) have been used for centuries for skin and beauty care. Unfortunately in the 19th century, new chemical processes made it cheaper to produce synthetic versions of these oils. These synthetic oils which are found in many of our skin care products have the fragrance but not the therapeutic qualities.

And, essential oils have a proven history of healing and treating many ailments.

The Ingredients are What Counts

Still not a believer? What about those nicotine patches, it's not the patch that forcing the medication but actually your skin's natural absorbability.

Scientific research is discovering that many chemicals in personal care products may actually pose potentially serious long-term health threats when used over an extended period of time, as the skin absorbs like a sponge.

We've also come to understand that when we inhale the essential scent molecules, our brains release neuropeptides that can have mood altering effects.

Essential oils also have such fine molecular structures, that when mixed with massage oils they easily penetrate the skin. Thus in an aromatherapy treatment the essential oils are able to enhance both your physical and psychological well-being at the same time.

They are oxygenating and help transport nutrients to the cells of our body. Without oxygen, nutrients cannot be assimilated; therefore, the oxygenating essential oils can help us maintain our health.

Other natural ingredients such as honey, considered the super food of the cells, tissues and organs with many vitamins including Vitamin "K" and "H", Carotene and Folic Acid does offer moisturizing value when applied to the skin.

Then there is Carrot Seed Oil, particularly beneficial for dry, mature skin-types and can help to restore elasticity to the skin and could therefore reduce wrinkles. Hemp seed oil is very close to our skin's oil as far as fatty acid structure and is easily absorbed by the skin. The list of benefits in natural ingredients can go on and on.

Now again consider the list of chemicals in lotions, creams, shampoos and so on we place on our skin every day.

It's a New Car, Bob!

There is a lot of hype behind natural. But this is young growing industry is working hard at moving towards a standard of what will be deemed as "natural". Take for example extracting a component from the plant almost always requires a process that is synthetically derived, should then Green Tea Extract not be considered natural?

But, perhaps the real reason the chemical camp is so upset is because their consumer is becoming educated, asking questions and now have the freedom of choice!

Or maybe they're upset because the natural industry believes in full disclosure in our products. Or maybe, just maybe after you've experienced the feeling of these vital plant substances on your face, you may find it difficult to return to synthetic.