When it comes to beauty products, “natural” has many nuances. A natural ingredient could derive directly from plants, minerals, animals or microbes – this term covers a wide variety of possibilities!
Carbon can also be synthesized synthetically from petroleum or other sources using chemical reactions, or through fermentation with engineered yeast or bacteria.
Natural skin care
Many people opt for natural skin care products in order to avoid potentially hazardous chemicals and synthetic ingredients, but without clear definitions for what constitutes “natural.” Store-bought items may claim they contain all-natural ingredients but contain large quantities of synthetic chemicals – potentially leading to irritation, allergy reactions or skin sensitivities.
Making natural skin care products at home is an affordable way to get high-quality, organic products tailored specifically to your needs. But you should keep in mind that formulating requires an effectively sanitized workspace in order to prevent contamination as well as an effective preservative that fights bacteria, fungus and yeast growth.
As there are a variety of natural preservatives that can be added to homemade skincare products, homemade remedies often use beeswax, honey and aloe vera as natural preservatives. Aloe vera is known for its soothing anti-inflammatory effects while honey and beeswax can nourish dry or irritated skin conditions.
Natural hair care
Natural hair care involves using products with healthy ingredients to nourish your scalp and locks. Instead of opting for products containing sulfates or artificial fragrances, invest in ingredients like hibiscus, lavender or shea butter to keep your locks nourished – these will moisturize dry strands while soothing the scalp, as well as promote growth without dandruff!
As well as being better for the environment than their conventional counterparts, natural hair products tend to be better for your health and the planet too. Conventional shampoos and conditioners often contain harmful chemicals which pollute waterways and harm aquatic life while contributing to environmental problems such as algae blooms and water scarcity. Natural products contain biodegradable ingredients which are better for both you and the environment.
Make the switch to natural hair products! Join HSA Professional Natural Hair & Skin Care Product Making Course and discover how to create high-quality and stable natural beauty products that fit into your haircare regime or start your own business venture.
Natural cosmetics
Natural cosmetics are composed of natural ingredients like vegetable oils, shea butter, hydrolats and essential oils that are gentle on skin while providing environmental benefits. Furthermore, they won’t clog up pores and are free from petrochemicals – all hallmarks of quality skincare.
“Natural” can mean different things to different people, making it essential that formulators and hair or skin care businesses define what constitutes natural products in their formulations and ingredients lists. Cosmetic companies abide by an International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), so it is crucial that users are informed on exactly what they’re buying and using.
Some brands often confuse “natural” with organic, which is incorrect. Organic ingredients refer to ingredients grown, harvested and processed under rigorous standards designed to minimize their impact on human health, animals and the environment. By purchasing organic ingredients you are contributing towards creating a more eco-friendly beauty industry.
Natural food
An item labeled as natural may lead consumers to believe it has health benefits such as minimal processing and increased nutritional value, but that may not always be the case.
The FDA’s definition of natural is broad, making it hard for consumers to distinguish ingredients on food labels. A survey showed that respondents were more likely to consider certain items such as sorghum flour, black beans, lecithin corn syrup or molasses as natural than insects powder or gluten. Age and health or food beliefs also played a factor.
The Food and Drug Administration defines natural as any product which does not contain added vitamins, minerals or artificial flavorings and requires no more processing than would occur in a home kitchen. But just because an ingredient is natural doesn’t automatically mean it’s healthier; for instance, distillation of aromatic plants to produce essential oils creates chemical compounds not present in its raw materials.
