Over the past few months I have been contacted by people with an array of skin aliments; telling me that they are using "all natural" skincare products. Some telling me that they went to a very popular beauty store and was told that their products were all natural and healthy for their skin.

The one thing I have drilled into my customers for year has been to READ THE INGREDIENTS!

One such client recently brought me her products to look at. She had told me that although she was only 26 years old, she was beginning to see lines on her forehead, break-outs and dry patches on her skin. In looking at her cleanser, the first ingredient was Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. The first ingredient followed with a an array of chemicals and a bit of mint and chamomile. Remember that this product was recommended as a "clean, plant-based cleanser". The moisturizer was even worst starting with butylene glycol, (which is derived from petroleum) as the first ingredient. I could barely read more. Truth of the matter is that "natural" can mean what ever you want it to mean.

The synthetic molecule is from a petrochemical origin that has been artificially manufactured through chemical processes, and whose purpose is to replicate a natural molecule. "Natural skincare" means using products with plant-based ingredients in their manufacturing and formulation. Plant-based products are readily provided to us by mother earth, also meaning that they are free of fillers like parabens, harsh preservatives and chemicals. Many of these toxic ingredients destroy the skin's natural microbiome and are hormonal disrupters.

What makes a product natural, green, and organic depends on how the ingredients were farmed and harvested. For a product to meet the “natural” standards, it must be grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Likewise, for an essential oil to be "natural,” it should be “cold-pressed” rather than exposed to heat or chemicals.

Everything we put on our skin becomes part of our body either through direct contact, absorption, inhalation or via cells. No matter the path, skincare products eventually enter our bloodstream and can affect bodily systems. We should be mindful of the role we play in the environment and keeping it safe. Synthetic ingredients affect wildlife and their habitats, so being mindful is important universally.