Navigating the "Natural" Landscape in Skincare: A Critical Look 🌱🔍


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Angela Here!

In our journey to embrace more conscious beauty regimes, we often encounter the word "natural" – a term that's become both a buzzword and a point of contention in the skincare world. But what does "natural" truly mean in the realm of skin care, and how can we navigate its complexities?

The Unregulated Territory of 'Natural'

The allure of 'natural' skincare is undeniable, but it's crucial to recognize that this term is largely unregulated. This lack of standardization allows for a wide interpretation, often leveraged by marketing strategies to appeal to eco-conscious consumers. However, the reality is that many ingredients touted as 'natural' undergo significant processing, blurring the lines between natural sourcing and laboratory creation.

Understanding Ingredient Origins

While many ingredients found in 'natural' skincare products are indeed derived from nature, their journey from raw material to skincare shelf is not always straightforward. For instance, certain plant-based ingredients may be naturally occurring, but the version used in your cream or serum might have been synthesized or heavily processed in a lab. This raises questions about the true 'naturalness' of these ingredients.

A great example of this is fractionated coconut oil. People tout it as a natural ingredient, but it’s impossible for regular coconut oil to sit naturally as a liquid outside of very hot climates.
In order to ‘fractionate’ the coconut oil, manufacturers raise its temperature high enough for the lactic acid and heavier, long-chain fatty acids to split away. These make ordinary coconut oil solid at room temperature, and are completely removed as the oil is cooled. Of course, we’re not adding any unnecessary chemicals here… but can we really call this natural?

Furthermore, exposing natural cosmetic ingredients to extremely high temperatures is associated with the degradation of their therapeutic benefits. So, is it even worth going for the refined version, regardless of whether we consider it natural or not?

Ultimately, it’s an issue of what natural means to you and your skin; or part of what I call your ‘formulation ethos’.

Formulation Ethos and Transparency

The heart of this issue lies in your personal formulation ethos. As DIY formulators, it's our responsibility to understand the origins, processing, and impact of the ingredients we use. This knowledge empowers us to make choices aligned with our values. And, if we decide to turn our hobby into a business some day, that knowledge also helps us to communicate honestly with our consumers.

Whether you prioritize strictly natural ingredients or accept some level of laboratory intervention, being informed is key. This approach not only enhances the integrity of your products but can also build trust with your audience.

Expand Your Knowledge

To help you navigate these nuanced aspects of skincare formulation, our courses offer in-depth insights and guidance. The Fabulous Face Creams Course is a great place to learn more about natural and synthetic skin care.

We delve into ingredient sourcing, processing methods, and the implications of using 'natural' versus 'synthesized' components. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions that reflect your ethos and to articulate these choices to your consumers confidently.

Join us in exploring the multifaceted world of skincare ingredients, where understanding and transparency are paramount. Together, we can create products that are not only effective but also true to our values and beliefs.

Embrace informed skincare formulation today.

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P.S. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussion tomorrow, where I’ll be talking about pH and it’s critical balance in high-performance skincare formulation.

Savvy Homemade

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Texas TX 77043 United States

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