Need Natural Cosmetics Answers

There are so many products we use on a daily basis and think nothing about. We take for granted that the body lotions, shampoos and other cosmetics we buy are good for us and that we shouldn't be afraid that some might cause long term problem. The truth is, many of them can be harmful.

Commercial deodorants, hair spray, nail polish, perfumes, hand and body lotions all contain what are called phthalates. This chemical has been known to cause birth defects and has shown up in higher than normal levels in pregnant women. Some would argue to simply avoid using products with phthalates, but the problem is that not all products list them on their labels.

One would also think that by walking into a health food store and simply buying "all natural" cosmetics would easily solve the problem. The bottom line is this is a lot more difficult than you would imagine. Much of this is due to companies wanting to cash in on the movement towards "all natural" products. Just because a products says they have one or two natural products in it, such as lavender or aloe, does not a safe product make. Get in the habit of reading labels, take a close look at what is going into the product you are buying and don't take the advertisement's word for it that all the ingredients are safe.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to become an informed consumer. Read the labels on the products you buy, become familiar with the terminology. Hand and body lotions are probably the easiest items to find with truly all natural ingredients. The difficulty comes when looking for products such as makeup. There are very few companies out there that offer true all natural products. However, there are companies that make an honest attempt to keep their products as natural as possible. Some of these companies are Origins, Aveda, and Clarins.

One final note to consider is that as with any cosmetic, natural cosmetics can cause allergies when they come in contact with the skin. Always try a test patch on your skin before you fully use the product. If you know you are already allergic to a specific ingredient, avoid purchasing that product. Some of the ingredients attributed to allergic reactions are jojoba oil, tea tree oil, and lavender. There have also been cases reported with vitamin E and aloe causing allergic reactions in people. Knowledge is power, do your research.