Is “all-natural” skincare really natural?
…And, even if it is, does that make it better than skincare that touts the use of chemical formulations?
Here at Clear Skin Solutions, we’re using this month’s blog to bust all the myths surrounding all-natural skincare–including if you should be able to eat what you’re putting on your face!
Let’s get started, y’all:
What is “All-Natural” Skincare?
What is “all-natural skincare, exactly?
If you’ve ever been on the Internet, you’ll know that “all-natural” is a big buzzword for skincare marketing: skincare that’s 100% organic, non-toxic, botanical skincare that’s free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, sulfates, phthalates, and parabens often gets the label of all-natural.
And at first glance, nothing seems wrong with that. However, the “natural” trend is sending conflicting and inaccurate messages to consumers. It’s easy for companies to pull off because most shoppers see a long ingredient list filled with chemicals and assume they’re negative… but when we break down those chemicals, we see that they’re actually not harmful at all–they’re helpful, and often come from a completely natural source!
(Likewise, when we squint at those “all-natural” skincare labels we oftentimes see that they’re not naturally-sourced at all!)
Myth #1: The Best Skincare Ingredients for Acne Are Natural
Examples of skincare ingredients that sound “scary” when you read them on a label but are actually acne powerhouses include, but aren’t limited to:
- Salicylic acid: as a beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid is a powerful exfoliant that helps prevent the buildup of dead skin cells.
- Adapalene: a topical anti-acne retinoid (vitamin A product) that can also tackle aging-related concerns.
- Azelaic acid: a tyrinose inhibitor that works to treat hyperpigmentation and acne scarring.
See? There’s nothing harmful about those, even though they’re not “natural enough to eat”!
On the flipside, natural DIY solutions to acne can actually make your concerns worse over time.
- Honey: honey is touted as an all-natural acne solution thanks to its ability to combat the topical bacteria that contributes to breakouts. However, it doesn’t tackle the outside factors–like diet and lifestyle–that heavily factor into acne formation, making it minimally effective at best… and a waste of money at worst!
- Cucumbers: ahh, refreshing… and that’s about it! Although you’ll feel pampered post-cucumber, it’s simply not going to replace (or even enhance) a comprehensive skincare routine–after all, cucumbers alone can’t repair a damaged skin barrier or tackle the underlying issues that are contributing to your acne long-term
- Lemons: Our favorite! (Not.) Have you read those DIY acne blogs that recommend you put fresh lemon on your pimples? Talk about a skincare nightmare! If you want to damage your skin’s natural moisture barrier and make your skin prone to hyperpigmentation, sure, go ahead and apply lemon to your breakouts… but we recommend you skip the pain completely and just avoid this one!
Myth #2: All-Natural Skincare Can’t Be Irritating to Your Skin The Real Enemy in Skincare is Irritants
Rather than fixating on “natural” vs “chemical” skincare, it’s instead important to focus on identifying irritants in skincare.
We have had many clients come in with angry, inflamed skin trying to follow a seemingly natural path, not really understanding formulas and ingredients and what they do. Their skin ranged from having chemical burns (yes, burns!) to full-blown rashes, each brought on by using skincare with ingredients they didn’t understand were irritating.
The kicker? Most of these clients brought in skincare that were labeled organic and all-natural!
Common irritants in skincare that we’d recommend avoiding are:
- Fragrance
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Alcohol
- Ammonia
- Ethanol
Myth #3: All-Natural Skincare is Better Than Chemical Skincare
Here at Clear Skin Solutions, we use only the best formulators for our skincare: the labs that we work with utilize only the best of the best ingredients, not cut corners with filler ingredients to satisfy current trends or slash costs… while still charging their consumers top dollar!
We change skin with evidence-based skincare products that get in and retrain those dysfunctional pores from the inside-out. The most important formulas are placed at the top of our product decks–unlike other skincare businesses, which place active ingredients lower-down and, in turn, make them less effective!
And no, you can’t eat our skincare like you can with your DIY honey masks–but guaranteed our skincare is healthier for your skin and body than those non-effective solutions!
For guided advice and a curated skincare routine that solves your biggest skin concerns long-term, turn to the Clear Skin Solutions Virtual Acne Program (or browse through our online shop for skincare you know you can actually trust!)