Where do we start! The benefits of changing your makeup cosmetics to natural and non-synthetic are endless from Mascara, lipsticks and liners. You name it.
It’s important to consider changing, especially when you think that we put these items on our most delicate skin tissues every day! The eye and lip area, we essentially consume lip colours, can absorb these products’ ingredients into the system. Where synthetics are difficult for our system to breakdown, they can build up or can become irritants and allergens to us. Again we ask ourselves, if there is a pure, clean and beneficial equivalent, why would we not change our habits?!
My preference for the first thing to change would be your foundation. From self-experience and through guiding clients, the change to the skins condition can be positively huge! With using natural and organic skincare in professional treatments and advising homecare for the past ten years, I have seen the benefits to better hydrated, balanced, soothed and all round happier skins. Then, we undo it all with a foundation full of ingredients that go against our skin goals: dehydration, congestion of blackheads and breakouts, sensitivities / redness can creep back in and the battle to balance it with a facial begins again.
So what are the ingredients in natural foundations that we can achieve optimal skin health I hear you say:
Vegetable oils: Apricot Kernel, Avocado oil, Argan kernel oil, Shea Butter, the list goes on. They provide the skin with antioxidants through abundant vitamins, essential fatty acids to give the skin nourishment, flexibility and softness. A plumped skin with vegetable oils is a smooth skin.
A synthetic version: Polymethyl Methacrylate – plastic filler for lubricating and smooth finish. Big problems in cosmetics are plastics, especially these micro plastics which are detrimental to our environment and the food chain. These are washed down the sink and cannot be processed. These plastics are found in fish. We eat fish.
Silica: A mineral derived from plants such as Horsetail. Enhances health of our connective tissue, mattifies / aborbs sebum and sweat, softening.
A synthetic version: Dimethicone – silicon derivative for an occlusive or masking effect; filler effect; barrier; mattifies. The issue is that it locks in moisture, sebum, bacteria, pollutants to the skin and therefore breakouts and congestion are more common, especially those prone to imbalances, e.g. teenagers at puberty.
Plant alcohols: These components create essential oils and preserve products. They are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and give a natural scent to the product. You will see this written at the end of the ingredients list, for example: geraniol, linalool, limonene, etc.
A synthetic version: Phenoxyethanol – a synthetic alcohol to preserve, stabilize and scent. It can irritate / sensitise the skin leaving it feeling and looking tight. Capillaries can weaken and redness may persist on the skin if it is constantly irritating the skin everyday.
Vegetal Hyaluronic Acid: A carbohydrate and humectant (attracts water) that behaves like a sponge attracting water to itself and expanding to hundreds of times its original weight. This has beneficial effects for supporting connective tissue and visibly plumping and hydrating the skin.
A synthetic version: Glycerine – if a synthetic form of glycerine is used, its humectant properties will give a soft feel to the epidermis but it is so strong that it actually leaves the tissues below quite dehydrated and tight (lacking water). If glycerine is in the ingredients list, it’s always good to ask if it is of chemical or vegetal / plant origin. The natural glycerine is very gentle.
My top picks for natural and organic foundations are from Couleur Caramel:
Hydra Jeunesse – Inca Inchi oil, a peruvian oil high in essential fatty acids to soften and nourish the skin. Hyaluronic acid to smooth, plump and hydrate. Gives beautiful radiance and glow.
Compact Foundation – An all in one full coverage product with an apricot powder base to give a lessened dewy look compared to Hydra Jeunesse. It uses Shea Butter, Apricot Wax, and Jojoba giving fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants to the skin while providing long lasting and professional wear. Popular for brides!
