Now that we have completed our Best Natural Makeup series, it’s time to move on to the Best Natural Body and Skin Care products! This week we will be covering moisturizers. In our previous post, we talked about the importance of moisturizing, especially during the winter months. Moisturizers are essential to keeping our skin hydrated. They help seal in moisture and create a barrier layer on the skin to protect it from outside elements like pollution. Moisturizers also soften our skin and keep the skin elastic, helping to ward off wrinkles.
Unfortunately, many conventional moisturizers contain harmful ingredients. As mentioned in our makeup series, almost 90 percent of the 10,500 cosmetics and skin care ingredients known to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not been evaluated for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution, according to the Environmental Working Group. Certain ingredients used in beauty products are known to cause various health issues like cancer and hormone disruption, which has been linked to birth defects, sperm damage, and infertility.
Some common ingredients used in moisturizers include:
–BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene): used as preservatives in lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics. They are also widely used as food preservatives. It can cause an allergic reaction on the skin, disrupt the hormones, and even cancer.
–Parabens disrupt hormonal processes in the body and are linked to cancer.
–DEA (diethanolamine) is used to make products creamy. Prolonged exposure has been shown to cause cancer.
–Petrolatum: used as a moisture barrier. The EU has classified this ingredient as a carcinogen and has limited it’s use in cosmetics. Includes petroleum jelly and mineral oil.
–Diethyl phthalate is used as a binding agent known to cause damage to the nervous system and the reproductive organs.
–Glycols are used as a skin conditioning agent. Includes propylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene glycol, carbitol, and diethylene glycol. Can affect the reproductive system and cause liver damage.
–Phalates is a chemical plasticizer used to moisturize the skin and classified as a fragrance at times. Has been shown to cause birth defects in lab rats.
Here are some of our top picks for all natural moisturizers:
1. Coconut Oil – One of the most effective and natural ways to moisturize the skin. It has vitamin-E, proteins, and anti-aging properties. You can use it to moisturize lips and hair, and it is a great makeup remover! A good everyday moisturizer, skin absorbs it very quickly. Does not work on very dry or rough skin though. Make sure to buy organic coconut oil! Where to buy: amazon.com, Costco, Whole Foods
2. Jojoba Oil – This is great oil to use on the face, lips, and hair! Rich in nutrients like vitamin-E. It is close to our skins natural sebum, so it won’t clog pores or make skin oily. Great for even the driest skin! Where to buy: amazon.com, vitasupply.com, Whole Foods
3. Desert Essence Daily Essential Moisturizer – contains Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera to soothe, restore and maintain your skin. Goes on light and quickly absorbs into the skin. Contains no parabens, artificial fragrances, vegan, and cruelty free. Where to buy: Amazon, Whole Foods
4. Bioelements All Things Pure – This is one of the best natural moisturizers on the market. It goes on a little thick, but once absorbed, leaves the skin looking and feeling luxuriously soft. Cruelty free and certified organic. Where to buy: bioelements.com, amazon.com
5. First Aid Beauty Cream – a moisturizer loaded with antioxidants that is lightweight and noncomedogenic. Best for oily, sensitive, and acne prone skin. They also make a moisturizer for normal to dry skin. Free of parabens, colorants, and fragrances. Where to buy: firstaidbeauty.com, Sephora, Amazon.
6. LUSH Full of Grace Moisturizer – This moisturizing serum, in the form of a bar, is packed with hydrating tropical butters, chamomile, and mushroom extract. Keeps your skin hydrated and soft, soaking right in. Free of parabens. Where to buy: LUSH, lushusa.com
Tip: Apply moisturizer in the morning and at night. Moisturizer will absorb better when the skin is damp or moist. Use gentle upward strokes when applying.
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