I started crafting my own pure natural plant-based soap with essential oils in 2016 after I grew tired of seeing nasty sulfates, parabens, phthalates, detergents, and artificial fragrances amongst other irritants in store bought soap.
With several family members including my baby son suffering conditions such as eczema and asthma, I decided to create my own wellness products to soothe, restore and nourish my family.
With rising awareness amongst health enthusiasts worldwide, more and more people are switching to organic and natural skincare and wellness products, so we thought it worth exploring some of the benefits.
1. Natural and organic ingredients make a difference because what you breath, eat and put on your skin goes through your whole body
Like eating or breathing, our skin absorbs 60% of anything applied to it, and acts as a barrier to the daily toxins of the world. Being your body’s biggest organ, it is important to consider what we apply to our skin as we create a lasting impact on our bodies, internally and externally. Most of us on average apply 10 different beauty products onto our skin everyday layering what could be harmful ingredients and synthetic chemicals onto our skin.
Most beauty and skin products contain chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate, phthalates, and parabens. These chemicals have the potential to damage our core health by adversely affecting our reproductive, endocrine and immune system. Scented candles containing Paraffin wax and synthetic fragrance are also culprits, containing petrochemical bi-products found to contain known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as benzene
True natural skin care and wellness products contain no artificial ingredients. They are made of natural oils, plants, fruit extracts and fruit acids. These products effectively treat and nourish the skin, and we avoid breathing in any harmful chemical compounds and synthetic fragrances.
2. 100% Essential Oils are therapeutic and have far reaching health benefits
As defined, “aromatherapy” is “the use of essential oils from plants (flowers, herbs, or trees) as therapy to improve physical, mental, and spiritual well-being” (from NIH, National Cancer Institute). Essential oils not only deliver an amazing aroma, but they also have many therapeutic benefits. There are many different essential oils and each one has its own unique benefits.
Many essential oils also have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help prevent damage to cells caused by free radicals. When you breathe in an essential oil, the scent molecules travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain. Here, they interact with a region known as the limbic system, which regulates emotions, memories, and sensations. Wellness products, including scented candles made with pure essential oils and a plant-based wax, can deliver numerous physical and mental health benefits.
Avoid 'fragrance oils'. Fragrance or perfume oils are made from essential oils combined with chemicals or entirely from chemicals, and are not suitable for aromatherapy and can be harmful to our health. Essential Oils can also be absorbed into the bloodstream when applied to the skin. Once in the bloodstream, essential oils distribute throughout the body to potentially enhance different aspects of overall health.
3. They Leave No Doubt About Your Health
At the present time, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the ingredients used in synthetic skincare and wellness products. While some believe these ingredients to be safe, others are skeptical, citing the fact that very little independent research has been done on them.
The question you must ask yourself is, are you comfortable gambling on your health? Is it worth potentially harming yourself with a synthetic product when you could just as easily be using a natural product?
Remember, until a new ingredient has been tested, it’s impossible to know what type of impact it could have on the body.
4. They are good for the environment
Natural skincare and wellness products don’t leave a harmful footprint on the environment. Conventional products not only add chemicals to your skin and body, but they also contribute to a negative environmental impact as the chemicals from the products are released into the air, water, and more.
5. Truly Sustainable
The ingredients found in natural skin products are extracted directly from nature. Hence, when it comes to the disposal of skin products, natural skin products are easily biodegradable. These products also produce less waste, thus easing out the disposal process. Moreover, natural skin products are not tested on animals before being rolled out for us to use, so they are cruelty-free.
By opting for natural skin care and wellness products, we get a chance to repair and heal the environment through our conscious actions, in addition to healing our skin and body.
