10 Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid

While on this journey to live life to the fullest, I am also on a quest to live life healthier.  

I believe that can only make life better.  Living healthy to me means many things, but one, is to cut down on my chemical absorption from beauty products.  

Now, I understand that there is some debate as to which ingredients are 'good' and which are 'bad', but to me, I stick with the opinion that if I can't pronounce it or don't know what it's origin is, I'd rather not use it.  Or at the least, use it sparingly.  

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Some time ago, when I started learning about more natural beauty products, I came across a list of 10 Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid by Aubrey Hampton (the founder of Aubrey Organics).  I've listed them below, but you can go here to read in depth about each one.  It may change your life.  It did for me.

1. Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea

2. Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben

3. Petrolatum

4. Propylene Glycol

5. PVP/VA Copolymer

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 

7. Stearalkonium Chloride

8. Synthetic Colors

9. Synthetic Fragrances

10. Triethanolamine

I'm not saying this list is absolute fact (I'm not a scientist or a doctor), but I do believe staying away from these types of ingredients can't be a bad idea.

After I eliminated the products I used containing these ingredients, my sensitive, problem skin has balanced out and cleared up.  

Long story short...at the age of 18 my skin became 'Problematic' (most likely due to a hormone imbalance plus super sensitive skin), so I tried every 3-step system available, from almost every brand out there...Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Olay, even Proactive (which helped for a bit but then stopped working after 2 years and left me with drier, angry skin). I tried Retina A from the dermatologist, but that just made my face red and itchy...yay. I even tried more simple brands like Cetaphil and CeraVe, but those still didn't help.

I am now happy to say that my skin care regimen is ALL NATURAL...and I'm loving it!  I just wish it hadn't taken me almost 10 years to figure it out.  Don't get me wrong, I still get the occasional breakout, but they're significantly less and clear up much faster than before.  I've also been able to find many natural make up products in my quest, some of which you can read about here.  For now, I'll share my skincare regimen, in hopes that it may help any of you who may be struggling with skin issues and just can't find relief.  Just remember, it's not set in stone.  Everyone is different, so you may need to tweak it to fit your skin type and schedule.

In the MORNING, I mix a nickel sized amount of Raw Honey and splash of water, apply it to my face and massage into my skin.  I usually let it sit for 5-10 minutes.  (Raw Honey is amazing for the skin, read more about it here).  I gently rinse with lukewarm water, and then with cool water to close the pores.  I pat dry with a clean towel and apply 4-5 drops of Jojoba Oil as a moisturizer.  I tap it on my face with clean fingers.  (Since I have dry, sensitive skin, I don't use a toner...but feel free to use one before moisturizing if you like.  Here's a good natural one).  Sometimes, if I feel like I need a little exfoliation in the a.m. I will use my Clarisonic face brush after I let the honey sit, or I will add a tsp of baking soda and a squirt of lemon juice to the honey and use it as a scrub.

At NIGHT, I use a dab of RAW Coconut Oil on a tissue or cotton round to remove any eye make-up. (It's amazing for this!)  Then I use a facial cleansing cloth (looking for a new brand at the moment, but was using Ponds) to take off the rest of my make-up.  After that, I perform the Oil Cleansing Method, which has really worked wonders for my skin.  Even if you are unsure about putting oil on your face, just trust me and give it a try.  Because I have dry skin, I usually apply a few drops of Jojoba Oil after finishing.  You can leave out this step if you have oily skin.

Okay, that's it.  Sorry this was such a long post, but I really felt compelled to share my story. :)  Hopefully, it helps spark an interest in being beautiful you...a bit more naturally!  Look out for my future reviews on natural beauty products & homemade remedies.