Why Should We Use Natural Skin Care Products

Why Should We Use Natural Skin Care Products

As the world is becoming more "green" and health conscience, many of us are beginning to understand the dangers of some of our habits. People are starting to realize that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put into it. Our skin is a living, breathing tissue that covers and protects the body, but it also absorbs substances that come into contact with it.

Just as prescription drugs can be delivered through our skin via a patch - lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products are also absorbed by our skin. If you use products made with chemical preservatives, these chemicals may be absorbed into your body. On the other hand, your body will absorb all natural ingredients when you use organic and natural products

. It is important to consider what products we are using, and what is really in those products, as we shop for our makeup, hair care, and skin care products.

J.R. Watkins natural body creams provide your skin with the ultimate moisturizing experience. Natural shea and cocoa butters are whipped together with more than ten natural oils and extracts to protect, soothe and condition your delicate skin. This is a treat your skin will never forget!

• All body creams are 96% natural and above.

• Available in five essences: aloe & green tea, lemon cream*, lavender*, mango* and vanilla*(*NPA certified.)

• Rich non-greasy formula.

• Contains panthenol (vitamin B5).

• Natural oils include apricot, coconut, avocado, babassu and jojoba oil.

• Ideal for rough areas including heels, knees and elbows.

• For everyday use.

• Ideal for travel.

Commercial skin care products are often produced with animal byproducts such as lanolin, and also include other chemical detergents and petrochemicals. In many cases these animal byproduct units and petrochemicals are too large to be absorbed by the skin, but they will attract dirt and clog the pores. This can cause problems such as skin irritation and allergies.

Commercially produced skin care products usually include chemical preservatives to extend the shelf life of the products. In contrast, organic and natural products rely on natural ingredients

that have self-preservation qualities. Although the shelf life may not be as long, the natural products offer many benefits for the skin and do not contain the harmful preservatives. Some natural preservation ingredients commonly used in natural products are vitamin E, honey, grapefruit seed extract, and Sandalwood essential oil.

Natural skin care products use ingredients formed by nature, not from synthetic chemicals. Ingredients such as flowers, essential oils, herbs, and roots are combined with naturally occurring surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers in organic products. These natural products are carefully manufactured to preserve the quality of the ingredients.

Consumers often assume that organic and natural products are too expensive in comparison to other commercial brands. On the contrary, natural and organic products actually offer a better value than synthetic based skin products. These ingredients are highly penetrative to the skin, and smaller amounts of the natural ingredients are needed to produce the final product.

Essential Ingredients

• Shea Butter: A natural fat obtained from the fruit of the West African karite tree. It has a high content of non-saponifiable fatty acids, as well as allantoin and linoleic acid (vitamin F).

• Cocoa Butter: A vegetable fat from the cocoa bean which softens and lubricates the skin.

• Macadamia Nut Oil: This rejuvenating body oil has a warm, nutty aroma and excellent spreadability with no greasy feel. Its fatty acid composition is similar to that of natural skin oils (sebum), including some of the acids that are crucial to the maintenance of the skin’s water barrier functions. It is excellent for daily skin care to moisturize and soften the skin.

• Avocado Oil: Delivers essential fatty acids, and contains vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), plus exceptionally high amounts of vitamins D, E and potassium to help keep skin moist and smooth. Avocado oil has the highest penetra­tion rate among similar oils.

• Jojoba Oil: A natural moisturizer held in high regard by the Native Americans of the Sonora Desert for its cosmetic properties.

• Apricot Kernel Oil: This oil is similar in texture and properties to almond oil and is in the same category as olive oil and avocado oil. Apricot kernel oil is considered by many chemists to be an excellent natural replacement for mineral oil; it is rapidly absorbed by the skin and has a high vitamin E content.

• Coconut Oil: A grouping of short-chain fatty acids bonded with glycerin and expressed from coconut kernels. Coconut oil is rich in vitamins and fats that help smooth and soften skin.

The following list highlights many of the potentially harmful ingredients often used in commercially produced skin and body care products. It is best to avoid products with these ingredients, as they have potential side effects that include skin irritation, allergic reactions, rashes, and may even be toxic or carcinogenic.

Ingredients we avoid:

• Chemical Sunscreens

• DEA/TEA/MEA

• Ethoxylates (1,4 Dioxane)

• Formaldehyde Donors

• Glycols

• Parabens

• Petro Chemicals

• Phthalates

• Polymers (Acrylates, Carbomer, PVP)

• Quats

• Silicones

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

• Talc

For more information on J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary