This is a guest post by Anna at Miód Natural Skincare. Make sure to check out their exciting and natural range of products on their site!

Cosmetics make up a big part of our life. Whether it be skincare, hair care or body care these are products that we use and put on our body every day. In Australia the regulations surrounding the safety of these products are a little muddy. Emphasis is placed on ingredient labelling so that the consumer can identify if they might have an allergic reaction to something in the product.

The responsibility is clearly placed in our hands to decide whether a product is safe for us to use, we should not assume that this work has been done for us. The reality is that many of the ingredients used in our cosmetic products have been known to cause allergic reactions, skin irritation and accumulate in vital organs. In addition to this they have been linked to neuro, reproductive, respiratory, kidney, liver, developmental and immono toxicity as well as cancer. 

In 2014 cosmetics were the source of approximately 30 per cent of total injury reports received by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, highlighting the importance of paying more attention to what is in the products we use.

The skin is our largest organ, and has many important functions such as providing structure and protection to internal tissues, temperature regulation, detoxification and manufacture of Vitamin D. It is a first line of defence to what is absorbed into our bodies and as such it needs to be looked after and kept healthy. Being a permeable barrier, the majority of what we put on our skin will inevitably make its way into our blood stream and vital organs. Looking after our skin is therefore not just about making it look good on the outside, but about our internal health as well.

Cosmetic products coat the skin and can block pores and sweat glands compromising our ability to detoxify. Harsh foaming cleansers strip the skin’s oils and damage the protective barrier resulting in skin that is dehydrated, too oily or too dry. On the other hand real natural products produced from pure unprocessed organic ingredients work with the skin to rebalance and heal over time. These types of products contain ingredients which are rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants all of which feed and nourish the skin.

It can however be very frustrating knowing what products to choose in a sea of confusing labels and marketing claims. Just because a product says natural or organic on the label doesn’t mean it is. Organic certification also is not the be all and end all as products are allowed to contain 5% of approved non organic ingredients. At the same time many great brands only use beautiful organic ingredients but cannot afford the certification. That’s why it is so important to read the ingredient labels, and even better speak to the producers and makers so you can make an informed choice about what you put on your skin. Some tips for your next shopping trip are:

• Ingredients on the label are written from highest to lowest based on concentration contained in the product so pay attention to what is at the top of the list.
• Look for cold pressed plant oils like Jojoba, Sweet Almond, Avocado, Rosehip and Coconut. These are highly nutritious and nourishing to the skin.
• Choose essential oils over extracts which are often solvent extracted, trace amounts of which remain in the end product. As there is no way of knowing what kind of solvent has been used just from reading an ingredient label it is best to avoid when possible
• Avoid synthetic fragrances
• If you don’t know what an ingredient is for the name it’s best to avoid it. Many are plant derived but no longer resemble the plant they came from in any way.
• Skincare and cosmetic products don’t need a lot of ingredients to be effective. If the ingredients are pure, truly natural and high quality then only a few are needed to make a great product.

There are many wonderful products available on the market today so choose products that will heal, nourish and work with your skin to bring it back to balance.