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Given that our skin is the largest organ in our body I have a rule with my cosmetics, if I wouldn’t eat it I wouldn’t put it on my skin. (Yes as my boyfriend likes to think I am a healthy sustainable snob….but someone’s got to be right?)
I have touched on this before with ‘The Story of Stuff’ but I still feel this is a topic most women still appear to turn a blind eye to. This eco infused rant has been largely prompted from the recent spate of Christmas gifts given to me by generous, well intended colleagues and or clients that have been met by me with ABSOLUTE appreciation but also devastation that expensive face creams, lotions and potions are considered a step towards beautiful skin.
On average woman use 12 personal care products a day, which although seems a lot, is highly doable if you include, moisturisers, cleansers, toners, foundations, lipsticks, lip balms etc etc. As an aside I might also let you know that men use on average 6 products per day….they are not exempt! If each product contains a dozen or more chemicals than:
- The Average woman exposes herself to over 167 chemicals on her body and face during her daily beauty regime
Which is all very well as some chemicals are natural BUT
- Out of 80,000 chemicals used in beauty/personal care products in Australia ONLY 200 OF THEM ARE TESTED FOR SAFETY!
Ok so if those stats don’t freak you out or you still feel nonchalant about the whole “let’s go organic in our skin range” rant have a look at what these common ingredients have shown in more than a handful of studies.
- Phthalates – Neuro-developmental Disorders and Tumors
- Parabens - Genital Abnormalities
- BHA – lowered sperm count.
My best piece of advice would be to log onto the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep site, which has a highly efficient database of ingredients and products that allows you to see how potentially toxic each product or compound is. As a person who is more inclined to the humanities spectrum of learning (i.e devoid in all maths and science skills) they present a product rating system that REALLY helps you see exactly how pure and natural an element is.
I would also be wary of the rampant green washing that occurs within the cosmetic industry. Just because it says organic or all natural doesn’t mean it’s clean and pure. Petrol can be organic and all natural, so to can alcohol be. The regulation of Australia’s cosmetic industry is rather flexible and thus labelling on most products can be used regardless of whether the said item has any of the aforementioned virtues.
So where to from here?
Why not make your own? (Cue the groans from domestic rebels, which I will have you know I am very much a part of)
I love oil cleansers but if that’s all too hard Australian company Planet Eve Organics have the most beautiful Oil Cleanser. Even if you think your skin is too oily, harsh cleaners are not the antidote!
Otherwise a beautiful body wash made out of your own desired essential oils is also amazing! Like lavender oil? Throw it in! Can’t stand the floral aromas? Use Orange Oil instead. Get my picture?
And do you know what the best part of this is? I have been able to return to the kitchen and indulge in my love of ‘cooking’ and not let it add centimetres to my derriere.
Alright, I know sometimes you read articles where you can ‘Make your own vegetable soap’ and you just want to laugh/yell expletives with how inane some people are. I mean honestly, who makes their own soap today? Seriously though, these recipes, plus the plethora of EASY ones I have found on the internet are testament to the fact that DIY beauty products are a cinch.
After therapeutically ladling batches of my coconut milk soap into ice cube trays this weekend I know how much more satisfying this is than licking the bowl clean of Christmas cake batter (that being said….I did do both over the weekend)
Above and beyond all this DIY shenanigans, make an effort to learn about the products that you are inevitably consuming via your skin. You deserve to detox your inside and out this New Year!
If anyone has any other wonderfully easy recipes please share them. As a rule of thumb, no more than five ingredients please…anything else is a headache!
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