The market in beauty products has grown significantly in the last 25 years but
in the last 10 years there has been an increasing interest in the ingredients
contained within the lotions, creams and potions we apply so liberally to our
skin - the largest organ of our human bodies.

Many main stream
manufacturers still include a range of not so natural ingredients in their
products:

- waste products from the petrochemical industry
- lead
and other heavy metals
- products extracted from animal carcasses


Many of these ingredients are given scientific sounding names. While the
cynic may say this is a deliberate attempt to confuse the consumer, a more
charitable view is that this is done in pursuit of accurate labeling.

As
a result of the heightened awareness of health matters and the confusion
concerning ingredients and labelling, a new sector of this lucrative market has
arisen. The need for natural skin care and cosmetics.

But just how
natural is natural?

Many consumers require natural ingredients but are
not prepared to accept the necessary compromise in product performance. A
classic example is with the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. This is a
synthetic detergent derived from coconut oil and it appears in a wide range of
shampoos, bath products, toothpastes and liquid soaps. It is what gives these
products the luxurious bubbles and lather to which we have all become
accustomed. A number of studies have suggested that this ingredient is harmful
and many consumers now seek products containing an alternative.


Manufacturers then developed Sodium Laureth Sulphate, which is
considered less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. When this was condemned,
Ammonium Laureth Sulphate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate were substituted. Once
again these are synthetic detergents developed from coconut oil and they are
still considered to be an irritant. Some studies have also suggested they may be
carcinogenic.

Unless consumers have a knowledge of bio-chemistry it is
almost impossible to discern what ingredients are natural and what are not. The
SLS saga is but one example of this confusion.

It is ironic that a
number of "natural" manufacturers aggressively promote their products by
denigrating the products of competing companies - despite the fact that the
ingredients they contain are essentially the same.

Consumers need to
make themselves aware of the real meanings behind the mysterious names on their
cosmetic bottles and jars and educate themselves about the various aliases they
are likely to encounter.

Depending on the reasons for wanting to
purchase natural products, some ingredients may be more acceptable than others.
Take Lanolin for example. Lanolin is extracted from the fleece of sheep. It has
been shown to contain a large number of chemicals used to kill parasites that
may live on the sheep. Many eczema sufferers find that treatment with lanolin
based products - despite the chemicals - helps to reduce symptoms. The benefits
of Lanolin treatment outweigh the disadvantage of potential contaminants. This
is a value judgement that individuals will need to make.

Of course, one
of the best ways to ensure that your products are natural is to make them
yourself. There is a growing number of companies providing organic based
ingredients to facilitate home manufacture of products. Natural cosmetics are
surprisingly easy to make in the home using nothing more than regular kitchen
equipment. This may be an alternative worth checking-out.

Organic Skin Care Products
Look for honey to appear in the ingredient statements of more and more cosmetics, sunscreens and organic skin care products. Check out our full line of all natural organic skin care at Fitness Beauty Spa.

Organic Skin Care Products
The Feierabend (pronounced fire-AH-bend) Organic Skin Care Shop provides THE FINEST Organic Skin Care Products available. Our products are 100% handcrafted with natural ingredients, making them healthy AND effective for your entire body ...

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