Did you know: Women put over 500 individual chemicals on their skin DAILY through cosmetic use? 

Between the foundation, lipstick, face cream, shampoo and countless other beauty products we consume everyday, we are unwittingly applying harmful toxins and chemicals to our bodies that may do more harm than good…

And at what cost? 

We take a deep dive into the scary world of mainstream beauty to calculate the real cost of convenience and unconscious consumerism. And it’s a real (scary) eye opener! 

NANA WAS ON TO SOMETHING

Our Nana’s pearl of wisdom was quite simple: if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t eat it. While she was referring to the food we eat, this principle works across other aspects of our lives, not least of which are the items we put on our skin… If you can’t pronounce the ingredients on your beauty products, stay clear.  Here are just *some* of the toxic ingredients that feature in many of the cosmetics on shelves today:

• Formaldehyde:
• Paraformaldehyde and Methylene glycol:
• Quaternium 15: 
• M- and o-phenylenediamine: used in hair dyes:
• Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates: 
• Isobutyl and isopropyl parabens: 
• The long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS: 
• Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, nickel, mercury and cadmium

These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, ingesting, skin application and even internal use, ultimately carrying the same risks as ingesting food chemicals. 

Now consider that your regular beauty routine involves multiple steps including (and not necessarily limited to): cleansing, moisturising, washing and styling hair, makeup application in the form of sunscreen / primer / foundation / mascara / lipstick / highlighter / bronzer / eyeshadow / eyeliner, makeup removal at the end of the day, nighttime cleansing and moisturising, facial oils, deodorants, perfumes, hand creams (and various permutations of this process)... That’s a lot of products that contain a heap of harmful ingredients that - if you haven’t adopted an all-natural beauty routine yet - are being applied to your skin on a daily basis! 

Yikes.

WHAT NOW?
The great news is that the solution is a simple one: make the switch to natural skincare and products that actually benefit your skin and support your wellness. Keep your eyes trained on the list of ingredients to make sure it’s free of parabens, artificial preservatives and colours, is cruelty-free and wherever possible, vegan-friendly.

Winter is a great time to make the switch, giving your body time to adjust to its new, happy skincare routine before summer kicks in.

Time to discover a new all-natural beauty regime? Start here: