As consumers become savvier about their beauty products, ingredients are coming under more scrutiny. Recent years have seen consumers demand more from their cosmetics and seriously question what they are putting on their skin. Small, natural and organic cosmetic brands are enjoying a boom thanks to users’ desire to reach for more skin-friendly products. And the choice of what’s available has never been wider. If you’ve been thinking about swapping your existing beauty routine for something a little more natural, read on.
The Organics Food & Café’s Michelle Robertson answers our questions on going natural.
Q Why should consumers be choosing organic or natural products?
“Skin can soak up potential carcinogenic ingredients from our cosmetics and I believe this can increase our risk of disease later in life. Once a toxic chemical has seeped into the skin it eventually ends up in the bloodstream and travels with the lymph fluid through the body. Eventually these chemicals are filtered out by the liver and flushed away by the kidneys, but they can sometimes remain inside the body in our fat where they can accumulate over the years.
Natural and organic cosmetics are fast becoming the number one choice of informed consumers who are not prepared to take unnecessary health risks.”
Q What ingredients should we be most aware of?
“Ingredients that you should avoid putting on your bathroom shelf, or on your face, include parabens, mercury, lead, phthalates (often written on ingredients lists as fragrance) and petroleum-based products. Xanthene is another ingredient to look out for and avoid as it has now been found unsafe to use in cosmetics in the United States. You should also stay clear of products that include zinc chloride – mainly found in shampoos, conditioners, cleansers and moisturisers – which is a corrosive chemical and can cause skin and eye irritation.”
Q What are the benefits of choosing organic or natural products?
“They give the consumer confidence that what they are putting on their face and body isn’t harmful. Because they are free from harsh synthetic ingredients, natural cosmetics offer numerous beauty benefits such as healthy, supple and clear skin, plus reducing fine lines and wrinkles. ”
Q What is the difference between ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ products?
“Natural cosmetics are made with few if any synthetic chemicals and use a wide range of plants, fruit extracts, minerals and vitamins as their ingredients. If you can’t read the ingredients list on the back of a product, then it’s probably loaded with chemicals and should be avoided. Organic cosmetics take it one step further and guarantee, through certification, that all the natural ingredients used have not been treated with any chemicals. If you are looking for something 100 per cent organic, make sure that it says so on the label, just saying it’s organic does not mean that the entire product will be organic.”
Q If I only use one natural or organic product, what should it be?
“If you are looking to make a gradual change, then a good place to start is with a natural lipstick. Most lipsticks have lead in them, and as we tend to re-apply lipstick throughout the day it makes sense to start with the lips.
Q Why should we be choosing organic or natural products?
“Skin can soak up potential carcinogenic ingredients from our cosmetics and increase our risk of disease later in life. Once a toxic chemical has seeped into the skin it eventually ends up in the blood stream and travels with the lymph fluid through the body. Eventually these chemicals are filtered out by the liver and flushed away by the kidneys but they can sometimes remain inside the body in our fat where they can accumulate over the years. Natural and organic cosmetics are fast becoming the number one choice of informed consumers who are not prepared to take unnecessary health risks.”
Q What ingredients should we be most aware of in our products?
“Ingredients that you should avoid putting on your bathroom shelf, or on your face, include parabens, mercury, lead, phthalates (often written on ingredients lists as fragrance) and petroleum based products. Xanthene is another ingredient to look out for and avoid as it has now been found unsafe to use in cosmetics in the United States. You should also stay clear of products that include Zinc Chloride – mainly found in shampoo, conditioner, cleansers and moisturisers – which is a corrosive chemical and can cause skin and eye irritation.”
Q What are the benefits of choosing organic or natural products?
“Because they are free from harsh synthetic ingredients, natural cosmetics offer numerous beauty benefits such as healthy, supple and clear skin, plus reducing fine lines and wrinkles. They also give the consumer confidence that what they are putting on their face and body isn’t harmful.”
Q What is the difference between regular organic and natural products?
“Natural cosmetics are made with few if any synthetic chemicals and use a wide range of plants, fruit extracts, minerals and vitamins as their ingredients. If you can’t read the ingredients list on the back of a product then it’s probably loaded with chemicals and should be avoided. Organic cosmetics takes it one step further and guarantees, through certification, that all the natural ingredients used have not been treated with any chemicals. If you are looking for something 100 per cent organic, make sure that it says this on the label, just saying its organic does not mean that the entire product will be organic.”
Q If I only use one natural or organic product, what should it be?
“If you are looking to make a gradual change then a good place to start is with a natural lipstick. Most lipsticks have lead in them and as we tend to re-apply lipstick throughout the day it makes sense to start with the lips.
Tried & tested by Kelly Broad
I ditched… my eye cream, day and night moisturiser and regular liquid foundation.
And swapped it for… Desert Essence Organics Pomegranate Eye Serum, Dh61, A’Kin Pure Rose Hydrating Mist, Dh49, A’Kin White Tea & Aloe Hydration Gel Crème, Dh61, A’Kin Lavender & Rose Repairing Anti-Oxidant Night Crème (Plus a Pure Alchemy Cellular Radiance Serum, which came free with the night crème), Dh79, and Sante Soft Cream Foundation, Dh78.
It cost me… Dh328
I thought… “The last time I used any kind of natural skincare, I have to admit that it didn’t get me hooked. The formulas didn’t feel quite right and there was something a bit too homemade about it all. But, that was a few years ago and things have changed for the better. I already use a gentle natural soap to wash my face so I decided to stick with that, but I have never been a big fan of toner – I’ve never found anything that agrees with my skin. I decided to try the rose hydrating mist as an alternative and am now left wishing I’d discovered it sooner! Not only is it super easy to use – there’s no need to wipe on with a cotton pad, just spritz and leave to soak in – but my skin is already reaping the benefits of its re-balancing qualities.
“I’ve been using the eye serum both day and night, and because it’s a gel rather than a heavier cream I actually prefer the texture. I am already noticing a difference in the tone and colour around my eye area. Both the day and night creams are also lighter in texture than my regular creams, and the difference in formula is quite noticeable. They’re not as ‘together’ as my other creams – this is because they don’t contain the chemicals that bond the ingredients. I do feel more aware that what is on my face feels very natural. The creams do take longer to soak into my skin, but I actually find that quite a nice quality in the products. So far I feel like the creams that I’m using do suit my skin, which already appears healthier and fresher.
“Because I switched my skincare routine, I also changed my foundation. I wear a liquid base every day, so I opted for something from the Sante range. There are only three shades to choose from, but luckily one of them suits my skin tone. If you’re not pale or olive skinned, you may have difficulty finding the right shade.
The foundation itself has a mousse-like texture, and I found that applying it in a patting motion, rather than with a brush or finger tips, works better. You also need to give it a little time to set, but it actually sits very nicely with a matte finish. So far, the foundation has had more staying-power than I thought it would, giving me great all-day coverage.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the quality of products and will continue to use as many natural or organic products as possible in the future. Why use products that contain harmful substances (even potentially harmful substances) when there are products out there that give me the results that I am looking for and don’t cost any more than I would normally spend?”
Parabens uncovered
Parabens are preservatives found in many cosmetics – shampoo, moisturiser, makeup, etc – and are used as a way of preventing bacteria, yeast and mould developing. Recently parabens have caused controversy in the beauty world as some studies have identified them as hormone disrupters.
Despite these findings, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union have said that parabens are safe for consumers to use. However, even though parabens haven’t been banned, many beauty brands have decided to become paraben-free.
There are six different types of parabens commonly used in cosmetic products, and all have ridiculously long names. If you do want to avoid them, they can be easily spotted on your product labels as they all end in ‘parabens’.
TRY THESE: Make up your green beauty kit from these natural product ranges
- Sante
Best buy: Soft Cream Foundation, Dh78
Start your beginner’s makeup kit with Sante, which has a great range of foundations, compacts, concealers, blush and eye colours. They are free from synthetic preservatives, colourants and flavourings, and have a BDIH (Association of German Industries and Trading Firms for health care and other products) natural certification. They are available at Organic Foods & Café.
- Weleda
Best buy: Wild Rose Intensive Eye Cream, Dh150
A good introduction to your natural or organic journey should start with Weleda, which is BDIH certified. Available at Organic Foods & Café.
- Korres
Best buy: Mint Tea Shower Gel, Dh69
Greek brand Korres originally stems from homeopathic remedies, and they pride themselves on replacing synthetic compounds with naturally derived ingredients. All products are made up from four families of natural ingredients – medicinal herbs, Greek flora, food ingredients and high efficacy natural ingredients. Korres has its own stand alone store at Dubai Mall.
- Dr Perricone MD
Best buy: Intensive Moisture Therapy, Dh642
If you simply can’t do without your A-lister fix, then opt for Dr Perricone’s face moisturisers (a firm favourite of Eva Mendes) as some of the products are paraben free. Available at Sephora and Harvey Nichols.
- Clinique
Best Buy: Colour Surge Lipstick, Dh103
Michelle gives Clinique a thumbs up for being a good lipstick choice – they are paraben free, most are free from aluminium and as they are unscented, there are no phthalates. Available
at Debenhams.
- Hugo Everyday Naturals
Best buy: Mango & Pomegranate Shampoo, Dh65, and Conditioner, Dh65
A natural and organic solution for your hair, Hugo products are chemical free, are packed with essential oils, botanical extracts and vitamins, and smell absolutely delicious. Available at Organic Foods & Café.
- Estée Lauder & L’oreal
Best buys: Estée Blue Dahlia Nail Lacquer (available from November), and L’Oreal Paris Resist & Shine, Dh41
Nail polish is one of the worst offenders for containing phthalates (industrial chemicals used to give products more staying power). The Estée Lauder and L’Oreal ranges are phthalates free. Available at all department stores.
- Shiffa
Best buy: Healing Balm, Dh285
Home-grown brand Shiffa puts a luxurious spin on natural cosmetics. Focusing on wellbeing, natural ingredients are sourced from exotic corners of the world resulting in a beautiful blend of body and hair oils, aromatic candles, moisturisers, scrubs and cleansers. Available at Shiffa Express Spa, Sephora Dubai Mall.
- Coola
Best buy: Mineral Body Moisturiser SPF30, Dh151
You can follow your green path through to sun block thanks to Californian brand, Coola. With a range for both face and body, Coola is paraben, petroleum and phthalates free, suitable for vegans, doesn’t test on animals and donates some profits to breast cancer. At Makeup Etc.
- L’Occitane
Best buy: Verbena Summer Scent, Dh225
This French natural beauty has built its foundations working with local farmers to produce the very best natural ingredients. L’Occitane stores can be found at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Mercato.
- Aveeshi
Best Buy: Moisturiser Lavender & Ylang Ylang, Dh40
Made with natural herbs and plant extracts, Aveeshi is mainly a spa-based brand but does offer home-delivery for orders of over Dh200. The range is 100 per cent natural, comes minus any harmful chemicals and is filled with plenty of yummy ingredients like ginger and lime, mint and cucumber, and rose and honey. Visit www.aveeshi.com.
- A’kin
Best buy: Pure Rose Hydrating Mist, Dh49
One hundred per cent natural, sulfate and paraben free, and not tested on animals, the brand practises good habits within their everyday business as well as in the products. Available at Beautybay and Organic Foods & Café.
Check the label
Just because it says organic on the label, doesn’t mean that every single ingredient is from an organic source. You’ll usually come across these labels on your products.
Here’s what they mean….
- 100 per cent organic = products that are made entirely from certified organic ingredients
- Organic = products that contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredients
- Made with organic ingredients = products that contain at least 75 per cent organic ingredients
