Botanical Skincare

Botanical, or natural, skincare products are crafted from ingredients found in nature, such as plants and minerals. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, these products are free from harmful chemicals and toxins. Have you ever heard of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)? EDCs are substances that can interfere with hormone functions and are found in everyday items, including:
Cleaning products
Plastics
Non-organic produce
Non-filtered water
Certain cookware

And guess where else?
Skincare and makeup products
Personal care and cosmetic products
Fragrances

Research links EDC exposure to various health risks, including diabetes, obesity, thyroid issues, reproductive disorders, and hormone-sensitive cancers.

So Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals – bad news, right? But what about other chemicals in skincare?

A few common toxic chemicals found in skin care products are:
• Parabens -- Found in a lot of skincare products, parabens are used as preservatives. They do more for the product (extending the product shelf life) than your skin. Parabens can cause issues like hormone disruption and early puberty in girls.
• Synthetic fragrances -- While the FDA requires cosmetic companies to list their ingredients, many fragrance chemicals are protected as “trade secrets” and may appear on the label as simply “perfume” or “aroma.”
Fragrances are often mixed with:
• Aldehydes, which may increase cancer risk in some people.
• Benzophenone derivatives, which are endocrine disruptors.

And the thing is, there are endocrine disrupting chemicals and toxic chemicals everywhere, and there is no way we can eliminate them from our lives completely. But an easy first step is to switch out your chemical-based skincare products for natural/botanical products.

Botanical ingredients come from plants, so they are not hormone disruptors and they don’t contain carcinogens or allergens, making them safer to use.