Pascal Ranger
We take great care of our health by eating right, sleeping well, and exercising. But sometimes this care doesn’t extend to some of our everyday products. Here’s why we should pay more attention to the personal care products we use daily.
We take great care of our health: we eat whole organic foods, we try to get a full night’s sleep each night, and we sometimes even go to yoga class. But every day, women apply an average of 168 unique ingredients on their bodies through the use of personal care products.
Like food, the products we apply on our skin eventually enter our bodies. Often these products contain significant amounts of synthetic, manmade chemicals. Used daily, over a long period, this exposure to synthetic chemicals could significantly affect our health.
Several research studies have identified personal care product ingredients that made their way into the body, including hormone-altering chemicals. These chemicals, found in some conventional personal care products, can affect the endocrine system and provoke other types of imbalances.
Though some of these chemicals have been prohibited or restricted, there remains a long list of chemicals found in personal care products that are either permitted by regulatory authorities or not required to be disclosed (as in fragrance chemicals).
What is a person to do? There’s no need to expose ourselves to the often harsh, toxic chemicals found in products that line traditional retail store shelves. Exposure to synthetic chemicals can be reduced by opting for natural personal care products, offered at natural health stores.
So why are more Canadians not using natural personal care products? Part of the answer may be found in some prevailing myths.
Myth #1: Natural skin care is too expensive.
Just as in conventional products, there’s a wide range of prices in natural skin care, from the affordable to the prestige priced. Some natural ingredients may be a little more expensive than conventional ones, but manufacturers provide many options in natural personal care products that are affordable and of good value.
Myth #2: It doesn’t work.
Several natural skin care products now use active ingredients that are proven in lab and clinical studies to be highly effective. These ingredients can improve skin texture, tone, and overall complexion and also reduce wrinkles, but all over time. Using the power of nature, these natural ingredients join forces with the skin for a natural process of health instead of short-term chemical boosts to appearance.
With a basic natural personal care routine, visible changes can be noticed after a few weeks—real, sustainable changes—while also safeguarding wellness.
Michelle von Hahn
Alexa Everett
Laura Bolt
Gail Johnson