When it comes to what you put on your skin, you're cautious—reading every ingredient, making sure that it won't irritate your skin - hoping that a $20 jar of 4 oz cream won't do more harm than good. Today, people are looking for the best quality in their beauty products, absent of synthetic chemicals.  They want products that work and do not ruin what they are trying to help, so natural beauty products are often a better option.

1. They're eco-friendly.

Synthetic chemicals, the same ones in typical beauty products, can harm animals & plants. Eventually, if it seeps into the ground, it can bring distressing consequences on the surrounding ecosystems. Usually, the process of manufacturing traditional beauty products puts heavy amounts of stress on the environment. To get the ingredients (aluminum, lead, etc.) requires a hefty mining amount, which causes a negative carbon footprint on the environment. With natural products, there is no harm to surrounding plants and animals. It is safer for the earth and for everyone that lives on it!

2. No Animal Testing

Many skincare products test on animals to better their products—even big-name corporations. Natural skincare producers forego animal testing and promote a more ethical and empathetic way to conduct business. If you aren't comfortable with animal testing, then natural products are the best way to go.

3. They're safer* for most skin types

Usually, when you buy your beauty and skincare products, you check the ingredients list, not just for the benefits but for what else is inside that could harm your skin. No one wants to buy a $30 bottle of beauty cream, only to go home and get a rash because you're sensitive to one of the synthetic ingredients. Certain ingredients can cause swelling, redness, itchiness, and even an allergic reaction. Look out for parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, synthetic dyes, and triclosan. Natural beauty products eliminate the risk of a reaction by not including known irritants. It is universal and lowers the time wasted scouring stores and the internet for the perfect product. *Keep in mind that our skin is different and can have different sensitivities, even to natural ingredients.

4. More beneficial nutrients, especially Shea & Cocoa butter

With synthetic products, you have lab-made ingredients. By putting these chemicals on your body, you are potentially doing detrimental damage to it. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the most exposed. Making sure that it is fed as healthy as you feed your inner organs is especially important. Natural products are filled with familiar ingredients that you may have heard of before, such as jojoba oil, argan oil, lemon juice, coconut oil, and many more. I use two main ingredients in my products, which are so beneficial to your skin:

Shea Butter

Shea butter is an ingredient with which many of you are familiar. It has a smooth texture, a softer butter that is easy to spread around. Also, it contains significant vitamins E and A that can help retain moisture and repair damage to the skin. As well as:

• Boosting collagen production in the skin
• Reducing collagen loss
• Reducing skin redness from sunburn

The best attribute about shea butter is that you can use it for your hair, skin, and scalp! Because it is easily absorbed, it makes a great hair cream for those of you with dry, brittle hair.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is high in various saturated fats, mainly:

• Oleic acid
• Palmitic acid
• Stearic acid

The fats help provide moisture and retain it, benefiting you in smooth and hydrated skin. It replenishes the skin's barrier as well, seeing that it needs lipids to stay strong and healthy. Cocoa butter also contains an ingredient called cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP), which helps protect the skin from premature damage and aging. Now, that sounds like a great plus to your skincare routine! Overall, it helps promote the health of your skin.

5. No Artificial Fragrances

Many natural and organic products have a highly detectable scent to them. Hey, they're made from real ingredients and real plants, after all. For example, as we all know, cocoa butter has that chocolatey scent to it, while shea butter has a nutty, mild aroma to which you can add essential oils if you want. Check your product labels: you'll know if it has a natural scent if it reads "natural fragrance" or "fragrance-free." Artificial fragrances have more chemicals added to the product, lessening the benefit it's supposed to provide. If you're prone to breakouts, it is best to test the product on your skin first. Yes, the product may be natural, but everyone's skin is different, and maybe you need no added scent altogether.

BONUS: Your skin will get better (with time)

Having your body absorbing the natural ingredients and the vitamins that it needs will help your skin in the long run. You will notice that your skin will be softer within 2-3 weeks, more than likely due to the products' absence of sulfates. Synthetic products contain sulfates and drying agents that will cause your skin to be more drying. Hence why they always have you buying 80+ more products to fix the problem their product caused in the first place.

Just like any other skincare product, it will take time for you to see results. But in the end, it will be worth it. Yes, with natural products, your expenditures may be a bit more, but your 8-product skincare routine could dwindle to just three products in the long run. Sometimes the best thing for your skin is to go clean. Get rid of the expensive creams and serums.  Your skin will thank you.

Going natural is a lot easier than it looks. Click the "SHOP" button and purchase a product that is beneficial to you.

Camille