Natural Vs. Synthetic Ingredients... Why the debate at all?!

 

   This a topic I have had always wanted to cover & discuss on for a very long time. Just didn't have enough time or the creativity to do so, but now I'm given the opportunity to do so.

For Starters:

Water is a Chemical...

Our human bodies are compromised of chemical elements.

Poison Ivy is "natural" doesn't mean it belongs on our faces.

There is no such thing as "chemical-free" skincare. If anyone says there is it's a completely false claim to be made & entirely just untrue.

Now moving forward...

   I personally believe that both botanical & synthetic work phenomenal in unision. Together they can be a powerhouse in an ingredient list and nothing wrong with those either. I feel there's so much fearmongering when it comes to synthetic ingredients when in actuality there are studies that have proven to show that they have less adverse reactions & sensitivity as opposed to natural ingredients. Not to say, it can't happen either however the chances are a bit slimmer. Ironically enough, synthetic ingredients are derived from natural ingredients and then processed/formulated to change the molecular structure within a lab, therefore being "man-made". Also, preservatives are not as harmful in our skincare as the media likes to suggest, they help to keep & maintain the shelf-life of our favorite products. To remain longer & fresher from opening products packaged in jars, temperature changes depending where it's stored and other environmental factors as well.

   Unfortunately, within the United States the Food & Drug Administration Laws are not regulated when it comes to skincare, plenty of outrageous claims can be made as well as stating products or a line being "all-natural" whether being it's true or false. The laws aren't as stringent as opposed to the laws in Europe, where certain ingredients are banned from usage even, just as an example given. Synthetic ingredients such as Retinol, Vitamin C, Peptides, Growth Factors, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, and even Sunscreen are main staples in plenty of consumers' routines. There are also plenty of botanical ingredients that are truly efficacious when mixed in with a cocktail of other effective ingredients.

   The cosmetic chemistry 🧪 is one thing that's always fascinated me about skincare & still strongly does to this very day, the developing and actual formulating of the products is what thrives me more into my passion for the skincare industry. There's a lot more science than many realize to the hottest makeup releases or their favorite & new skincare products. It's certainly something I'm wanting to learn more about in the future within in terms of skincare formulations and becoming more knowledgeable on how cosmetic chemistry works & how. I've always been more interested in the science-y parts of it. 🤓

   Certain natural ingredients can cause increased sensitivity and adverse reaction to the skin. If there are certain ingredients you're looking for that you're trying to avoid and not have applied to your face/neck, please as I always stress to others to READ THE INGREDIENTS LIST. It's a very helpful way in knowing what to look for and if you're unsure of how a certain ingredient translates into its "technical term", that can be as easy as a quick online search and to be able find a further description of it also and its overall benefits relating to skin.

   If I were to have my own line of products, it would certain both a mix of botanical & synthetic. I think a cocktail of both with a cosmetically elegant feel within the formula would I believe be a home run. Making sure your natural & synthetic components be efficacious is what's the real answer to one's skin and is the way to become a repeat consumer of that product. The skin is a very complex organ of our system. Products/ingredients all work differently on one's skin, it's as unique as one's own DNA 🧬, and as mentioned in previous posts can be trial & error. Find something that's best-suited for you and for your skin and giving it enough time for the product to work without switching out too quickly. You're skin's cell turnover rate is a 28 day cycle and can take about 6-8 weeks to see some results (for some more faster than others). 

P.S. Even natural/botanical extracts go through some type of chemical processing when being produced into a formula.

Yours truly always,

Mr. Skin Care Guru