The choice of skincare and cosmetics we use every day is significant because it impacts our health and the environment, so it is good that the products we choose are the best natural skincare UK.
What are natural skincare brands?
If the cream or lotion is made up of ingredients of chemical origin, perhaps even petroleum derivatives, these can suffocate our skin or be absorbed and create endocrine imbalances. Remember, the substances you use in your body end up in your bloodstream and throughout the rest. It is essential to choose each product carefully and stick to natural skincare brands!
We at Apothecary & Me want to tell you about some of the most discussed and, unfortunately, common chemicals you can find in skincare products, creams, oils, and serums that you should avoid.
Chemical ingredients to avoid:
The most common are petrolatum, silicones, phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde releasers. They are added to products because they improve their yield and have the function of preservatives. However, you will soon realize that these are only apparent benefits.
In addition, some of them, such as parabens, are also found naturally in fruits and vegetables. If they exist in nature, they are suitable for us too.
The difference is that those blended into cosmetics are quickly produced in labs and hence are added in large quantities to products. This excess has consequences, especially negative ones.
So here is the list of all the substances you should avoid:
Petrolates:
The name already says it all. They are hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. Their operation is based on creating an oily layer on the skin’s surface, making it appear smoother and more hydrated because it prevents water from leaking. However, this is only a temporary and fake effect. Petrolatum prevents the skin from breathing and promotes bacterial proliferation between it and the oily barrier. They don’t help, but they accentuate and favor the onset of imperfections, such as inflammation.
You find petrolatum commonly referred to by the following names:
- Paraffin
- Microcrystalline wax
- Vaseline
- mineral oil
- Petrolatum
Unfortunately, they are present in cosmetics, such as creams, shampoos, shower gels, toothpaste, and sunscreens, even for children.
Silicones:
Silicones are polymers derived from silica, one of the most present minerals in nature. Their operating principle is similar to that of petrolatum. they create an oily barrier over the skin and hair, which gives a false sensation of hydration and softness but instead prevents breathing and oxygenation. This translates into an increase in skin imperfections and hair weighing down, which is covered by this invisible patina, wash after wash.
Furthermore, the hair, being suffocated, tends to secrete more grease and therefore get dirty faster, leading you to wash it more often and making the situation worse.
They are not directly absorbed by our skin, as they remain on the external surface, but they are not very biodegradable. Therefore they also have a certain environmental impact. The most common names for silicones are:
- Dimethicone
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Cyclomethicone
- Polyquaternium-80
Phthalates:
Phthalates are molecules derived from petroleum, used to give elasticity and flexibility to plastic materials. They are used in fragrances, which is why they are found both in bulk perfumes and in those used in creams, lip balms, etc. Their effects on health are very harmful, as they interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system, creating various types of disorders, such as type 2 diabetes. Their environmental impact is also high, as the phthalate molecules are not biodegradable. Therefore, they persist and accumulate. Hence why not choose the best natural skincare in the UK?
Parabens:
Parabens are substances used as preservatives in cosmetics and medicines to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. They can be of chemical synthesis but are also present, in small quantities, in nature in vegetables and fruit, such as blueberries. However, when they are added in large doses to cosmetics, they harm our bodies.
It is now known that they are endocrine disruptors, i.e., capable of damaging our body’s hormonal balance. Specifically, they can interfere with the glands that produce estrogen, with carcinogenic effects.
Here are all the names of the various types of parabens, so you can recognize them (and avoid them):
- Propylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Calcium paraben
- Sodium paraben
- Potassium paraben
Alternatively, instead of the above names, you can find an “E” followed by a number between 214 and 219 (E216, E219, etc.).
Formaldehyde Releasers:
Formaldehyde is an aldehyde, i.e., dehydrogenated alcohol, and has been used for many years, having a bactericidal function. However, it has been found that it has carcinogenic effects on our bodies, so it has been banned in its pure form. By law, residual formaldehyde must not exceed 0.2%.
You can recognize pure formaldehyde because one of these names is indicated in the INCI:
- Formalin,
- Formaldehyde,
- Methyl Aldehyde,
- Formol
While the formaldehyde releasers are:
- Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate (Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate)
- 2-Bromo-2-Nitropoane-1,3-Diol (Bronopol)
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Quaternium-15
- Benzylhemiformal
- Methenamine
Why Apothecary & Me is the best natural skincare in the UK?
Here is why Apothecary & Me is the best natural skincare brand.
Now that you understand the importance of choosing natural skincare brands, here is Apothecary & Me – the best natural skincare in the UK, with particular attention to that skincare, which is entirely natural, vegetable, organic, and free of any harmful chemicals.
This is the company for you if you are looking for a line of skincare products of the highest quality, natural, vegetable, organic, and cruelty-free.
It is also complete and suitable for all needs, as it has specific formulations based on skin type or other particular needs (anti-aging, acne, blemishes, etc.). Skincare includes products for cleansing, hydration, scrubs, serums, and sun protection for the face and body.
