Clean Skin Care?

Came across this NPR article on “Clean” skin care products.
Thought I’d share…

Clean Skin Care

Good article. It still is and always has been "buyer beware" - this article just reminds us that not surprisingly when there is big money (or any money) at stake the truth often gets blurred.  No doubt "natural" and "pure" and similar words don't guarantee safety.  Some of the most toxic substances on earth are both n natural and pure.  Furthermore, "synthetic" doesn't necessarily mean bad.  If a substance is produced in a lab with the identical chemical structure as a naturally occurring substance then how is it any different?  It certainly will be cheaper (otherwise why synthesize it) and it could be more environmentally sound in that naturally occurring sources needn't be exploited (over-exploited?).

I also love the labeling game - listing things that the product is free from, which it never had in the first place.  Like gluten free potato chips.  Potatoes have never contained gluten as far as I know but when a label proclaims that their chips are gluten free they are implying that their competitors chips contain gluten despite the fact that no potato chips contain gluten.  Sneaky.

Even when skin care product makers list all of their ingredients, unless they tell us why that ingredient is needed or is good for us it still doesn't help us.  Most of us don't have the knowledge base to be able to critically assess the ingredients suitability in our skin care so I guess we go by trial and error and stick with things that seem to help and avoid things which don't.  Every skincare product I've seen tells you to do a patch test for irritation and discontinue using anything that causes problems.  Thats practical advice and covers their backsides.

...Even when skin care product makers list all of their ingredients, unless they tell us why that ingredient is needed or is good for us it still doesn't help us.  Most of us don't have the knowledge base to be able to critically assess the ingredients suitability in our skin care...

You can Google every ingredient listed and always find a reason why it is included, albeit take manuf. ad claims with a grain of salt. The problem is that many people are suckered in by higher prices and audacious "snake oil" claims. Read reviews as well, but be wary there as well as there are shills as well as those from another co. who will "torpedo" their competitors via fake reviews.

Recently, I am using up the last of my skin toner that has witch hazel in it as a dermatologist I trust on Youtube says it really does little, if anything, beneficial and that it is possible to develop an allergy. I am using a toner now w/o it and notice no difference, i.e., it works just as well.

Nowadays, the internet is full of articles about skincare routines and products; still, people should be cautious about what advice they follow. Especially now, with all this pandemic and people being more addicted to the internet, scams and fake info, indeed do their job. For example, the only store I trust now is - bb glow. They are the official distributor of the two most prominent Korean brands, and they sell only high-quality products. Plus, they offer an online training course video, which might be very helpful for girls in this domain. Anyway, it's fantastic.

So so true. There isno official definition of what can be considered a clean, natural, or pureproduct. Brands are using this in their favor and basically put the “eco” label oneverything. That’s why it’s so important to check the ingredients before buyingany skincare product. Please, remember, not all synthetic components arebad. I usually want collagen, SPF, and moisturizer to be included in my creamas well as some natural elements. Vitamins and Polysaccharide Pure Hyaluronic Acid Powder are some of the essentials. Hyaluronic acid helps skin to look healthierand reduces the number of wrinkles.

better

Its all marketing hype.  Everything is chemicals and the demonization of synthetic products over so called "natural" products is again just hype to frighten people into buying more expensive "natural" products.  For example a molecule of glycolic acid derived from natural sources is identical to a molecule synthesized from petroleum based sources.  No difference on a molecular basis (ie, the various elements making up the molecule) and no difference in application in a cosmetic.  There aren't traces of crude oil lingering in glycolic acid synthesized from petroleum base ingredients no matter what the green/clean cosmetic industry might claim.  To say your against chemicals is like saying you're against existence.  BTW, crude oil is organic.

Everything that is consumed by man is huge business looking for suckers ...

"Pure and Natural" - like radon gas, botulism, cobra venom, polar bear liver, and Giant Hogweed sap.

Also, a landscaping business near me offers "clean topsoil" by the cubic yard.
What's left then?