In this day and age I believe most, if not ALL of us, are actively trying to minimise and reduce the amount of toxins in our life – be it in our food, water, air (and even social circle!).
One area that most people tend to overlook is that toxins can be absorbed into our body through our largest organ – the SKIN!
As such, it is of utmost importance to make the right decision on what soaps, shampoo and lotions you use.
The Dark Side of Chemical Products
Just look at the loooooooong list of ingredients in your favourite bottle of shampoo or soap. It probably contains a lot of questionable chemicals, artificial dyes and fragrances.
Remember that fancy overpriced triple-milled soap you got for Christmas? After a few days in the soap dish, was it turning flaky and looking dried out? If it’s going to do that all by itself, it could very well do the same thing to your skin.
Dangerously, I used to think that antibacterial soap was good for me. Hey, it kills off the bacteria right? But truth is, it is SO strong that it kills off everything — even the “good” bacteria that live naturally on our skin! This leads to over-stripping and leaves our skin overly dry, thereby resulting in cracked skin that’s vulnerable to bacteria and germs.
Some soaps and shampoos/conditioners are labeled as “moisturising”. No doubt, they DO make your skin and hair feel and look moisturised, but what’s really happening is that a myriad of synthetic products are used to artificially coat the skin and hair with plastic or protein polymers.
They do nothing in terms of actually healing or restoring your damaged, porous hair.
What’s scarier is that the more damaged the hair, the more porous it becomes; the more porous the hair, the more it absorbs these synthetic “protein” polymers. This could also be why your hair feels “greasy” very quickly.
Why You Should Try Natural Products
Many people with sensitive skin do not respond well to chemical soaps/shampoos. By using natural products, you might be able to avoid, or at least reduce, the skin problems that are caused by irritating chemical ingredients.
Even if you do not have sensitive skin and do not suffer from any breakouts, the chemicals used in commercial soap will most likely dry-out your skin, since chemical soaps usually do not contain glycerin (a moisturising agent). Unfortunately, many people wait till itchy, dry skin is a problem before making the switch to natural soap. Regretfully, I’m guilty of this as well!
Natural products use natural essential oils and botanicals for fragrance, which are also beneficial to the skin. They’re generally heavier because of the real fats in it that keep your skin happy. Natural soaps & shampoos and their bubbles generally feel silkier in texture, compared to their chemical counterparts.
Making The Switch To Natural Products
Patience is the key when making the switch from chemical products to natural products.
There is often a “detox” period where your skin/hair may feel “unclean”, sticky or dry. This could be because the residues of the petrochemicals and plastic polymers are still coating your skin/hair and your body will need some time to heal from the chemicals. During this transition period, you may feel your appearance a little less than ideal but if you hang in there, the end result is worth the wait!
You will be able to tell the difference once new hair grows to replace the damaged hair when changing from chemical to natural hair care products. For natural soaps, you will most definitely be able to notice the positive difference after a few baths when the natural oils penetrate your skin keeping it moisturised even without applying body lotions.
So, if you are considering to make the change today for you and your family, try out some lovely handmade natural soaps and haircare products without breaking the bank. I myself have made the change to these products as they are so effective and long lasting but the best part is, I feel I am doing my little part in preserving Mother Earth too! 🙂
Other Interesting Posts!: 9 Things You’re Probably Doing Wrong When You Wash Your Face