Top 5 Eco Friendly Skin Care Tips

When you consider how absorbent our skin is, it’s hard to believe the old adage that beauty is only skin deep. Pick up your favorite product and look at the ingredient list. Chances are you can’t pronounce most of what’s listed and certainly don’t know what they are so are you sure you want to put that on your skin? In small doses, all chemicals found in beauty products are non-toxic but when you consider how much lotion you use every year, it’s hard to be sure those chemicals are still safe. Stop worrying and follow these 5 tips for healthier and eco-friendly skin care methods.

1. Healthy Skin Starts from Within
   Before putting any creams, concealer, moisturizers, or potions on your skin, consider what you’re eating and how that contributes to your skin problems. Drink plenty of water to keep flushing toxins out so they don’t end up in your skin. Eat a diet with lots of fruits and protein-packed vegetables. The healthy fats, like the omega-3 or flaxseed oil, help your skin retain the right amount of water and will keep your skin glowing. Exercising should also be a part of your daily skin regimen as it keeps blood circulating and will help flush extra toxins in your sweat. Nothing will slow the aging process like a healthy diet.
2. Choose Organic Products
   Organic products are made with ingredients that were grown and produced without dangerous fertilizers and pesticides. Even those products that claim to be “all natural” can contain all kinds of toxins because there are no regulations from the FDA when it comes to labeling products with words like “all natural” and “natural.” So when shopping for your grooming products, the safest bet is organic products.
3. Keep It Simple
   Once you have found your favorite organic products, leave your skincare regimen to the basics: a cleanser, a moisturizer, a toner, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Any additional products are superfluous as many of them contain the exact same ingredients as your basics. Plus, if you’re eating healthy and exercising, your body will be doing the job way better than any eye cream, anti-aging serum or facemask can.
4. Pay Attention to Packaging
   The way your creams are packaged matters as certain materials can leach dangerous chemicals into your products. As most products are contained in plastic, pay attention to which kind of plastic is used for your products. The most common and safe types are the ones with recycling codes #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) and #2 (high-density polyethylene). These plastics are also the most widely accepted by recycling companies. Glass is the safest bet since glass has no danger of leaching any chemicals and is fully recyclable.
5. Avoid Fragrances
   Thanks to a loophole in the law, the FDA doesn’t require companies to divulge exactly what chemicals are used to produce their artificial fragrances and parfums. These fake fragrances can cause allergies and other reactions. The easiest way to avoid any hidden toxic chemicals is to stick with fragrance-free products. And if you just can’t stand the thought of using lotion with no scent, add your own using your favorite essential oils.

There are so many options for eco-friendly skin care, from organic lotions to skin tag removal, there’s no reason to put your body at further risk using anything else. Follow these tips and your skin, and the environment, will thank you!