Looking after your health doesn’t just mean eating right and exercising, but also a growing understanding of the fact that just because modern products are made by humans doesn’t mean that they are safe for humans.
Reading products’ ingredients lists has become commonplace. As you know, the skin is our body’s largest organ, responsible for maintaining our link with the outside world, as well as protecting our body from the effects of the environment. But it is also a conductor and absorbent tissue that can transport substances from the outer surface to both the inner layers and the body itself. This is why more and more consumers have begun to opt for plant-based cosmetics that make minimal use of artificial ingredients.
Discover seven reasons why phytocosmetics is not just a trend, but the best alternative to synthetic skincare products.
Reason 1.
Plant-based ingredients are almost ‘native’ to humans
The effectiveness of cosmetics depends, among other things, on their ability to penetrate deep into the skin, bypassing the stratum corneum, which acts as a skin barrier. There is a large group of substances that increase the permeability of the skin, known as penetration enhancers. These enhancers can be of either natural or artificial origin. A number of studies have confirmed that natural enhancers are more effective compared to their synthetic counterparts.
First and foremost, we’re talking about essential oils – valuable plant extracts with the highest possible concentration of active substances. Thanks to their ‘love’ for fats, essential oils penetrate very deeply into the skin and ‘drag’ the rest of the ingredients behind them. They have also been scientifically proven to be safer for the skin than synthetic enhancers.
Reason 2.
Plant-based ingredients’ harmlessness has been proven
The effectiveness of cosmetics depends, among other things, on their ability to penetrate deep into the skin, bypassing the stratum corneum, which acts as a skin barrier. There is a large group of substances that increase the permeability of the skin, known as penetration enhancers. These enhancers can be of either natural or artificial origin. A number of studies have confirmed that natural enhancers are more effective compared to their synthetic counterparts.
First and foremost, we’re talking about essential oils – valuable plant extracts with the highest possible concentration of active substances. Thanks to their ‘love’ for fats, essential oils penetrate very deeply into the skin and ‘drag’ the rest of the ingredients behind them. They have also been scientifically proven to be safer for the skin than synthetic enhancers.
Reason 3.
Plant-based ingredients – a treasure trove of useful ingredients
The most important reason for using plant-based ingredients is their safety. Thousands of years people have been testing their properties on themselves. Humanity has accumulated enough knowledge about natural ingredients. But the effect of synthetic components on human health has not yet been thoroughly studied.
Firstly, the plants used as raw materials must be grown in ecologically clean conditions, without the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals that leave their traces even at the molecular level.
Secondly, the approach to their use in cosmetics should always be professional. Indeed, despite our ‘relationship’ with nature, some plants can have side effects: they can cause allergies or simply be unsuitable for external use. Phytocosmetics and home beauty remedies passed down through generations should not be confused: the development of high-quality products for skin and hair care should only be dealt with by specialists: dermatologists, cosmetologists, etc.
Reason 4.
Plant-based ingredients – a treasure trove of useful ingredients
Almost as if created by a brilliant scientist, the plant world amazes with an unimaginable amount of ingredients that are useful to humans. As a rule, a single plant extract serves as a source of a wide range of active substances: vitamins, antioxidants, essential and fatty oils, proteins, terpenoids, and other biologically active compounds. In other words, a single plant-based ingredient is capable of replacing several synthetic ingredients due to its multifaceted effect on the skin and hair. Accordingly, plant-based cosmetics have very modest ingredients lists, in contrast to the packed formulas of synthetic care products. This is the scenario in which the principle of ‘less is more’ is perfectly applicable.
Reason 5.
Plant-based ingredients are the elixir of youth
The plant world is the main source of antioxidants – well-known fighters against aging process. With age, the body loses its ability to replenish the reserve of its own antioxidants, but they can be successfully replaced with natural counterparts. Science has not been able to develop artificial antioxidants, the effectiveness of which would match that of natural ones in the fight against aging.
Health and nutrition experts recommend consuming large amounts of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, and skincare experts recognize the anti-aging benefits of topical antioxidants.
It has been scientifically proven that cosmetic products enriched with plant antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stress, preventing aging of skin and hair.
Reason 6.
Plant-based ingredients are natural antibiotics
The plant world has developed a system of self-defense against diseases over millions of years. Absolutely all plants have their own immunity, which is provided by many mechanisms.
This is why the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries are now showing an increasing interest in replacing synthetic antibiotics in topical products with plant-based ones. In addition to their main mission, plant-based antimicrobial ingredients can improve the shelf life of the products that contain them.
Reason 7.
Plant-based ingredients are environmentally friendly in all aspects
There is a growing awareness of the environmental dangers of chemicals. And it’s not just about plastic or exhaust fumes. The synthetic ingredients that make up cosmetics cause irreparable damage to nature. Unlike synthetics, plant-based ingredients break down naturally without harming the environment. The ‘eco-friendly’ trend in cosmetics is only just starting to become more popular, but it already indicates that the future of the cosmetics industry lies with plant-based ingredients. Their advantages are undeniable: in addition to their effectiveness, they are as harmless as possible not only for people but also for the world around us.
Conclusions
The trend for plant-based cosmetics definitely forces us to take a closer look at what we put on our skin, which marks a transformation in human attitudes towards health in general, and skincare in particular. We must recognize that the development of plant-based cosmetics is a complex process that includes scientific aspects. The production of safe products requires in-depth knowledge of dermatology and botanical science. When looking after your skin and hair, is important to choose a high-quality brand, which is guided by the principles of safety, eco-friendliness and scientifically proven effectiveness.
Viorica creates cosmetics that combine the best of both worlds – natural ingredients and pro-grade efficacy.
The mission of our brand is to demonstrate that you can have a skincare product that is not only natural, but highly effective.
We use only the purest vegetal raw materials (without residues of pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilizers) and only those synthetic ingredients that are 100% safe and non-toxic.
What are the most dangerous synthetic ingredients and how do we avoid them?
- Synthetic dyes: these ingredients are not only carcinogenic, but also particularly irritating to the skin.
- Parabens: synthetic chemicals used in beauty products for giving them a longer shelf life. Scientific studies suggest that parabens can disrupt hormones in the body and increase the risk of cancer.
- Triclosan and Triclocarban are commonly used antimicrobial agents found in many soaps and detergents. Also, these ingredients are a source of toxic and carcinogenic compounds. They might be harmful to the immune system.
True natural skin care products contain no artificial ingredients. Choose natural beauty products made in Moldova! You can find them right here.