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November/December 2007 Alternative Health
Put Your Best Face Forward

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, with approximately 300 million skin cells covering 21 square feet.

Skin has several crucial functions: regulating body temperature, excreting waste and providing a barrier against dehydration, infection and the environment. And, of course, skin is what you present to the world.

What You Put On Your Skin Goes In Your Body

Only 11 percent of the 10,500 ingredients the FDA has documented in products have been assessed for safety by the cosmetic industry, according to The Environmental Working Group.

Experts agree that most skincare ingredients are absorbed. After all, if it didn't do something, you wouldn't use it. So why choose products with ingredients that you wouldn't want soaking into your skin?

Natural skincare products can limit your body's exposure to potentially harmful substances while feeding your skin the nutrients it needs to function properly.

How do you define natural?

Many skincare products are now advertised as natural. The truth is, there is no regulated definition for that word on personal care products, and inside the pretty packages you'll often find only trace amounts of plant-based or non-synthetic ingredients. Likewise, hypoallergenic or fragrance-free products are not necessarily free of potentially harmful ingredients.

Make a Clean Break

Read a few soap labels at the drugstore. Heavy mineral oils, harsh preservatives, artificial colors - how can you get your skin clean with ingredients like that? Instead, choose those that cleanse and renew with real ingredients, including the lovely scents of pure essential oils.

Choose skin cleansers, soaps and shower gels that:

  • Contain high levels of plant-based ingredients.
  • Nourish and cleanse without drying or irritating.
  • Prove effective against germs and dirt, gently.

Choose lotions and moisturizers that:

  • Use plant-based oils that penetrate and nourish your skin.
  • Are scented with pure essential oils.
  • Contain botanicals, nutrients and antioxidants to improve skin quality over time.

Put your best face forward by identifying your needs. Remember to re-evaluate as needed. Your skin changes frequently due to hormones, climate, season and stress.

Finding the Right Ingredients

Condition Look For Beneficial Ingredients Results

Oily skin & visible pores

Astringent ingredients to penetrate

skin quickly & accelerate the healing of skin blemishes

Witch hazel, jojoba oil, rosemary

Skin looks refreshed and less oily

Sun damage & signs of aging

Natural antioxidants to help protect & nourish skin cells

Vitamins A, C & E

Help protect skin cells from the drying effects of the sun

Dry, stressed skin

Natural plant oils containing nutrients such as vitamins A & E

Olive, almond, avocado & borage oils

Improvement in moisture retention of the skin

Lack of radiance, uneven tone

Exfoliants with natural source alpha-hydroxy acids that work

to smooth skin

Sugar cane (glycolic), citrus (citric), red grape (tartaric)

Enhanced creation of new skin cells and sloughing off of old

Combination skin

Essential oils & plant extracts that work to target problem areas

Lemon, lavender, jasmine, aloe vera

Balanced, increased hydration

Acne-prone skin

Essential oils that accelerate the healing of skin break-outs

Patchouli, bergamot, tea tree

Reduced incidence of clogged pores & breakouts

Source: Whole Foods Market offers tips and ideas for whole living at www.wholefoods.com.