Three Natural Beauty Myths

Natural beauty has exploded in popularity in recent years and it continues to grow as consumers become more aware of the ingredients in their lotions and potions.

If you are a natural beauty fan you will no doubt have seen and heard many claims about what a natural beauty regime can do for you and your skin.

There are three myths that we need to be wary of because they can be misleading.

Myth Number One

The first myth and probably the most widespread is that natural beauty products are free from chemicals. Are you going chemical free is a frequently asked question on emails that land in my inbox? Going chemical free is mission impossible. The most important chemical substance that sustains life on earth is water. Water is made up from two chemical elements which are hydrogen and oxygen hence the chemical formula H20. Furthermore, we create some basic chemical reactions going about our daily lives without even realising. Washing our hands with soap is a great example of everyday chemistry.

Myth Number Two

Myth number two is that natural ingredients are safe. Just because something is natural or naturally derived doesn’t mean it’s automatically safe. There are plenty of dangerous poisonous plants in the world. For example, take the innocent almond nut which I love to include in my diet. Almonds contain cyanide. Sounds like it could be a plot for a murder mystery. But there are two types of almonds. Sweet almonds are safe to eat. Bitter almonds aren't. Bitter almonds contain 50 times more cyanide per kilogram than sweet almonds. A snack pack of bitter almonds could be deadly.

Myth Number Three

And finally, many people think that natural ingredients are suitable for sensitive skin. The main offender that may aggravate sensitive skin is fragrance. Natural beauty products with a nice scent may include the natural alternative to synthetic fragrances which are essential oils. However, just because they are natural doesn’t necessarily mean that they are suitable for sensitive skin as they can still contain allergens. And according to a recent European study over 50% of us class our skin as being sensitive. The list of potential skin irritants is a long one and what might cause a reaction for one person will have no effect on another. This can be frustrating, and it is often difficult to pinpoint the source of an allergic reaction.