5 Tips for Properly Sourcing Skin Care Products

You may be very particular about the types of food and drinks you put in your body. But, are you as fastidious when it comes to deciding which products you'll put on your skin? Your skin is your body's largest organ, and a lot of what you put on it gets absorbed and ends up in your body over time! In addition to affecting you personally, many products also contain ingredients that are harmful to the planet. To make matters worse, these skin care products are largely unregulated. Because of this, it's hard to know if you're getting a quality product just by reading the label. If you're feeling confused and frustrated trying to identify the best products, keep reading. Listed below are seven tips that make it easy for you to properly source products and find the ones that are best for you.

1. Look for a Short Ingredients List

When you're buying packaged foods, a good rule of thumb is to look for the product that has the shortest ingredients list. The same goes for your skin care. Avoid products that have a mile-long list of ingredients that don't even appear to be written in English. Instead, look for a short ingredients list that primarily contains ingredients you can actually pronounce.

2. Don't Fall for Unregulated Claims

There are tons of claims displayed on the labels of various skin products that have very little backing. Some of the most common claims that you need to be wary of include:

• "Natural"
• "Hypoallergenic"
• "Dermatologically tested"
• "For sensitive skin"

Even the term "organic" is questionable. Some countries do not regulate the use of this term, and there are usually loopholes that allow companies with inorganic products to market them as such. Bottom line? Don't go by labels alone. Learn to read the ingredients list and avoid products that contain any questionable materials.

3. Avoid Parabens and Other Preservatives

It's also important to avoid products that contain parabens and other preservatives. While these substances are great for extending a product's shelf-life, they're not doing your body any favors. Some of the most questionable preservatives that beauty companies use on a regular basis include:

• Parabens like methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, and ethylparaben -- these have been linked to breast and skin tumors and are possible endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic hormones in the body

When you check the label of a product you're considering buying, make sure it doesn't contain any of these sketchy substances.

4. Avoid Artificial Fragrances

If you flip over just about any skin care product, you'll see the word "fragrance" included on the ingredients list. The problem here is that the term "fragrance" is incredibly vague and masks a variety of questionable ingredients. Many synthetic fragrances (which is what's used in most products) are derived from questionable sources like petroleum and coal tar. Even products that include essential oils can be questionable if the company isn't using a pure, properly sourced oil (many companies use blends). It's hard to tell which fragrances are natural and which are not since companies legally do not have to list what goes into them (they're considered "trade secrets"). Your best bet, in most cases, is to simply avoid products that contain any kind of fragrance.

5. Research the Company's Values

Finally, do some research on the company behind the skin care products. What is its philosophy? What does it value? Is the business dedicated to safer skin care? Have they signed any pledges or do they belong to any groups dedicated to safe manufacturing practices and removing harmful chemicals? Most business will make this information known on the front page of their website. If you have to do a lot of digging and can't find anything that suggests this is a reputable company run by people with integrity, then you may want to consider taking your hard-earned money elsewhere.

Are You Ready to Shop for Quality Skin Care Products?

With all this new information in your arsenal, are you ready to make the switch and invest in quality skin care products that are good for you and the planet? If so, you'll definitely want to check out our online store. We offer plant-based products for all skin types, and everything we sell is responsibly sourced and perfectly safe, with no parabens, sulfates, or other questionable chemicals added. Give us a try today!