Natural Face Cleansers
Author: Shannon Miller Lifestyle
Are you careful of what you put on your skin?
As women, we are concerned with skin care products because they help us to put our best face forward. Whether you were blessed with perfect skin or you have something you would like to improve, like acne or dry skin, or you just want to do your best to prevent wrinkles and sun damage, we all need something to keep our skin clean every day.
Next time you are in the shower, check out the ingredients in your face wash or shower gel and it may surprise you how many of the ingredients you may not recognize or have any clue what they are. And while some ingredients may be good for your skin, others can be harsh and cause more harm than good. We’ve taken a look for you at some ingredients to avoid, some that can be great for facial cleansers, and how you can even make your own face wash at a very minimal cost.
Some ingredients to avoid:
- Sulfates: It has been clinically proven that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is one of the most irritating cleansing agents in skin care.
- Fragrance: Synthetic fragrances can be drying and irritating to your skin. Opt for fruit and plant extracts or essential oils instead.
- Petroleum derived ingredients: A by-product of gasoline distillation, petroleum is often used because it is inexpensive, has no odor and never spoils. It may be good at keeping in moisture, however, it traps dirt and bacteria, and blocks pores, which ultimately accelerates aging.
- Parabens: Also derived from petroleum products, parabens are estrogen mimicking preservatives and have been proven to disrupt how your endocrine system functions, they have also been linked to breast cancer.
- Triclosan: An antibacterial agent found in many liquid soaps, the EPA has classified as a possible carcinogen, and it has been suspected as contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Great ingredients for facial cleansers are:
- Honey: As a natural antiseptic, honey can used by itself as a facial cleanser or you can add other ingredients to it based on the needs of your skin.
- Milk/Yogurt: Another great natural cleanser that can be used alone or along with other ingredients.
- Oats: Ground up and mixed with a liquid can serve as a gentle exfoliator.
- Oils: (like coconut, olive, almond, jojoba etc.) Can help keep the balance of oils in your skin without stripping your skin of any necessary oils.
- Citrus: Great for oily skin, add to your cleanser for a little extra oil control.
- Salt or sugar: Is a great added exfoliator when you have a buildup of dead skin.
See our Pinterest to find some great recipes for natural face cleansers.
For more information on what’s really in your skin cleansers and what side effects are, visit The Environmental Working Group, Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database.