THE SKINNY ON ORGANIC SKINCARE

Photo courtesy of Zalora.com.ph

It all started with an allergy.

My journey to healthy skincare was, thank God, prompted by an allergic reaction to a popular deodorant brand. My underarm became itchy red, and this allergy soon spread to my arms and décolleté.  The unsightly reddish spots on my skin made me squirm every time I would look into the mirror. After a month-long treatment, my skin became very sensitive to commercial skincare brands that I grew wary of anything on my shelf. As luck would have it, I came across an online store that sold various natural and organic products that promised paraben and sulfate-free skincare. I tried one after another, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

When What’s Popular Isn’t Healthy

Each commercial brand being launched to the market could sell like hotcakes, depending on the results it promises. Those anti-aging and whitening creams boast of a one-week process, while others stay on the safe side by simply guaranteeing good results “with regular use.” But whether it is a quick remedy to one’s skin problems or a lifelong skincare partner, the detrimental effects of harsh chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products have to be known to unsuspecting consumers. Oddly enough, those brands that we deem to be very effective are the very ones that contain chemical ingredients such as parabens, dimethicone, EDTA, PEGs, and triclosan. Local patrons continue filling their shopping baskets with these goods without knowing how dangerous they are to their health. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer and ailments in the respiratory and reproductive systems.

Unfortunately, consumers have easy access to these unhealthy products. Worse, there is no law that prohibits the use of these chemicals as preservatives or emulsifying agents. The best thing that we can do is to be smart shoppers and inspect ingredients carefully. Anything that sounds weird or technical gets a warning flag. On the other hand, a product that contains essential and natural oils such as that of avocado, emu, sunflower, and rice bran are good for the skin.

Brands that Choose Wellness over Wealth

Because I had no choice but to throw away my skincare products and cosmetics, I searched the Internet for various companies living the green way. Fortunately, there have been quite a number of green entrepreneurs in the Philippines that offer safe products while supporting the local community at the same time. In the process, our farmers benefit from every organic product bought.

Some of the brands which I consider as heaven-sent are Human Heart Nature, Z.E.N. Nutrients, By Nature Handmade Soaps, Venus & Mars Naturals, Milea, Leyende, and Skin Hour. Their beginnings very much reflect the reason why I switched to organic skincare and makeup. Human Heart Nature’s Camille Meloto, for one, realized the dangers of using chemically processed cosmetics. Thus, she and her sister Anna Meloto-Wilk decided to come up with Human Heart Nature, with Gawad Kalinga as its partner in providing sustainable living to Filipinos nationwide. Another local brand, Z.E.N. Nutrients, helps women put their skills to work by making sure each product is handcrafted and chemical-free.

Neva Talladen, the brains behind organic skin care brand Leyende, likewise suffered from a sudden attack of skin allergy. This pushed her to create her own personal care products that would not produce any adverse reaction on her skin. The result was an array of healthy skin care products gracing the shelves of department stores and online skincare establishments. Sesou Nature Source and ECHO store are just two of the stores that offer healthy choices for people. The good news is that organic skincare is now more accessible because it is homegrown.

The Future of Organic Skincare

With organic and natural products invading shops these days, the future of healthy skincare and cosmetic products is not hard to predict. For sure, other local brands will join the roster of these skin heroes, the more the merrier – or healthier – indeed. We may not be able to prevent the production of toxic products, but we can help educate our fellow consumers. While the number of people adopting the green lifestyle is far from reaching millions, it is interesting to note that more and more Filipinos are venturing into the business, not to merely jump on the bandwagon but to promote eco-chic and sustainable living. As for me, I seriously root for locally-produced organic products, and they have been doing wonders for my skin ever since I tried them. Beauty may be skin-deep but it will not hurt to channel one’s inner goddess with the best nature offers.