The Beauty Aisle Cleanup: Rethinking Your Self-Care Choices
When it comes to personal care products, not everything that claims to be “natural” or “organic” is truly healthy for you. With the growing awareness of the potential harms lurking in many beauty products, it’s crucial to make informed decisions about the ingredients we put on our bodies.
Buyer Beware: Know What’s in Your Products
Words like “natural” or “organic” can often be misleading. While they sound appealing, they don’t necessarily mean that a product is safe or healthy. Many personal care products, for instance, contain harsh chemicals like sodium laureth sulfate, which can irritate the skin, or phthalates and parabens, which act as hormone disruptors and can interfere with natural processes in the body, including reproduction and metabolism.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is one resource that can help you understand the ingredients in your personal care products, but it’s essential to remember that they don’t assess every ingredient, and companies can change their formulations without notice. To ensure that you’re choosing products that align with your health goals, it’s best to educate yourself. Familiarize yourself with harmful ingredients and make a habit of reading labels before purchasing any beauty product.
An important thing to remember when looking at ingredient labels is that ingredients are listed in descending order, starting with the most abundant. So, if a product boasts a particular nutrient but that ingredient appears at the bottom of the list, it’s likely that the product contains very little of it. A complicated ingredient list often signals a higher likelihood of undesirable chemicals.
Feed Your Skin From the Inside Out
A key element of healthy skin and hair is proper nutrition. The more you nourish your body from within, the fewer products you need to look your best. Healthy, glowing skin starts with strong foundational health, and a balanced diet is crucial for this. Collagen, a protein that plays a significant role in skin elasticity and moisture, naturally declines as we age. This is especially true for women at menopause, with collagen production dropping by up to 30%.
To help promote collagen production, it’s essential to provide your body with the necessary building blocks, particularly the nine essential amino acids. While animal foods provide complete collagen proteins, you can also support your body’s collagen creation with plant-based sources such as berries, citrus fruits, leafy greens, spirulina, and nuts.
Healthy fats, particularly omega-3s and omega-6s, are another important component for skin health. These essential fatty acids support the skin’s barrier function and help maintain its overall appearance. Fatty fish like salmon, herring, and sardines are excellent sources of omega-3s, while plant-based options include walnuts, flaxseeds, and algae.
In addition, antioxidants play a vital role in protecting your skin from damage. Vitamins like E and C not only help protect the skin from free radicals but also support collagen production. A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables will provide the necessary nutrients to keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful.
Detox Your Beauty Routine with Local Ingredients
While many of us love tropical oils and exotic beauty ingredients, these products often come with a hefty carbon footprint. The globalized beauty industry has made it easy to fall in love with products from far-flung places, but sourcing beauty care ingredients closer to home can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Luckily, Canada offers a wealth of indigenous beauty ingredients that are both effective and sustainable.
Camelina Sativa: A Beauty Powerhouse
Camelina sativa, commonly known as false flax, is a flowering shrub native to Canada and known for its rich nutrient profile. The seed oil of camelina contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, plant sterols, and vitamin E, making it ideal for skin care. Its high tocopherol content can help reduce the need for chemical preservatives, making it a more natural option for beauty formulations.
Camelina oil is perfect for massage and skin hydration, offering nourishment without heavy chemicals. However, since it may clog pores for some people, it’s better suited for use in products like soaps rather than leave-on treatments.
Hemp: A Superfood for Skin and Hair
Hemp is another powerhouse beauty ingredient that’s as good for your health as it is for your skin. Rich in essential fatty acids, fiber, and amino acids, hemp offers a complete protein that supports the health of your skin, hair, and nails. The anti-inflammatory gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in hemp oil is known for its ability to strengthen the skin barrier, soothe irritation, and encourage new cell growth.
The cold-pressed extraction method ensures that hemp oil retains all of its natural benefits, making it a pure, non-toxic option for topical use. Hemp oil can help maintain moisture, reduce inflammation, and support skin regeneration, making it ideal for those with sensitive or troubled skin.
Canadian Clays: Nature’s Detoxifiers
Canada is home to a variety of mineral-rich clays that offer detoxifying and cleansing benefits. One such clay is Manicouagan clay from Quebec, which is derived from sea silt and has absorbent and astringent properties. It’s excellent for deep cleansing and can be used as a surfactant in skin care products.
Another notable clay is Moose clay, found in the hot springs of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. This colloidal clay is renowned for its detoxifying properties, as it can help draw out toxins, dirt, and oil from the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and unclogged.
Making Healthier Choices
As consumers, we have the power to make healthier choices for both our bodies and the environment. By being aware of the ingredients in the products we use and opting for those made with natural, local ingredients, we can support our health while minimizing our impact on the planet. Always question what’s in the beauty products you purchase, and remember that sometimes, the best beauty treatments are the ones that come from the earth and your own kitchen.
