Year after year we are asked, "what natural skincare products do you recommend?" And with so many products and trends constantly emerging, it's hard to peel back the truth about the best in natural skincare. And to be honest the best skincare routine starts with what you eat, and what you avoid (we have a definitive list further down this page)...
But second to that what you put on your skin matters a great deal.
You see your skin is your largest organ and absorbs 60% of what you put on it. Think about this for a second… According to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 "beauty" products per day, containing about 168 ingredients. That's a lot of ingredients you're putting into your body, and if we're not careful many of those could be toxic!
The beauty industry promotes all types of lotions and potions that promise to make you look 10 years younger, hide imperfections, soften your skin, but at what cost?
The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
You walk into the beauty section of a department store and are bombarded with sales assistants trying to tackle you into their chair to try on all types of miracle beauty products. You're surrounded by advertisements everywhere telling you that they've just uncovered a new formula that miraculously turns you into Julia Roberts. Your skin will be as smooth as a baby! But what's the catch? Let's find out...
It's Sold In Stores, So It Must Be Safe?
Wrong. The US Food and Drug Administration does not have mandatory safety standards in place for cosmetics. That's scary stuff. This means any cosmetic product can make it onto the shelves and could be loaded with toxic formulas and endanger your health. Many of the ingredients are also so new and so fresh, there isn't sufficient research to understand the long-term impacts on our health.
They've Just Released A New Anti-Aging Formula. This must be the answer!
Hold on. Before you start dousing yourself in the latest skincare that promises to wipe 10 years off your face and remove all those unwanted skin spots, take a look at the label. Can you even decipher what's in it? Many of those ingredients could contribute to long-term health effects such as eczema, cancer, infertility, and more. So while there's a chance that they may rub those wrinkles right off, consider what else they might be doing to your skin.
The Label Looks Safe, So It Must Be Ok?
You're armed with a list of all the ingredients to look out for on the label. It doesn't say it contains formaldehyde or parabens, so they must not be in there. Unfortunately, a lot of chemical cocktails hide under the term "fragrance" which allows the company to not actually list what is in it. There are all sorts of loopholes in the beauty industry.
Okay, But The Product Says Natural, It Has To Be Good For Me?
In some instances, sure. But don't let this be the answer. Chances are you've heard of ‘greenwashing', where companies use eco-friendly ideals to position themselves in the market when really they couldn't be anything further from it. The beauty industry is especially good at this. The FDA, USDA, or EU do not have any regulations or standards on the term. Meaning that many companies can use one or two ‘natural' products (often near the end of the ingredients list) and call themselves natural.
"Pink" Products Help Cure Breast-Cancer
Sadly, no. Most large beauty companies such as Estee Lauder, Avon, and Revlon use toxins and carcinogens in their products. So even though they are promoting that they donate profits to find a cure, they could, in fact, be contributing to this deadly disease.
Breaking Down The Beauty Product Labels
One of the most important things to do when selecting your skincare is to read the label of ingredients! Forget the terms organic, natural, or fragrance-free and jump straight to the small print. Sometimes these things find their way into natural-branded skincare, but it's difficult to know what the really damaging ingredients may be.
Here are a few things to stay clear of:
Thimerosol
Is a mercury-containing preservative. Mercury may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and adverse effects on the nervous system. Studies have also shown that it can affect reproduction. Thimerosal is used as a preservative for products applied in the area of the eye, such as eye drops and contact lens solutions.
DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea
Used as preservatives and can release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a sensitizer and a proven carcinogen. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
A known skin and eye irritant and enhances allergic response to other toxins and allergens. It is used as a lathering agent and detergent and is present in hundreds of commercial shampoos, body washes, and bubble baths, as well as skin creams and some brands of toothpaste.
Benzyl Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol
Both can irritate the skin. They are used as fragrance ingredients as well as preservatives, solvents, and anti-foaming agents for lotions, sunscreens, hand sanitizers, sunscreens, and baby wipes. There is also evidence that these two alcohols are neurotoxic.
1,4-Dioxane
Classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen. It is a contaminant in shampoos, body wash, children's bath products, and other sudsing cosmetics. 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant and not an ingredient, therefore it does not appear on ingredient labels.
Parabens
This is a preservative that is able to mimic estrogen hormones and has been found in breast tumors.
"Fragrance"
An ambiguous term where many toxic chemicals are hidden under, including synthetic fragrances containing phthalates - a plasticizing material used in polyvinyl chloride PVC which can mess with your endocrine system.
Beauty ss Created From The Inside And Outside
Beauty is created in two ways: the foods that you eat, and what you put on your skin. It's not only important to know what ingredients you are putting on your skin, but you also need to know what ingredients you are eating and feed your body with foods that promote beauty and vitality. If you want a healthy glow, then start by eating foods rich in nutrients and minerals that nourish your cells and make your insides sing and dance with joy!
One of the best ways to promote glowing skin is to eat yourself beautiful. If you're unsure where to begin, here is a list of our Top 12 favorite plant-based sources of natural beauty you can eat and put on your body!
Olive Oil & Olives
Olives and their oil are one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E, a well known beauty vitamin that nourishes the skin by repairing connective tissue. Olives and their oil are an amazing beauty enhancing food full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats all working to keep the skin smooth and to boost the immune system.
Cucumber
Fantastic for cleansing our bodies. The skins of cucumbers are high in silicon although are often grown with pesticides and waxed in stores so it is best to choose organic.
Radishes
The radish is one of the most rejuvenating foods for our bodies. High in sulfur, silicon and vitamin C. These all play a major role in connective tissue formation and working together to create glowing skin!
Hemp Seeds
One of the most nutritionally complete foods containing all nine essential amino acids making them exceptionally high in protein whilst also high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and minerals. Eat them as a snack, add to a salad or use the hemp oil in your smoothie.
Aloe Vera
Believed to be a food of long-lasting youth and rapid healing. The anti-inflammatory power in acute inflammation is one of its best known actions. The gel of the Aloe Vera can be used topically or add to your daily juice.
Coconut Oil
Contains a number of health giving properties including being high in antioxidants, control blood sugar levels, assist the thyroid gland and repair the skin. You can eat coconut oil straight, blend into smoothies, use in cooking and on the skin.
Avocado
Abundant in vitamins and minerals that are crucial to your entire body and especially beneficial for your skin. Particularly high in beta-carotene, lutein, vitamins B6, C, E, K, selenium, zinc, folate, potassium, glutathione and healthy fats to nourish the body and skin.
Arugula
Highly alkalizing ranking high in sulfur and vitamin A. The perfect combination to help protect skin from sun damage. Vitamin A also helps to inhibit acne.
Pumpkin Seeds
A wonderful source of B vitamins, many minerals (including zinc), phytonutrients and fatty oils. All of these contributing to their ability to produce clear and glowing skin. They also have anti-parasite properties.
Turmeric
Considered a restorative food, with strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-microbial characteristics. Turmeric is well known for its ability to purify blood which is essential for clear skin.
Green Tea
Green Tea is a rich source of polyphenols, which have been topically used for protecting skin from cancer and other forms of sun damage. Polyphenols can also help reverse signs of aging like sun spots, fine lines, and wrinkles—making them a staple in anti-aging.
Blueberries
The antioxidant properties of blueberries have been well-celebrated, but we love them especially for resveratrol. This antioxidant is found in grape skins and dark chocolate too, however, blueberries are some of the healthiest forms. It works on a cellular level to fight the wrinkles and other signs of aging. Resveratrol helps protect the skin's surface, interrupts and helps rebuff negative environmental influences, and brightens a tired-looking complexion. It also has significant skin-calming properties that may help minimize the look of redness.
How to Choose the Right Skin Care for Me
So you've found all of the right reasons to make the switch to truly natural skincare, but how do you go about it? Here's what we always look for when choosing a skincare range:
Read labels
Start looking at the back of your products. The more ingredients you can pronounce, the better. If you see a lot of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petroleum products, fragrances, and the like, look for another, safer product. Remember, not all ingredients are on the label, so make sure you trust the company you are purchasing from.
Shop at natural stores or online specialty stores
Most of your healthier and safer products are either in whole foods stores or online.
Research the company
Many newer companies were started because of the lack of natural and nourishing products out there. These companies tend to care more about what they put into their products. Research the companies you're buying from, and find those that you can trust.
Rate your products
Check out the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database and type in your product. You'll discover the rating for the hazard level of that product. This will give you a good starting point as to which of your current products may not be completely safe.
Educate yourself
The more you read about cosmetics ingredients, the more you'll be able to make smart choices. We provide you with the starting base for a sound understanding of the beauty industry and the importance of using natural and organic products.
If you follow these simple tips below, you should be able to find an awesome natural skin care range that your body loves and is free of all the hidden nasties.
Our Favorite Natural Skin Care
Laurentine and I have been using natural skincare products for many years now, and we can honestly say that we definitely notice the difference. Close friends of ours Kevin and Annmarie Gianni founded an all natural skin-care line and it's simply divine! Not only are these products technically edible (yes, they are that pure you could season your salad with them, not that we recommend that!), they also make us glow and feel naturally beautiful.
You can find our favorite Annmarie Skin Care products in a special pack just for the Food Matters community. If you feel like you want to give it a try first, then you can pick up this sample pack for just $14.99 and you'll receive FREE shipping. You don't have to spend hours online researching for the best products, price, or next-order coupons. We've done the research for you!
Annmarie Skin Care
Bliss in a bottle! Products are earth, mind and body conscious and are organic and 100% chemical-free. All the ingredients are on the label, they wear their heart on their sleeve!
(Price range: $10 - $332.95)
Here's What Others Are Saying:
"For decades, one of my passions has been searching the globe for the best natural products and ingredients — and it's truly rare to find a skin care line as pure as Annmarie Skin Care's. More than healthy ingredients that promote young, beautiful skin, Annmarie Skin Care is heavenly aromatherapy at it's best. I highly recommend their entire line — use it in good health!"
- Donna Gates, nutritional consultant, educator and best selling author of The Body Ecology Diet
"These products are natural and chemical free, totally in alignment with my health recommendations. And they are far more effective than anything I've seen in my 20 years of practice. They smell and feel amazing, and they really work. I'd recommend them to anyone who's looking for healthy, youthful, glowing skin."
- Dr. Mark Hyman, Ten-time New York Times Best-selling Author
"These epic-ly high-quality, all natural, organic skin food products nourish my Crazy Sexy epidermis. Truthfully, I am totally addicted to them, and I've really noticed a significant difference in the quality of my skin since using this line (in addition to eating a plant-passionate diet and drinking lots of water and green juice!). Plus, these luscious products smell absolutely DIVINE!
...Sisters, if you're looking for something new, give this chemical-free skin care line a whirl here. They're an all-natural, organic blend between shaman magic, Medicine Woman wisdom and a potent herbalist cocktail, (Hey Bartender! I'll definitely have another)."
- Kris Carr, New York Times Best-selling Author, Health Expert
"These products are some of the best I've ever tried. They smell amazing -- so amazing that every time I use the cleanser I want to eat it! And even better, after using them my skin feels incredible. They also are totally consistent with my diet philosophy of all the good stuff -- they are totally natural, healing and anti-inflammatory. They're like food for your skin."
- JJ Virgin, New York Times Best-selling Author, Health Expert
"Having been a Spa Therapist and Treatment Trainer at several top spas in Southern California, I have reviewed many skin care lines. I only chose to use the lines with the most natural ingredients. The quality of ingredients in Annmarie's Skin Care Line is is outstanding! The entire experience from cleanser, to scrub, to mask to anti-aging serum was an aromatic, sensuous, sensory delight! My skin felt so fresh, clean, soft and revitalized! I especially love the Coconut Honey Mask and the Anti-Aging Serum. The extensive ingredient list in the Anti-Aging Serum is impressive and the smell is out of this world!"
- Lori Temple
Discover the Annmarie Skincare Story
You Might Be Wondering...
Why Use Oil Instead Of Lotion On My Face?
There are two reasons most lotions are best to stay clear of:
- To stop most lotions going rancid a lot of preservatives are used
- Lotions are heated extensively causing oils to oxidize, which are not great for your skin.
Natural oils are pure and have extremely high nutrient and antioxidant levels. They are 100% active, with no fillers and very high in electron energy. Plus, your skin welcomes oils much easier than a cream… 1 drop is greater than 30 drops of a cream!
Won't my skin break out using oil?
Actually the opposite. Oily skin is generally a sign that the layers of your skin are dehydrated, and your skin's sebaceous glands are producing oil to balance out your moisture levels. Natural oils have an amazing ability to work with the body to balance the way your skin looks. You may think, "apply oils to oily skin?" But just try it—you'll be amazed at the results
Can I try Annmarie Skin Care before buying?
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage those that aren't ready to take the leap to a new skincare line, to try the awesome sample packs that Annmarie Skin Care offers!
Right now, you can purchase the Skin Care Glow Set, which lets you try the most popular products for a radiant complexion, for just $14.99. To top it off, you will receive FREE shipping in the US and Canada, with a 100% money-back guarantee. Shipping prices may vary if you live outside of the US and Canada.
Once you try these products for yourself, you'll understand why Annmarie Skin Care is our skincare brand of choice. You really have to see it to believe it.
SAMPLE OUR FAVORITE ANNMARIE PRODUCTS HERE
We hope this skincare buying guide has helped you understand the importance of natural skincare products and how beneficial it is for your health to use 100% natural and organic products. Remember, if you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin!
