With all the lotions on the market, it’s hard to know what exactly you are putting on your body. We are here to unravel some of the more mystifying aspects of the do’s and don’t’s in your skin-care routine. Perhaps you are wondering how lotion can not be eco-friendly, or perhaps you never paused to think about all the chemicals behind those exotic smells. Whatever the case, we are here to guide you to the best priced eco-friendly lotion out there. Yeah, yeah I know this…get to the good stuff!
Skin Deep
Let’s take a second to ponder the beauty of skin. It is the largest organ you have, wonderfully protective, and downright gorgeous. Because it is the first contact to anything in our environment we want to be especially careful when smothering it with products. It is also porous, which means that what goes on, goes in.
What is “organic” lotion?
You, like us, may be wondering what organic even means these days. It seems to be thrown around quite a bit, but does it really make something better for us or the environment?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer can be broken down simply.
Organic: The USDA requirements are strict for products labeled “organic”. The ingredients that constitute the product must be at least 95% organic themselves only 5% synthetic ingredients.
100% organic: This label means it is 100% organic with no synthetic materials. Thank you Captain Obvious. Furthermore the ingredients are grown without any chemicals, nor were any chemically treated fertilizers used to grow the organic ingredients.
These are typically lotions that have lavender, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, beeswax, mint, vanilla, etc…
Are there benefits to using organic lotion?
Hi there, Captain Obvious again to say: yes.
Not only are organic products more eco-friendly (imagine all the fertilizers and chemicals used in non-organic products), but they are much better for your skin and health, sensitive or not. The truth is we don’t know how much synthetic lotions are harming us, but we do know chemicals seep into our bodies from our products and disrupt our internal chemistry.
Another benefit is that organic lotions are chalk-full of vitamins because the plants they are made out of are too!
A human-friendly lotion is also an eco-friendly lotion.
Keywords to avoid when choosing eco-friendly lotion:
- Parabens: These are preservatives found in many beauty and skin-care products. They are used to prevent growth of bacteria and extend shelf-life; however, many organic alternatives have been found. Parabens have a potential link to cancer and a definite link to hormone disruption. Why risk it when we don’t have to?
- Synthetic colors: Derived from petroleum and coal tar, these are human carcinogen, skin irritant and can cause ADHD in children. The EU has banned it. They appear in the ingredient list like the following example: “D&C Red 27 or FD&C Blue 1.”
- Fragrance: If it doesn’t list what is the fragrance, assume they are hiding something. Go for natural scents such as “lavender, coconut, cacao, etc..
- Diethyl Phthalate: Increase the risk of breast cancer, early development in girls and reproductive birth defects
Phew! Okay, that was kind of a lot…
Without further ado, here are our top recommendations for lotions that will soothe and smooth. Guilt-free.
Need more Skin Care Advice?
Check out our post on eco-friendly sunscreen!