Natural vs. Synthetic Skincare: 3 Myths to Leave Behind

The world of skincare can be incredibly overwhelming and confusing, especially as brands all compete with each other and claim that their products are the best. One common approach that brands have taken to appeal more to customers is to emphasize that their products are formulated with natural ingredients rather than synthetic ones, and the superiority of one over the other has sparked a debate in the skincare realm.

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as clear-cut as it may seem, and there are some myths revolving around both that need to be debunked. Here are some myths that you need to toss out immediately!

Myth #1: Natural Ingredients are Safer

This has become such a prevalent misconception in the skincare industry that brands have chosen to leverage it in the marketing of their products, and it's damaging, especially as many consumers automatically equate natural ingredients as being safer. There’s this idea that things directly sourced from nature are much safer than chemicals that were formulated in the lab, but this isn’t exactly the case when it comes to your skincare products.

While natural ingredients can offer different skin benefits, they also increase your likelihood of suffering a negative reaction such as allergies, sensitivities, rashes, and much more. It’s important to keep in mind that these supposedly dangerous chemicals and synthetic ingredients undergo rigorous testing to ensure safety before they’re released for mass consumption. You can think about it as scientists getting the best out of natural ingredients.

Myth #2: Natural Ingredients are More Environmentally Friendly

One reason that consumers have gravitated towards more natural skincare products is that they believe these to be much better for the environment, but the cultivation and extraction of these ingredients can heavily contribute to things like deforestation, habitat destruction, and overharvesting plant species.

When natural ingredients are required to make mass-produced products, suppliers and manufacturers will need a steady and reliable supply of these, which may not always be available in nature.

Myth #3: Natural Ingredients are Gentler

This mainly comes from the belief that unfamiliar chemicals have the potential to bring incredible damage to one’s skin. Many people believe that natural ingredients—ingredients that they’re familiar with at first glance—are much gentler and more effective than synthetic ones, but this is nothing more than a myth.

Coconut oil can be a great way to demonstrate this point. Some swear by using straight and pure coconut oil as a cleanser or makeup remover, but coconut oil—the one that you can buy in the grocery and is meant for cooking rather than skincare—is extremely comedogenic and will most likely clog your pores, leading to breakouts and skin irritation.

On the other hand, coconut oil that has been formulated into a product will have been fractionated so that the user can enjoy the wonderful benefits of the oil without setbacks. This is one of the many examples that can be used to get this point across, so it’s important to have faith in the formulators and chemists that work to make these products safe and effective for you.

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