Why choose toiletries made with natural ingredients over those with added chemicals?
Natural ingredients are usually softer, gentler & therefore kinder & more caring to your skin & hair. Have you ever noticed how your skin feels 'dry' after showering & bathing? This can be caused by a variety of chemical additives in your shower gels, soaps or body washes which as part of the cleansing action remove 'sebum', our bodies natural skin & hair lubrication.
Take a look at the ingredients listed on the products you use to see if they contain DEA, MEA or TEA (not the English Breakfast variety!) as these can be the cause of that 'dry' feeling. Natural based toiletries often use Aloe Vera, Vegetable Glycerin, a variety of plant oils & even honey to help your skin & hair to retain & replenish moisture to keep your skin soft & supple.
Golden Jojoba oil (simmondsia chinensis) is a popular plant oil & is often found in many skin & hair preparations as this oil is the closest in composition to Sebum & is extremely gentle & compatible with our skin & hair.
Do natural toiletries cost more than chemical based ones? Initially this may seem to be so BUT it is quite common when using natural products that you only need to use a fraction of the amount of product compared to a chemical based one. Therefore ml to ml a natural product can last a lot longer & be more cost effective.
Those who suffer with skin sensitivities &/or allergies may also notice that their skin becomes less irritated & even becomes softer & smoother. Chemical based or natural - which will you choose?
But what are essential oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic plant extracts which have been used throughout history for their therapeutic abilities to relax & unwind, revive & uplift, soothe & relax the body, mind & spirit. These oils are extracted by steam distillation or expression from the roots, stems, leaves, petals, fruits or nuts of the plant.
Essential oils should be diluted before applying to the skin. Just a couple of drops added to body lotion or a carrier oil is all that is required to be able to benefit from the therapeutic properties of these natural oils.
These oils can affect our mood, emotions, health & well being. Pain relief, hormone balancing, skin soothing, stress relieving, sleep inducing are but a few of the properties these wonderful oils possess & they can also help to combat bacterial, viral & fungal infections.