Your Guide to Healthy, Glowing Skin
Did you know that you can have healthy, glowing skin with products that are effective and natural?
Most conventional self-care products you’ll find on store shelves are filled with harmful ingredients – and a lot of them don’t need to be listed on the package! The government isn’t regulating personal care products for safety before they reach the consumer. The industry can use virtually any ingredient or raw material it sees fit, without any approval or special labelling requirements.
The reality is alarming.
The average woman wears 515 chemicals every day, and since our skin absorbs 60% of any topical product we apply, all of these products are actually doing more harm than good. They’re disrupting our hormones, causing skin irritation, and are known carcinogens and neurotoxins.
The more you dig into the products you’re using (you can check out it’s toxicity rating here), the more inclined you’ll be to make better choices for your skin, and for your health.
Let’s dive into the top ingredients to avoid in your products and what natural alternatives are available.
Top 10 Ingredients to Avoid in Self-Care Products
1. Parabens
Parabens are preservatives found in everything from soap to lotion to makeup. If it has water in it, it probably has a paraben to keep it from growing bacteria. Examples include: methylparaben, proplyparaben, isopropylparaben, and isobutylparaben. If “paraben” is in the word, avoid it. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body and can lead to hormonal imbalances, and possibly even breast cancer. For example, a recent study found concentrations of parabens, specifically methylparaben, in human breast tumors. Another study found 99% of all cancerous breast tumors contained parabens.
2. Artificial Fragrance/Parfum
Almost every single conventional skincare and cosmetic product (even “unscented” ones) contains artificial fragrances. Manufacturers aren’t required to reveal what’s actually in their fragrances, so you’ll simply see Fragrance or Parfum on the ingredients list when it could actually be a cocktail of carcinogens, allergens, endocrine disruptors, and irritants.
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLS/SLES are foaming agents used in a slew of personal care products, including skin care and cosmetics, shampoo, and toothpaste. They are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. Additionally, chemical compounds known as “nitrosamines” are common by-products of the sulphation process. 90% of nitrosamines are believed to be carcinogenic.
4. Toluene
Toluene is a chemical commonly found in nail polish and hair dyes. It is a volatile petrochemical solvent that can be toxic to the immune system and can cause birth defects. If you’re pregnant, be especially careful and avoid nail polish containing toluene entirely.
5. Phthalates
A phthalate is a plasticizer that is added to plastic to keep it from becoming brittle. Phthalates are used in cosmetics primarily in fragrances, and can also be found in other personal care products, such as hair spray and nail polish. Examples include: DBP, DEHP, DEP and others. Like parabens, phthalates are endocrine disruptors and can cause hormonal and reproductive problems and birth defects.
6. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is used is many types of cosmetics as a thickener, especially in lotions, shampoo, and sunscreen. PEG is often contaminated with both ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) and 1,4-Dioxane (which causes respiratory problems and is banned in Canada).
7. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in cosmetics. It’s a known carcinogen that is also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. It can be found in preservatives such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, and imidazolidinyl urea.
8. Oxybenzone
Sunscreens come in two different forms: chemical and mineral filters. The most common sunscreens on the market use chemical filters such as oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a known endocrine disruptor and can alter thyroid function. It’s also linked to skin allergies. Chemical sunscreens should be avoided at all costs—especially with children. Oxybenzone can also be found in moisturizers, lip balm, and makeup.
9. Diethanolamine
Diethanolamine is a foaming agent. It’s a known carcinogen and respiratory toxin, which is why the EU has restricted its use in personal care products. Despite this, it’s still used in bubble bath, body wash, and shampoo in the US. It’s often abbreviated as DEA on cosmetic labels.
10. Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent once used in antibacterial soaps. In 2016, it was banned from soap used in health-care settings, but it is still allowed in personal cosmetics. Not only does triclosan contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria, but it’s also an endocrine disruptor and was shown to contribute to gut inflammation and promote tumor growth in mouse studies. Not good.
So, what’s the alternative?
Immortelle roller
A blend of all of the most sacred oils available: Frankincense, Hawaiian Sandalwood, Lavender, Myrrh, Helichrysum, and Rose. One of doTERRA’s most popular blends, Immortelle nourishes the skin, helps promote a smoother, more youthful appearance by reducing the appearance of fine lines, blemishes, and wrinkles. The scent is fresh, rich, spicy and woody. Immortelle has been a part of my daily beauty routine for many years.
Frankincense essential oil
Frankincense oil is known for its inflammatory and cellular regeneration properties and supports a healthy immune response, promotes overall skin health, and supports a healthy inflammatory response in skin cells. I don’t ever go a day without grabbing my bottle of Frankincense and love using it for sun spots, fine lines, and any problem areas on my skin.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender is widely known for its calming and relaxing properties and ability to soothe occasional skin irritations. It’s a great oil to add into your daily moisturizer to reduce any redness and you’ll also love the calming effects from smelling its beautiful floral aroma.
Yarrow|Pom essential oil
I cannot sing this beautiful blend enough praises! Talk about GLOW. Yarrow|Pom was designed to be your go-to oil for glowing skin and soothing aroma. This synergistic, first-of-its-kind blend naturally promotes the look of young, clear and healthy skin. Yarrow essential oil revitalizes aging skin while cold-pressed Pomegranate seed oil supports the skin’s natural barrier by helping to prevent the normal breakdown of skin proteins that occur with aging. I love using this oil after I’ve washed my face in the evening, and before I apply any moisturizer to my skin.
Definitely check out the Yarrow|Pom skin serum and the Yarrow|Pom capsules as well. Your skin will thank you later.
Rose essential oil
All of the floral femme oils are incredible skin oils, but Rose is definitely the Queen. Rose aids in balancing the skin’s moisture levels, and because it has astringent qualities, when applied topically it helps reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. Use on areas of concern twice daily to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes, promote an even skin tone, and encourage a healthy complexion.
Tea Tree essential oil
Tea Tree or Melaleuca is best known for its purifying properties. It can be used to cleanse and purify the skin and nails and to support a healthy complexion. This is great for any spot treatments when you notice blemishes start to appear on your face.
Skin Care Systems
Verage Skin Care line; Includes a cleanser, toner, face serum, and moisturizer
Pure + Potent: The VERAGE collection. This collection contains only the best natural ingredients of doTERRA essential oils, emollients, and plant extracts that will leave skin feeling nourished and hydrated while encouraging confidence through reduced signs of visible aging.
Essential Skin Care kit; Includes a cleanser, invigorating scrub, toner, tightening serum, brightening gel, eye cream, moisturizer, and hydrating dream
For Mature or Extra Dry Skin, doTERRA’s Essential Skin Care is a family of skin care products designed to meet all your anti-aging, skin care needs, helping keep your skin feeling and looking young, healthy, and gorgeous by maximizing the natural power of essential oils.
Sample Nighttime Skin Care Routine
Step 1: Invigorating Scrub to exfoliate the skin – it’s infused with grapefruit & peppermint and feels so fresh! (About 3x a week, not every day)
Step 2: Verage Cleanser
Step 3: Pore Reducing Toner
Step 4: Yarrow|Pom oil, 2-3 drops gently rubbed into the face and neck
Step 5: Rose Touch under the eyes and use a jade roller all over the face and neck
Step 6: Finish off with the Anti-Aging Eye Cream and the Hydrating Cream (I recommend using the Verage moisturizer in the summer months, and the Hydrating Cream is thicker for the Winter months)
In the mornings, I also love starting off with Immortelle and Rose Touch under my eyes.
Love Up Your Body with The Spa Line
All of doTERRA’s Spa products range between a 1-2 in EWG’s database.
Here’s some of my favourite Spa products:
Spa Basics Kit; Body Wash and Lotion
Spa Citrus Bliss Invigorating Bath Bar
Spa Hydrating Body Mist with Beautiful Blend
Which Essential Oils are Good for Your Skin Type?
As you can tell, I only use the best products for my skin, but it wasn’t always the way. Before I started using essential oils and diving into the importance of why it’s so important to switch to natural products, I had no idea that the products I was using were doing more harm than good!
Choosing differently doesn’t have to be hard, though.
And it doesn’t mean that natural products are less effective – I’ve actually found the opposite to be true!
Choosing healthier options starts with one choice.
The one you’re about to make right now.
If you need help getting started with essential oils, or have any questions, please reach out! I’d love to help you set up a game plan that’s unique to you and your needs.
xo,
Meaghan
