What does ‘natural' mean?

You know, when I see many young people scrolling through social media, I always want to tell them to be careful about what they read, especially when it comes to skincare. Everybody is talking about "natural" skincare these days, and sometimes people might think that natural means it should have no preservatives, and that preservatives are bad or not real. 

I used to think exactly like this too. When I first started making skincare for myself and my children, I was sure that homemade products must be the safest, the most natural, and the best choice. I was so confident about this.

But then, after I studied a Diploma of Personal Care Formulation, my thinking changed completely. I learned that making a safe skincare product is actually very complicated - much more complicated than just mixing some natural ingredients together. The safety of a product depends on so many things. You need to use the correct amount of each ingredient, make sure the pH level is right, follow good practices when you make it, choose the right packaging, store it properly, and test it carefully.

Preservatives Are Important

You know what is the biggest misunderstanding? It is about preservatives. Many people think preservatives are bad.

When you make skincare at home, it does not automatically mean it is safer or more natural. Many homemade products have water in them - maybe some aloe vera, or floral water, or herbal extracts. If you do not use a good preservative, these products can very quickly grow bacteria, mold, and yeast. This is something that happens, and it happens fast.

When you add a preservative, this does not mean the product is not natural anymore. Actually, preservatives are very important to keep skincare products safe and to make them last longer. A really good natural product can still have preservatives in it to protect both the product and the person who uses it.

When a product has water but no preservative, it can become contaminated very easily. This can cause skin irritation, infections, allergic reactions, or even eye problems.

Essential Oils Can Also Be Risky

Another big safety problem with homemade skincare is the use of essential oils. I see this all the time.

Many people think essential oils are completely safe because they come from plants. But this is not true. Essential oils are very concentrated, and you must use them in the correct amount. If you use too much, it can cause skin irritation, redness, sensitivity, or allergic reactions.

Natural ingredients like essential oils, plant extracts, and botanical ingredients can still cause allergies in some people. Just because something is natural does not mean it is gentle or safe for everybody.

Natural Does Not Always Mean Safe

A product is not automatically safe just because it is natural or homemade. What really matters is whether the product is formulated properly, tested carefully, preserved correctly, and stored in the right way.

As someone who once believed homemade skincare was always the safest option, I now understand that natural ingredients and science must work together to create products that are both safe and good for your skin. 🌿🧴

But don't worry - I am not telling you not to make your own natural products. If you are interested in DIY skincare, you should think about starting with simple products that do not have water in them. Products made with oils, butters, and waxes - like lip balms, heel balms, and calming balms - are usually easier and safer to make because they do not contain water. This means there is much less chance that bacteria, mold, and yeast will grow in the product. This is a wonderful way to enjoy natural skincare and keep safety in mind at the same time.

For example, a simple lip balm made with beeswax, shea butter, and sweet almond oil may not need any essential oil at all. If you want to add essential oil for the smell, it is better to keep the amount very small - usually around 0.5% to 1%. For a 100g batch of lip balm, that would be only 0.5g to 1g of essential oil.

For a calming balm, you can use ingredients like beeswax, carrier oils, and a small amount of lavender essential oil. A safe amount is usually around 1% for adults. For a 100g calming balm, this would be about 1g of lavender essential oil.

The important thing to remember is that essential oils are very concentrated plant extracts. More is not better. If you use too much, it can cause skin irritation, redness, sensitivity, or allergic reactions. Always check how much essential oil you should use for each type of oil, because some oils have lower maximum amounts than others.

Natural products can be wonderful, but making sure they are formulated safely is just as important as using natural ingredients. A product should be made with the right amounts of each ingredient, with good hygiene, and with an understanding of safety rules to make sure it is good for people to use.