Studies have shown that a small percentage, around 11% of the nearly 11,000 ingredients the FDA has discovered and found to be in body products, have been actually researched for safety standards by the cosmetics industry. So this is why you need to be very careful about what you put on your body because most of these ingredients – natural or otherwise – are being absorbed. Who wants to have mineral oil soaking into their skin?

When you choose natural skincare products, you are feeding your skin the best nutrients it needs to function adequately and are reducing the risk of exposing it to harmful substances. Being good to your skin and feeding it natural ingredients is being good to your whole entire body. One important note: don’t believe everything you read, especially on product labels. A number of skincare products claim to be “all natural,” but in reality, there is not one regulated standard or definition to what is truly natural in regards to body, or skin products. In many of the commercial products that are advertised as “natural,” you will find only small amounts of plant-based ingredients and sometimes these “small amounts” are only mere traces of anything considered remotely “natural.” Also products that tout the terms “hypoallergenic” or “fragrance-free” do not actually mean that they are free of some ingredients that could be potentially harmful.

Each time you cleanse, moisturize and put on beautifying cosmetics, you want to make sure you’re feeding your skin the best products available. The next time that you are at a drugstore, check out some of the ingredients listed on your favorite personal care products. You notice that the product labels read mineral oils, harmful preservatives and artificial colors. Now, do you really think your skin is getting clean and moisturized with ingredients like these? It is best for you to choose those products that are composed of real ingredients, whole ingredients, natural ingredients that cleanse, moisturize and renew your skin.

You also want to opt for products that have fresh, natural smelling scents composed of pure essential oils. So, when looking for skin cleansers, soaps, and shower gels, go for those that have a high concentration of plant-based ingredients. Generally, products such as these not only cleanse the skin, but provide nourishment without being over drying or irritating.

Finding an effective moisturizer is easier than you thought. Plant oils are an excellent ingredient that nourishes and moisturizes the body. Using lotions or facial moisturizers that are made with plant oils will help you to get silky smooth skin the natural way! Plant-based oils can easily penetrate the skin and are usually scented with natural and pure essential oils; and as an added bonus, they have mineral, nutrients and antioxidants that help to beautify and improve the quality of your skin with consistent use.