Crafting high-quality cosmetic skincare products from simple natural ingredients, in addition to being better for the environment, they are safer, easier on the skin, as well as keep consumers and their families healthy. By contrast, many skincare products on the market today contain synthetic polymers, such as dimethicone, a silicone-based polymer, as well as PEGs, a polyethylene polymer, both of which are forms of plastic. Synthetic chemicals such as these are made in laboratories and could be harmful to the skin either immediately or over time. Studies have suggested that dimethicone, for example, exacerbates acne because it forms a barrier over the skin, trapping everything ranging from impurities, bacteria, sebum, along with the moisture. Among critics of dimethicone use in skincare products, some argue that its harmfulness is a direct result of not being a natural substance, while others have posited that since the substance forms a barrier on the skin, it seals the oils, sweat, dirt, and other impurities against the skin, thereby clogging the pores, leading to acne. A 2015 study in Toxicological Research found that PEGs used in cosmetics often contain impurities, such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, as a result of the laboratory synthetic process. Ethylene oxide is a toxin and irritant, while 1,4-dioxane is classified as a possible carcinogen which has been linked to liver, lung, breast, skin, and gallbladder cancer.
A lot of skincare products that are widely consumed in our country are packed with these types of laboratory-produced synthetic chemicals that neither I nor members of my family would want to have on our bodies. Therefore, it bothers me greatly that people are putting these unhealthy chemicals on their bodies, often without realizing the potential health consequences of doing so. To further strengthen the case for the use of natural ingredients in cosmetic skincare products, a 2018 study published in the International Journal of Phytocosmetics and Natural Ingredients found that plant-based oils are beneficial as they actively improve health, while the effects of silicon-based products were found to be only superficial.
To summarize, natural ingredients in skincare products are good for your body, and will keep you and your family healthy. By contrast, synthetic ingredients used in cosmetic skincare products can contain harmful chemicals by virtue of being made in a laboratory. Therefore, the use of such products could unnecessarily expose the consumer to potentially harmful chemicals.
Dr. Erica Oduaran
Senior Scientist
Tega Joy, INC
Griffin, GA
Dover, DE (Corporate Headquarters)