Natural vs. Synthetic: Navigating the World of Skincare Ingredients
According to a recent survey, almost half of the American population uses a regular skincare routine. But of course, not everyone who has a routine takes the same approach to skincare. Some people consider simply washing their faces with bars of soap skincare routines, while others have extensive skincare routines that include a variety of soaps, creams, lotions, and other products.
No matter what your skincare routine looks like, make sure that you’re using the right products day in and day out. More specifically, make sure you understand the differences between natural and synthetic skincare ingredients so that you’re able to invest in the best products possible. Learn more about natural vs. synthetic skincare ingredients below.
What are Natural Skincare Ingredients?
Before we begin breaking down what natural skincare ingredients are for you, we would like to point out that skincare products, in general, are not policed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There are some basic guidelines that companies must follow when creating skincare products, but they don’t need to get natural skincare products approved by the FDA in advance. Because of this, some companies will use the term “natural” very loosely on the packaging for their skincare products, and you’ll need to be diligent about only buying products that actually contain natural skincare ingredients in them.
So, what are natural skincare ingredients? Well, they typically contain things like oils from seeds, extracts from fruits, and other things that stem directly from nature. Even oats, rice, and other grains are natural ingredients that are sometimes utilized to create skincare products.
Whatever the case, the vast majority of natural skincare products don’t have any synthetic ingredients in them. People often appreciate using day and night skincare products with natural ingredients since they know exactly what is in them from the start prior to using them as part of their skincare routines.
What Are the Benefits of Natural Skincare Ingredients?
Many people prefer using skincare products that include natural ingredients for many reasons. First and foremost, they appreciate that they’re able to decipher which natural ingredients are in these products just by looking at the packaging for them. Instead of having a long list of synthetic ingredients that can be difficult to decipher, they’re able to read through the natural ingredients in these products and know where they come from. This is skincare 101.
People have also come to love the fact that natural skincare ingredients have usually been studied at length from a scientific perspective to prove they work to some degree. So many studies have been performed on the impact that natural ingredients like green tea and rich matcha tea can have on various skin conditions.
What Are Synthetic Skincare Ingredients?
While natural skincare ingredients can be traced back to nature, synthetic skincare ingredients can be traced back to the labs in which they were made. These ingredients tend to have at least a few manmade chemicals in them that are designed to provide certain skincare benefits for those who use them.
Over time, the word “synthetic” has gotten a little bit of a bad rap in skincare circles, with people arguing that skincare products featuring natural ingredients should be the only ones used. But it’s worth noting that some synthetic skincare ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and retinol, have become increasingly popular thanks to their effectiveness.
What Are the Benefits of Synthetic Skincare Ingredients?
In a perfect world, all skincare products would include nothing but natural ingredients that have been shown to produce positive results. But if this were the case, people might miss out on all the potential benefits associated with using products that have synthetic skincare ingredients in them.
For instance, many skincare products containing synthetic ingredients are more consistent than those with natural ingredients in them. They’ll also last a lot longer than products with natural ingredients in them in many cases. While some synthetic skincare products might have potentially harmful things like parabens, phthalates, and silicones in them, most companies that manufacture skincare products actively work to keep them out of the equation so they don’t do any damage to people’s skin.
Natural vs. Synthetic Skincare Ingredients: Which Should You Use?
Natural and synthetic skincare ingredients both have a place within the skincare industry. Before writing off either one, you should always do your research on the ingredients found in the products you buy. There is nothing wrong with mixing and matching natural and synthetic skincare products so that you’re able to create the ideal skincare routine and achieve flawless skin based on everything from your skin type to your skin chemistry.
