The Pros And Cons Of Cosmetic Products

The cosmetic industry in the United States is huge – the sale of skincare, hair care, make-up, perfumes, toiletries, and deodorants generates about $80 billion a year. The vast majority of cosmetic and beauty products are manufactured by a handful of large companies who dominate the industry, and who are more focused on profits than they are on using safer, higher quality ingredients in their products.

The responsibility falls on the shoulders of the consumer to avoid products with potentially unsafe ingredients. It is difficult to know what ingredients are potentially unsafe. Is phenoxyethanol safe? It sounds terrible, but it’s a perfectly safe preservative. What about BHA and BHT? They sound ok – but they’re synthetic antioxidants that are used to extend shelf life, and

To use essential oils safely, it is good to start with a carrier product that dilutes the essential oils. Essential oils are highly concentrated – it takes 75 lemons to make a 15 mL bottle of lemon oil! Some people like to use an unscented moisturizer as a carrier, but it is more common to use a high-quality oil, like argan, jojoba, avocado, or grapeseed. Some less common – but highly effective – carrier oils include carrot oil, apricot kernel oil, and rosehip oil.

Some essential oils are better to use on your face than others. Here’s a list of my favorite:

Frankincense – A gentle oil that is good for all skin types, frankincense is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits, so it is great for acne-prone skin.

Geranium – Geranium helps regulate oil product to reduce breakouts. It is good for aging skin, as it helps to improve skin elasticity to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Lavender – Another gentle oil for all skin types, lavender smells great and helps to regenerate skin cells. It is ideal for mature skin, sun spots, and