Natural Skincare – Why Make the Switch?

– by Lara McInnes

Natural Skincare – Why Make the Switch?

Skincare is so important to maintain a healthy looking, beautiful complexion but actually skincare that isn’t “natural” could be causing more harm than you realise. Natural goodness for any aspect of life is always better, we already know that but why is it that natural skincare is best for your skin? If you’re considering making the switch, let Matakana Skincare tell you why you really should move over to chemical-free skincare and what the difference is.


Manmade Chemicals Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good

The bottom line is that what you put on your skin doesn’t just affect how your skin looks and feels, it affects how your body reacts. So, if you keep smothering it with manmade chemicals, the chances are you’ll do your skin more harm than good. As a good example, what you feed your body makes a difference to how you look and how you feel inside. Everyone knows that there’s goodness in vitamins and minerals, natural ingredients that we all need to live a healthy life. If you feed your body with greasy, salty and sugary food again and again, your skin, hair, nails and energy levels suffer (not to mention your major organs such as your heart, liver and kidneys). Feed your body with leafy greens, salads, lean meat, fish and poultry rich in natural vitamins and minerals, and your body will tell a different story. Really, the same ethos applies to your skincare regime!


Not all Chemicals are Manmade

It makes perfect sense to feed your skin with what nature intended. Now, some chemicals are actually natural so it’s important to understand what those are. Not all chemicals are manmade and the ingredients label that states “natural ingredients” doesn’t always mean no chemicals included. As an example, even water is known as a chemical (its chemical symbol is H2O) so not all chemicals are nasty ones! So what should you look out for? It’s those manmade chemicals that you should watch out for, especially in skincare and that’s one great reason why you should make the switch.


You Need some Chemicals!

By the same token, most skincare will include some manmade chemicals either for functionality or to protect the product and the user, unless it’s made at home and that’s because skincare, like food, has a shelf life. If you made your skincare using all-natural ingredients (such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, water and oils etc.) while you’d give your skin a gorgeous treat, your cream or lotion will spoil very quickly. So, skincare needs chemical preservatives to keep it long-lasting. However, what’s important here is the type of preservative that’s used. At Matakana Skincare we take great care to minimise any chemicals that have to be used in our skincare and we only use the kindest possible preservatives and ingredients which have been certified for use in organic formulations.


Manmade Chemicals = Danger

Skincare products that contain manmade chemicals are simply not as good for you as the almost all-natural products available and that’s because they are likely to cause allergies, side effects and skin irritation. As an example, sulphates cause irritation. They are salts and dry out the skin. If your skin is even slightly sensitive, it can lead to eczema and dermatitis. Chemicals can even exacerbate or cause acne. Even worse, some (such as formaldehyde - thankfully not usually found in skincare) are carcinogenic. There are other toxic ingredients that are used in skincare which are dangerous not only to your skin but also to your body, that’s because skincare travels into the skin and is absorbed by the body. Parabens is another; it’s a hormone disruptor and is well-documented to bring on early puberty.


Harmful chemicals include:

  • Parabens (mentioned)
  • Phthalates
  • SLS and SFS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate)
  • BHA’s
  • Retinyl Palmitate
  • Lead
  • Fragrance
  • Formaldehyde (mentioned)


Don’t Be Fooled by Anti-Aging Chemical Skincare

Even though some of the skincare containing chemicals might promise anti-aging benefits, the truth is that toxic ingredients lurk in the chemical ingredients. Over time, they could even enhance aging, because your skin won’t use its own natural reproductive system. As an example, mineral oil (often found in chemical skincare) is known to attract free radicals (these attack the skin) so causing premature aging and age spots.


Natural Skincare is Better for Anti-Aging

Matakana Skincare products are as natural as. We don’t use artificial ingredients. We prefer to use natural ingredients, plant-based oils and botanical extracts. All of these contain naturally occurring vitamins that nourish and feed the skin. Remember, skin needs Vitamins, especially A, E and C. All of those vitamins keep the skin hydrated, plump, firm and line-free. They’re also effective in combatting free radicals (environmental fumes, smoke, sun damage) helping the skin to arm itself with what it needs to fight back against cell break-down. All contain powerful antioxidants that slow down the aging process too.


Advertising is just that - Advertising

One of the biggest problems the skincare industry encounters is the big brands constantly advertising their “quality” skincare but hiding their chemicals under fancy names such as “Fragrance”, for example, (which could be any number of the several thousand chemicals available to formulators). Consumers generally trust TV and magazine advertising but an advert doesn’t make a product a good one. We forget to ask questions and we’re almost brainwashed into believing a big brand must be good for us. However, this is rarely the case.  


We Guarantee Goodness

Matakana Skincare does guarantee almost all-natural skincare using the highest quality materials. We also make sure that our ingredients work well together – so that means that they don’t create a chemical reaction. All of our products are tested on humans; we guarantee a beautiful experience for the skin for the outstanding results you’re looking for. Try our products – you’ll be amazed!