A Beginner's Guide to Synthetics
The clean conversation is ongoing. It's an important one to have. So, let's get it started...
Yes, these ingredients are created in a lab by humans. Though they've gotten a bad rap, synthetic alternatives of natural ingredients are a way to conserve raw materials if they are clean and from sustainable sources.
Most people don't think about it, but your body absorbs the chemicals in personal care products. This can be an issue when fragrances are created from full synthetics, entirely petroleum by-products. Safe synthetics consider this and are deemed safe because they align with health and safety standards.
Many essential oils cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. This laboratory process helps dilute the intensity of the elements so that it is not harmful to the consumer.
From a business standpoint, the use of synthetics also allows for consistency. Aside from being sustainable, they also last longer. Naturally, the chemical compositions of natural ingredients can vary. Synthetics help standardize the quality of a product.
Botanical ingredients are beauty or personal care elements derived from raw materials. These can come from nature, specifically plants, fruits, seeds flowers, or trees. Many times these ingredients are not sustainable. They come from valuable natural resources and the way that they are classified depend on their chemical structure and how they are withdrawn from the pant. Using them isn't always what is best for the environment.
These are various reasons why a synthetic can be deemed unsafe, but here are three main ingredients to avoid:
- Sulfates: These ingredients are harmful for multiple reasons. The production of sulfates is damaging to the environment. It can be derived from palm oil, which is the root of many environmental and human rights issues at the moment. To the individual, it can cause irritation and can be contaminated with carcinogens, which are substances that are related to causing cancer.
- Phthalates and Parabens: Though this is helpful to the preservation of a product, they have been linked to causing various diseases in individuals over time.