Natural Cosmetics and Body Care

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.

      During the nineteenth century, cosmetics became an organized industry in America. The innovative use of preservatives and mass production created an unprecedented choice. The beauty products industry can dazzle with packaging and seduce with slick advertising. Perfect skin and hair is its promise, but what it is really selling is hope. The fancy ingredients in most conventional products make them look, feel and smell tremendously appealing - that is, until you read the labels! Chances are you will need a chemical dictionary to decipher them. Chemically altered emulsifiers and synthetic waxes assure that the product will not separate no matter how much heat, cold or shaking that it endures during the long journey from the factory to your beauty table. The result is a product that is semi-natural or semi-synthetic, depending on how you look at it. In addition, most cosmetics are scented with artificial fragrances derived from petroleum products.

      Allergies have increased along with the use of chemical preservatives, synthetic perfumes and artificial colorings. Today's commercial products are often expensive, having vast amounts of money spent on advertising, packaging, distribution and testing (which can involve cruelty to animals).

      By making your own cosmetics, you can be sure of their contents. You select each ingredient and have control over its freshness and purity. Some preparations take no longer than boiling a kettle, others require heating and blending but are no more complicated than preparing a simple sauce.

      In the long run, these cosmetics may be doing your complexion more harm than good. Since your skin doesn't discriminate when absorbing lotions, creams and the like, potentially harmful chemicals are accepted as readily as the helpful ingredients. Some cosmetics companies are catching on to this trend toward safer, more natural ingredients and turning to the ages-old beauty secrets offered by herbalism. Even so, no matter how natural a product may look, check the label. Some products that claim to be "all natural" contain ingredients that should have stayed in the chemist's lab!

      It is no surprise that herbs have caught the attention of the cosmetics industry. Throughout history, herbs have been used to clear complexions, soften hands and make hair lush and silky. Consider some of history's legendary beauties. Cleopatra bathed in milk and herbs, anointed herself with costly herbal cosmetics and even owned her own natural cosmetic factory. According to legend, hundreds of years ago, the 80-year old queen of Hungary bought a secret formula from an herbalist that made her skin so youthful that a young prince fell in love with her. (The main ingredient in the secret formula was rosemary, which is still a popular complexion herb today.) The famous seventeenth-century French beauty Ninon de L'Enclos washed her face daily in chervil water to prevent wrinkles.

      Herbal body care is important for everyone - while it seems that it is mostly women who concentrate on skin and hair care, men can certainly benefit just as much from these treatments. The best products, whether you are a man or a woman, are those designed for your specific complexion, skin and hair type. Natural skin care products are easy and fun to make in your kitchen and can be prepared with litlle cost and minimal fuss. Let ground herbs, teas, tinctures and essential oils become your magic ingredients.

      Consider the recipes in this article series as a start; when you are feeling creative, experiment with your own recipes. If preparing herbal cosmetics doesn’t appeal to you, look in the cosmetics department of a natural food or department store for their natural body care lines. Since your skin and hair are naturally acid (pH 4.5 to 5.5), the products you put on them should stay close to the same range. You can test a product's pH with nitrazine paper, which is available from your local pharmacy. Directions for using this paper are on the box they come in. You can also increase the effectiveness of store-bought cosmetics by stirring in a few drops of an essential oil that appeals to you.

      Warning: There is no such thing as a skin or hair care product - even an all natural one - that is safe for everyone. People can be allergic or sensitive to seemingly harmless substances. Test any new product or ingredient by dabbing a little on the inside of your arm. If you experience a negative reaction such as a rash, swelling, or itching or watering eyes, you should stay clear of the substance.

Sources:
      All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden, Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D