This post has been guest written and sponsored by Bloom Naturals to bring you valuable information about your skincare products.
I am sure you have noticed the ‘green’ shift that’s been happening in the past five years. In response, companies are advertising their products as natural and environmentally friendly but how much of it is true?
Greenwashing is defined as misinformation spread by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image. Because of greenwashing, it is confusing for consumers to know if a product is, in reality, natural or environmentally friendly.
Molly Rottschafer, founder, and owner of Bloom Naturals LLC struggled with the same issue.
“I was no stranger to healthy things. It was what I read about at night. I was soaking grains, making yogurt and butter from raw milk and baking bread. But it wasn’t until someone said that what we put on our skin was just as important as what we put in our mouths that a light bulb when off.” Molly Rottschafer
First, she began learning about the mysterious ingredients found on bottles in her home. When her boys were little, she would douse them with Johnson’s Baby Wash and Baby Magic Lotion. It wasn’t until years later that she learned of all the toxic ingredients she had, unknowingly exposed them to in those products.
“Something didn’t seem right with this whole system. The message many companies were trying to convey to me was that their products were natural when their ingredient lists told a different story. Adding the words “natural” or “naturally derived” meant nothing except a boardroom marketing ad campaign to pull the wool over my eyes.” Molly Rottschafer
After many unfruitful months of searching for products with only healthy ingredients, Molly decided to make her own. She began to learn how fresh ingredients made from plants could benefit the skin in incredible ways.
“Once I discovered the benefits of plant-based ingredients in their most natural state, my kitchen became my lab, and my family became my lab rats, cute ones though. What was born in that kitchen became what would later be called NOURISH, the name seemed so fitting.” – Molly Rottschafer
After some time, Molly’s friends started noticing the changes in her skin. Word spread and soon she found herself manufacturing it monthly out of her home. It was there that Bloom… bloomed. Since starting Bloom in 2009, Molly has formulated more than a dozen other products made entirely out of the freshest non-GMO plant oils, butters, and extracts.
Ingredients To Look Out For
Unfortunately, one blog post isn’t going to be enough to educate someone on every ingredient to look out for, but this is a good place to start.
Parabens
Mainly used as a preservative, they are endocrine disruptors that affect the hormone balance of the body and can interfere with fetal development among other things. Parabens are also linked to breast cancer and are considered an immunotoxin.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Found in cleansers, skin creams, & lotions. It is caustic and carcinogenic; strips skins natural moisture leaving the immune system vulnerable. PEG contains ethylene oxide, and tests show that exposure to ethylene oxide can cause esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, neoplasms of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue, and Hodgkin’s disease.
Mineral Oil
Also known as Baby Oil, Mineral Oil is a by-product of the petroleum industry. It clogs pores, and coats the skin like a raincoat, inhibiting its ability to breathe and absorb moisture and nutrition. Mineral oil also disrupts the skin’s immune barrier, and slows down skin function and cell development and therefore leads to premature aging of the skin.
Fragrance, Perfume/Parfum
Found in almost all products even baby care. It is usually petroleum based and is carcinogenic and toxic. Fragrances and Perfumes/Parfum can cause a headache, dizziness, rashes, and respiratory problems.
Emulsifiers
Lotions are often a combination of water and oil. Remember in science class we learned that oil and water do not mix? Well, they do in the skin care industry; enter emulsifying wax. Emulsifiers help suspend the oil and water molecules together in a solution. The most common Emulsifying wax is made up of Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, PEG-150 Stearate, and Steareth-20. Here’s a hint. Ingredients with numbers or capital letters in them are not natural. After all, you never go picking for apples-60, right?
There is good news, though. You don’t need all those ingredients to get healthy glowing skin. Water, emulsifiers, and preservatives hide in bottles everywhere, so turn that bottle over, educate yourself on identifying safe and healthy ingredients so you can make wise choices for you and your family.
“Our passion at Bloom is to help people get the skin they have always wanted using only the freshest plant oils, butters, and extracts. We love that we have been able to deliver on that.” – Molly Rottschafer
Want to learn more about Bloom Naturals? Visit their website for details!
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