7 Reasons Organic Skin Care is Better

The same line of reasoning that has people flocking to organic foods while avoiding processed fast-food has applies to what you put on your skin. Your body works hard every day to keep you healthy, but it can only work with what you feed it. Unprocessed, natural food is not just better for you, it tastes better. With natural skin food you’ll not just feel better, you’ll LOOK better.

The proof is in the putting (on, that is), and here a just a few reasons why.

1) Prevent free radical damage.

We are told to eat blueberries for their anti-oxidant properties, but guess what, your skin needs its daily anti-oxidants too. Free radicals damage skin cell membranes and even DNA, which leads ultimately to visible signs of aging and wrinkles. Topical supplements that have not oxidized and retain their anti-oxidant power do more to prevent and repair damage than anything else you can put on your skin.

2) Inhibit glycation.

Dr. Daniel Maes, Vice President, Global Research and Development for Estee Lauder, had this to say "We now know that between 40 and 50% of skin ageing is caused by glycation - the damage directly resulting from eating sugar. It’s one of the worst skin agers; more than sun, more than the environment." Glycation is a process whereby the formation of protein-sugar compounds promotes increased production of brittle, cross-linked collagen fibers, making the skin stiff and inflexible. Diet is important (not too much sugar!) but topical anti-oxidants also help counteract glycation by increasing the amount of anti-oxidants available to the skin. Glycation inhibitors like aminoguandine and l-carnosine also help prevent collagen destruction.

3) Give your skin the oil it craves.

Nature cleans skin from the basal cell layer up, by secreting oils that carry dirt to the surface of the skin. Oils penetrate deeper below the surface of the skin, and since lipids dissolve lipids this is the best way of clearing up impacted, congested skin.

4) Give your skin a drink.

Humectants add moisture to the skin, but complex sugars (polysaccharides) like those found in green tea do a better job than petroleum based products like petrolatum and propylene glycol in preventing transepidermal water loss. This is because sugars attract moisture, while petroleum acts as an occlusive, accomplishing moisture retention by setting up a physical barrier.

5) Protect the surface.

Nature provides us with an environmental protection barrier, made up of dead skin cells held together by lipids. UV exposure and age compromise barrier function, so in particular as we get older we need to keep the surface replenished with oils high in EFA’s. This is the same rationale that applies to taking EFA supplements daily, which most of us after a certain age do.

6) Balance bacteria.

A healthy skin, like a healthy gut, is alive with bacteria. Without bacteria we would not be alive, and bacteria on the skin keeps our largest organ healthy and blemish-free. The trick is to keep friendly and not-so friendly bacteria (like P.acneens on the skin, the one responsible for Acne) in balance. You do this by using oils to lubricate and deep clean. Some oils like emu oil and red raspberry oil are also anti-microbial as well as deeply moisturizing. You can also use a probiotic rich food like yoghurt, high in friendly bacteria, to help maintain the balance of bacteria found in healthy skin.