In general, I love this trend of looking to natural sources for so many products... not only natural but locally sourced with natural ingredients.
It makes sense.
Right now it's all about plant-based, organic, naturally-sourced, grass-fed, humanely treated foods, makeup, skincare products, and juice bars.
I LOVE that people are working so hard to try and make our world better, in any way possible.
I like it.
I also like to point out that even natural products can cause issues - just like anything else. While, in general, synthetic materials are seen as more abrasive and clearly unnatural, that does not necessarily mean that natural is always better.
It was recently suggested to me to try a new skincare brand because of their products that include all natural ingredients and are considered to be hypoallergenic.
While I was downtown looking at something else, the juice bar that created the skincare line was only a couple of stand-alone stores down, so I decided to go in. Of course I looked at their menu, which was intriguing, but not intriguing enough to try something brand new during a week I am already really struggling. I DID check out their skincare products that were sitting off to the side.
With weird allergies, I have to be really careful. Depending on the amount of an ingredient and what I am using it for, sometimes it won't cause too big of a problem, but there was only one product that I saw without an ingredient that I am allergic to. That included the body lotions, face creams, facial scrubs, and face masks.
Fennel Seed and Licorice Root are related to Star Anise.
Usually Star Anise only causes a huge problem if ingested, but I didn't feel like taking a risk today.
White Willow was in another one - which is the base of Willow Bark, which is the base of Salicylic Acid, and Acetyl-Salicylic-Acid (ASA, aka Aspirin) is something that gives me hives.
Green Tea is another one. This one is pretty self-explanatory. I have a big allergy to caffeine. Caffeine is usually incredible for the skin... unless it gives you hives...
Ingredients like apple and celery seed are also related to latex (surprising I know), so for people with an allergy to latex (not me), those simple and natural ingredients can wreak havoc on the system - especially if ingested or in a topical formula.
Then take RJ for instance, he has BAD respiratory reactions to lavender, eucalyptus, and a variety of florals and plants. If I use a lotion that has a small percentage of lavender, birch, or eucalyptus, he cannot even be in the same room as me.
:(
Those are all really great ingredients, and they make the scents even more invigorating and relaxing. Unfortunately, with weird allergies, or even more common ones like Aspirin, I have to be much more vigilant. I have to make sure that I know which ingredients are related to others, which ingredients are the base for other synthetic products in case the base is where the allergy comes from, and how I might react to it.
Always read the ingredients.
Also, people can be allergic to alllll sorts of substances - they don't have to be synthetic or 'bad for you' in order to invoke an allergic reaction.
Know your body.