How Clean Beauty Products Can Affect Health and Life Expectancy

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There has been growing concern around the use of potentially harmful ingredients in the products we use to care for our skin and health. Chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and formaldehyde, just to name a few, can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.¹

And, studies suggest that the chemicals in these toxic beauty products can hurt our health.²

Out of this was born the “clean beauty” movement. These clean beauty products promise formulations that use natural ingredients and are free from harmful chemicals, keeping our bodies safe while still nourishing our skin and overall health.

But what is clean skincare exactly, and does this actually affect our health, and, more importantly, longevity?

Let’s discuss how and why ingredients matter, and what safer clean skincare brands options we have when it comes to optimal skin health.

What is Clean Beauty, Really?

The term “clean beauty” refers to skincare products that avoid the use of many types of known, harmful chemicals. These chemicals consist of certain preservatives, fragrances and other substances that may be harmful to our health.³

As opposed to toxic beauty products, clean beauty promotes avoiding toxins, using only all natural ingredients, and being transparent in their labeling and ingredient lists. In addition to promising clean beauty products, many of these companies also promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

The Environmental Working Group lays out 12 of the worst offenders, but there are over 80 different potentially harmful chemicals used in toxic beauty products.⁴

How Ingredients Impact Skin and Health

There are several ways that toxic beauty products can negatively affect the skin and overall health. Some of these include:⁵

Allergic reactions: Some preservatives, fragrances and even essential oils can cause redness, itching or breakouts by triggering inflammation.
Damage to the skin barrier: Certain harsh chemicals can literally damage the skin, which can lead to more irritation and breakouts over time.
Hormonal imbalance: Studies suggest that some chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, meaning they mess with our hormones. Some examples include phthalates, parabens and toluene.
Carcinogenic: Many chemicals are known to be cancer-causing, and when used topically, these can be absorbed into our bloodstream. Therefore there is a concern that absorbing these consistently over time can increase the risk for cancer.
Damage to our organs: A few studies have hinted that the consistent use of toxic beauty products on our skin can actually affect our organ systems, especially the liver, kidneys and heart.⁶

Natural Alternatives Worth Trying Now

Thankfully, there are many clean skincare products out there. Some are made by manufacturers committed to clean beauty products, but there are several incredible options straight from nature. Most are not only safe but effective.

Here are just few natural examples, all of which contain properties that fight bacteria, boost antioxidants, and keep skin moist:

Manuka honey
Aloe vera
Shea butter
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Beef Tallow

But don’t forget, just because a product is “natural” does not always mean it will work for your skin. Try a small amount of any new topical products first to test your skin’s response.

Can Clean Skincare Improve Longevity?

While most of turn to beauty products for glowing skin, using clean skincare products as opposed to toxic beauty products may help with longevity in a couple of key ways:

Reducing the toxic burden on our body

Just by switching to clean beauty products, you instantly reduce the amount of toxins your body has to deal with. And this can reduce the risk to our organs and brain.

For example, recent research suggests that the chemicals from certain products can increase the risk for non-alcoholic liver disease and heavy metals in other products can impact the kidneys. ^7,8

Anti-Inflammatory Support

Ingredients in clean beauty products such as turmeric, green tea, vitamin C, and healthy oils all have powerful antioxidant powers that can do wonders for our skin and overall health.10

While these compounds can directly affect the cells of our skin, we likely absorb some of these health-promoting compounds as well, providing wellness benefits for the whole body.

Preserving the Microbiome

We know our microbiome is important to longevity. And we know environmental toxins can lead to imbalances in our gut and health. One key step is removing toxic beauty products so our gut has less exposure.

Additionally, the complex microbiome on our skin can benefit as well. Many harsh chemicals can kill the flora on our skin, and this can lead to more irritation and inflammation down the line.⁹Choosing clean beauty products can literally support health and longevity from the inside out.

The Bottom Line

What you put on your face and body absolutely can affect your overall health, and this can have a direct impact on vitality and longevity.

Thankfully, we have a number of natural and clean beauty products to choose from. It’s not always the easiest or most convenient choice, but it’s certainly the best for your health.

Always do your research and read ingredient labels very carefully. If you are concerned about an ingredient, reference websites such the Environmental Working Group to check on the latest list of worst offenders.

And if possible, use all natural beauty products and avoid the need to reading ingredient lists altogether. Simple products from nature, such as honey, coconut oil, or beef tallow, could be all you need for happy skin and better health.

While beauty is important, your health is everything. Choose clean beauty products so you can live your beautiful to the fullest.

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