That in natural cosmetics “all that glitters is not gold” is something that, at this point in the game, we all know. And it is that the mere fact that the ingredients are of natural origin, this does not mean that, in the process of creation, extraction of the active ingredients and others, chemical processes much more complicated than all this are not used.
Thus, this young pharmacist named Lena depons He has made it abundantly clear through his account TikTok where he gives us the example that for To extract the caffeine from the tea leaves, a lot of chemicals are needed that, in the end, they will not be in the INCI.
Given which, we, who are to go a little further, wanted to ask our trusted pharmaceutical expert, Eduardo Senante, owner of the Senante Pharmacy, what has given us his opinion on the beauty industry “natural”, “clean”, “clean” or whatever we want to call it.
The first thing he tells us is that in relation to denominations there should be some legislation that regulates itsince today anyone can make a cosmetic and say that it is “natural” without anything happening and it seems that a certain fear is instilled towards the “chemical”, arguing, as he points out, that its natural ingredient X is more safer, cleaner, cleaner than a chemical or synthetic ingredient.
As Eduardo says, manufacturers of natural cosmetics should be obliged to consider (and demonstrate to the final consumer) that the use of use of a certain natural ingredient is sustainable for the environment, Because if not, what they are doing is going against the ethics of that type of consumer and against the fight for environmental sustainability that we seek.
In addition, on the other hand, he also comments that many natural ingredients used in cosmetics come from tropical ecosystems or
subtropical which already have numerous endangered species. Therefore, we have to know that when a natural ingredient is not viable for the sustainability of the environment, since the synthetic alternative should be valued as more eco-sustainable.
And on the other hand I would like to remind you that natural does not always mean safe, ecological, clean…. like chemical or synthetic does not always mean unnatural, carcinogenic, toxic, dangerous,… We cannot stay on the surface of these terminologies that, as you have told us, are not subject to any regulation.
Finally, our expert reminds us that practically all the ingredients used in cosmetics must go through some type of chemical process before being incorporated into a cosmetic product. But it is also that everything is chemical… water too (it is H2O), and the toxicity or carcinogenicity of an ingredient is always dose dependent. This reminds us how the seeds of an apple contain amygdalin, a substance that releases cyanide… but at a dose that is not toxic, and is not prohibited for that reason.
Conclusion, that the fact that cosmetic brands tell us that their ingredients are natural, does not mean that they are not subjected to a chemical process of extraction, stabilization and so on. So let’s take a look at everything we’re told and don’t just stay on the surface.
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Photos | @lenadepons, Drew Dizzy Graham
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