How the Wellnessed All Natural Skin Care Line Started
We created a line of all natural skin care products because we wanted a daily facial cleansing system for ourselves and our families that we could trust. We also wanted it to be effective and nourishing for our skin. And we wanted our skin care system to being completely natural and 100% toxin free.
In the past, I would buy personal care products labeled organic or all natural. When I studied the ingredient list, I discovered it included many unnecessary items. Many were definitely not nourishing!
We were already creating personal care products using essential oils and organic butters. These include our body butters, body scrubs and essential oil rollerball blends. I was confident we could make an amazing skin care line using the power of pure therapeutic grade essential oils.
The Wellnessed Skin Care System was born.
We spent six months researching the ingredients we chose for each product and skincare formula. We tested different combinations on ourselves (and brave friends and family members). We are so proud of the end result. A complete all natural skin care system that is effective, natural, and oh so good for your skin!
Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Your Skin Care Routine
We studied organic ingredients to use in our personal skin care products. We also discovered many of the ingredients we wanted to avoid. Unfortunately, these toxic ingredients are found in most skin care products you find on your local store shelves. Exposure to the chemicals in many of these products may not have a negative affect if a person is only exposed to that single chemical. The fact is, we use multiple products daily that expose us to toxins that could affect our health and wellness.
According to a survey conducted by the Environmental Working Group, an activist group committed to empowering people to live healthier lives, the average adult uses 9 personal care products daily. These 9 products alone can have a combination of 126 unique chemical ingredients.
The survey results are disturbing.
12.2 million adults are exposed daily to ingredients that are known to be cause cancer or are suspected to be cancer causing every day. This survey result was only focused on their use of personal care products.
We absorb, inhale and ingest many of these chemicals into our bodies. Approximately 168 chemicals in personal care products alone! This doesn’t take into account the chemicals we encounter throughout our day in other ways. Plastic containers holding our food, pesticides sprayed on our fruits and vegetables or the chemicals we use to clean our homes.
The exposure to all these toxins and chemicals can add up over time.
Top Toxins to Avoid
Toxins and chemicals commonly found in skincare products are:
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives that help prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Parabens have estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. Found in makeup, body washes, deodorants, shampoos and facial cleansers. Parabens absorb through our biggest organ, our skin, into our bodies.
The most common parabens used in cosmetic and beauty products are methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.
Synthetic Colors
Synthetic colors are chemicals or ingredients used to dye or add colors to many personal care products. Made from petroleum or coal tar sources, synthetic colors are suspected to be a human carcinogen. The European Union has already banned synthetic colors.
Fragrance
Be wary when you see the word fragrance on a label. You could be putting countless chemicals on your body without knowing what toxic chemical you applied. Or even how many toxic chemicals. The ingredient “fragrance” is a term that cosmetic companies use to protect their “secret formulas”.
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database, fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.
Phthalates
These chemicals are endocrine disruptors. Phthalates have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, early breast development in girls and reproductive birth defects in both males and females. They are commonly added to “fragrances” and are not always listed on the label. They are found in deodorants, perfumes/colognes, hair sprays and moisturizers.
Mineral Oil
One of the most common raw ingredients found in skin care is Mineral Oil. But just because something is natural, doesn’t always mean it’s good for us. Mineral Oil is a by-product of the distillation process that turns petroleum into gasoline. In short, it is made from petroleum. It’s colorless, odorless and inexpensive, and used in many moisturizers.
It sits on top of the skin and helps reduce water loss from skin. But it creates a barrier on top of your skin and can clog pores and cause breakouts. It has no nutritive value, meaning it does nothing good for your skin. It doesn’t even provide hydration, because it doesn’t penetrate the skin. If you’re going to go through the expense and work of cleansing your skin and then applying a moisturizer, the moisturizer should be full of nutrition for your skin!
For a comprehensive list of toxic ingredients in skin and body care products, I recommend going to the Environmental Working Group’s Top Tips for Safer Products.
Natural Skin Care Ingredients Found in The Wellnessed Skin Care System
We wanted to use natural organic skin care ingredients in our skin care formulas. Our goal was to provide benefits to your skin through the topical use of all natural ingredients and pure therapeutic essential oils.
We met our goal with the following list of natural ingredients for skin care:
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond Oil is a great moisturizer because it’s naturally rich in vitamin e and fatty acids. The vitamin e in sweet almond oil is a powerful antioxidant. It helps stave off oxidative stress and keeps your skin's collagen layer intact and healthy. This is important because collagen helps keep your skin looking great and wrinkle free. When your skin doesn’t have enough antioxidants to fight free radicals it can deplete your skin's collagen layer. The fatty acids in Sweet Almond Oil retain moisture and can help heal chapped or irritated skin.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E Oil is sometimes referred to as a skin vitamin because it has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It provides moisture and hydration to dry skin and may help repair and heal skin including wrinkles and fine lines. Vitamin E oil moisturizes skin and can effectively remove dirt and impurities while helping your skin maintain the proper oil balance. It is a nutrient and an antioxidant that fights free radicals (free radicals can damage cells causing illness and aging).
Castor Oil
Castor oil boosts collagen production and softens and hydrates your skin. Due to its high concentration of essential fatty acids, Castor Oil penetrates your skin delivering intense hydration and decreasing the appearance of scars, fine lines and wrinkles. The essential fatty acids present in Castor Oil hydrate and plump scar tissue, while at the same time encouraging new healthy cell growth.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening Primrose Oil is anti-inflammatory and moisturizing and another great source of essential fatty acids. In particular, linoleic acid which is critical to maintaining healthy skin. If your skin tends to be too dry, or too oily, there’s a good chance it is lacking in linoleic acid. Evening Primrose Oil can help balance your skin, keeping it healthy and nourished.
Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil is full of vitamins and antioxidants and the essential fatty acids known to correct dark spots while minimizing fine lines and scars.
Calendula Oil
Calendula Oil softens and soothes skin.
Aloe Vera Gel
The Aloe Plant is called the “medicine plant” for good reason. The healing properties of this plant are amazing. Aloe Vera Gel contains two hormones - auxin and gibberellins. Both of these hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Gibberellins stimulates new cell growth and helps speed the skin's healing process. The all natural benefits of these hormones, combined with the fact that Pure Aloe Vera Gel is super moisturizing without adding oil to your skin, makes Aloe Vera Gel a great option for anyone with oily skin or acne-prone skin.
French Yellow Clay
French Yellow Clay is a great choice for all skin types, but is especially great for those with more mature and/or sensitive skin. This gentle clay pulls toxins from deep within your skin and stimulates blood circulation. At the same time essential minerals within the clay release and absorb into your skin, healing and softening your skin.
Fullers Earth Clay
Fullers Earth clay is one of the best clays for those with oily or acne-prone skin. It has the ability to soak up excess oil in the skin, removes dirt and dead skin cells. This clay also removes excess sebum (oil secreted from the sebaceous glands in your skin). This clay also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Making it a wonderful and natural ingredient to keep your skin clear and healthy.
Buttermilk Powder
The lactic acid in buttermilk powder is a great addition to our facial cleanser. It gently exfoliates, softens, and brightens your skin. Buttermilk’s high acidic content it is useful for tightening skin and treating age spots.
Organic Honey Powder
Organic Honey Powder is full of powerful antioxidants and can help slow down the aging process of your skin.
Raw Demerara Sugar
A gentle exfoliant and natural humectant. Raw demerara sugar keeps skin hydrated while encouraging cell turnover to generate fresher, younger looking skin.
Organic Oats
Organic Oats is a gentle and natural exfoliant.
Activated Charcoal
We added Activated Charcoal to our skin care system because of its ability to draw impurities and bacteria to the surface of your skin. It pulls toxins and impurities out of your skin to help make sure your skin stays healthy and clear.
Amaranth
Micro beads in your cleanser can work great to gently scrub your skin. The problem with most micro beads in commercial cleansers is that they are generally made from tiny bits of plastic. These little “beads” end up in the environment. So we use tiny little beads of an all natural grain, Amaranth! Gently scrub and exfoliate your skin without adding plastic into the environment.
Rose Water
There’s so much to say about rose water and its benefits for your skin. Rose water balances your skin's Ph levels and controls excess oil production. Rose water contains incredible anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce redness and irritation and prevents acne. Rose water’s antioxidant properties can help strengthen skin cells and regenerate skin tissue. The use of rose water dates all the way back to Cleopatra, who used it in her skin care routine!
Witch Hazel
A great and all natural way to remove dirt and oil from the skin while tightening and toning.
Pure Essential Oils
A custom blend of 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils chosen for their topical properties in cleaning, healing and nurturing your sensitive skin. A few of the oils used in several of the skin care products include:
Frankincense essential oil because it helps strengthen your skin and improves its tone and elasticity. Frankincense has powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin healing properties.
We also include Rose Essential Oil because of its ability to increase your skin's permeability. It helps your skin opens up and allows more of the other beneficial ingredients to soak deep into your skin so you can reap all the amazing benefits from your Wellnessed Skin Care Routine.
