When life starts to feel out of control, it’s always nice to empower ourselves with what we can control. And what’s that thing? We can control is what we put on our skin—which is actually a pretty big deal!
Just like our food, the ingredients in our skincare and beauty products affect how we feel inside and out. As the largest organ in our bodies, our skin continually absorbs toxins—some of which even threaten our immune systems—so wherever we can get rid of them, we should! It all starts with the products we put on our skin.
What are some of our top 2 must have ingredients in skincare?
When it comes to keeping your beautiful skin as healthy as possible—both physically and what you see when you look in the mirror, the number of options available to help you achieve this goal might feel seemingly endless.
Want to know what ingredients are in body oil vs lotion? Click here →
Coconut oil and shea butter are two options available for healthy skin. But what’s the different between the two in our must have ingredients list?
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is a versatile natural product extracted from the meat of coconuts. It’s known for its high saturated fat content, which makes it solid at room temperature but easily melts when warmed. In the skincare world, coconut oil is a true multitasker. It’s celebrated for its ability to lock in moisture, keeping your skin hydrated and smooth. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great choice for soothing irritated skin and protecting against environmental damage.
Click here to read more about Coconut Oil vs. Shea Butter →
What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree and is renowned for its rich, creamy texture. Unlike coconut oil, shea butter is packed with fatty acids and vitamins that provide deep hydration and nourishment. It melts at body temperature, making it easy to apply and absorb into your skin. Shea butter is particularly loved for its ability to moisturize without clogging pores, making it ideal for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Plus, its healing properties make it perfect for soothing sunburns and minor burns, giving your skin the TLC it deserves.
Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare + What to Choose Instead
Thinking of swapping your current skincare for clean ingredients? Learn which ingredients to avoid and find better alternatives to build your clean skincare routine:
Phthalates
Used in skincare products and fragrances to make a scent last longer, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors with links to breast cancer, developmental issues, reproductive harm, and more. Phthalates are actually an entire group of chemicals with different names, and what’s more, they often slip in under the radar as the “fragrance” ingredient listed on a product may or may not include phthalates and other chemicals.
Luckily, there are plenty of natural ways to embrace an alluring scent while avoiding phthalates! Our Eau De Toilette and Attar roll-ons are crafted without phthalates, and can last just as long. By applying your scent right after you bathe (when pores are open), spritzing a little onto your hairbrush, or layering with moisturizer, there is no need to include harmful chemicals to make your perfume last longer.
Sulfates (SLS)
Sulfates are to credit for the foamy lather in most skincare products. Unfortunately, they’re a known irritant that strip away skin’s own natural oils while making it easier for any other questionable ingredients to penetrate skin. They’re also often derived from palm oil, the demand for which has devastating environmental effects, an ingredient to avoid in favor of cruelty-free skincare.
Ditch the foam for clean skincare products that are just as effective without the froth. Swap your bubble bath for a milky, silky hydrating soak like ZENTS Wash that uses gentle fruit extracts to cleanse and exfoliate, and choose a sulfate-free shampoo. ZENTS Shampoo takes a bit more time to lather, but its plant-derived botanicals make it gentle, nourishing, and color safe.
Parabens
You’ve probably heard of parabens by now—the controversial preservatives added to countless beauty and skincare formulas. Although more research is necessary to determine how, the link between these chemicals and cancer is enough for us to avoid it altogether. The only downside to foregoing the parabens is a shorter shelf life—our Lotion is best used within six months of purchase—well worth the sacrifice to us! The best moisturizer will contain natural, powerful ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil to help rebuild your skin’s moisture barrier, so look for that instead.
Propylene glycol
Interesting fact about propylene glycol: It’s sometimes described as a “false moisturizer” because it doesn’t actually have nourishing nutrients or vitamins, it just mimics its effects. Like sulfates, it can enhance skin’s permeability, cause irritation, and provoke allergic reactions. Body oils that use naturally nourishing ingredients like the coconut oil and vitamin E in ZENTS Body Oil have no need for it!
Dyes
Artificial dyes are no friend to those with sensitive skin, as they can disrupt our skin’s delicate microbiome, sometimes causing irritated, imbalanced skin. And while they don’t have adverse effects on everyone, we like our products as close to nature as we can get! Why cover up nature’s beauty with dyes? Concreta is as natural as it gets from the organic shea butter and coconut oil to its hand-carved soapstone container.
Sound complicated? We hope it helps you to know that we’re committed to 100% clean skincare in all our ZENTS and ANTARA Organic products.
