The Hottest Natural Trends and Anti-Aging Ingredients in Skincare

It's no secret that the need for natural ingredients and clean care products are on the rise. It's imperative to know that not all "natural" is created equally. As an example, below we share a bit about a new program that a very large beauty brand (yes, you've heard of them!) is implementing nationwide in their stores. It's raising some eyebrows in the natural world as some ingredients are sneaking in that are not as wholesome as they could be. We'll divulge below.

Too many of us have experienced sensitivities and health concerns to not take notice of harmful additives and take matters in our own hands. We can say that it thrills us to no end that the top trending ingredients are natural and have been in our Qēt Botanicals products since the day we started sharing our treatments with you.

These two points bring us back to not only the basics, but are good rules of thumb when it comes to taking caring of ourselves and making purchasing decisions.

A growing trend ~ treat your body like your face.
We spend time cleansing, pampering, exfoliating, and hydrating our faces... but what about all of that other skin?! The average person carries about 22 feet of skin around daily, and of course most of this is not just the skin on our faces. Everything we touch can enter the blood stream within about 28 seconds. When slathering on that lotion all over the arms and legs this summer, know that our skin is taking it all in and is reading every ingredient, even if our eyes are not. We take the same amount of care for our body products as we do our face products... and yes, our body notices. :)

A necessary trend ~ environmentally friendly products and packaging.
From the very get-go when Qēt Botanicals was ready to be shared with you, it was important that we not only limit our ingredients and keep them healthy, but also limit the amount of packaging. The beauty industry is notorious for shedding massive amounts of waste. It's the reason we developed the half-box to house our serums and masks; less paper, less ink, less waste. We also use tree free labels, offset our carbon footprint with cleaner printing methods, and use glass and recycled materials wherever and whenever possible. We earned a Sustainability Award from Graphic Designers USA for these efforts. Rejoice! We focus on maintaining our efforts to be a zero waste and sustainable natural skincare and plant-based company... right down to the very last drop.

There can be a bit of green-washing when it comes to labels and added seals of approval for safe and clean products.

One such new seal of approval when it comes to clean beauty is the new program that Sephora (we knew you'd know who they are!) has implemented. While it does eliminate mineral oils, formaldehydes, phthalates, retinyl palmitate, hydroquinone, triclosan, and oxybenzone and a handful more, it does not ban PEGs or polyethylene glycols. These ingredients are still included in their 'natural' category. Even synthetic fragrances with a percentage of less than 1% in a formula are allowed. 

According to Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, PEGs are a moderate health hazard. Synthetic fragrances are one of the top culprits when it comes to being a reactive allergan. Even less than 1% of a 'fragrance' could literally contain dozens of synthetics making it up in the first place. Not very healthy, and all for the purpose of a synthetic smell. That does stink! 

Now let's chat about silicones, which also happens to be approved as being a 'clean' ingredient in this 'clean' seal program mentioned above. Are silicones safe for our skin.. and what about hair? You decide. One such popular silicone is dimethecone. It is another moderately hazardous chemical, as noted on EWG.org, that is added in many, many skincare and cosmetic products out there. The removal of it may change the way a product feels, which may be unfavorable to those that like the 'slip' and 'smoothness' of a cosmetic or product. Unfortunately, it may 'feel' good, but it is not good for us.

Dimethecone is one of the many synthetic silicones that adds slip and smoothness to a product. It's a topical ingredient that doesn't add any benefit to the skin or hair that it's being used on; rather, it is adding another moderately harmful ingredient into the mix. It's a polymer, or a variation of a plastic, and is a really cheap ingredient. These silicones can trap debris, bacteria, and dead skin cells in the pores. They are found in more conventional skincare lines than not, and they're another ingredient that Qēt Botanicals avoids. Here is a nuts and bolts article via Beauty Editor on seven reasons why we should avoid silicones; they can interfere with cell renewal, cause skin breakouts and damage, and more.

For Qēt Botanicals and for other clean beauty advocates and brands, including these types of ingredients and labeling them approved as 'clean' doesn't sit well with us. We have taken steps to remove all harmful and hazardous ingredients in our brand. Why give the natural nod to those that really haven't cleaned up their entire skincare palate?

The bottom line is that you, me, us... we all demand transparency. Having national chains step up to the plate and recognize the difference between clean and conventional products means a lot for the industry. We're hoping that things continue to improve as many shelves are loaded with commercial products that are far from safe. It's a great step in the right direction!

If you want to gripe about something, tell us a thing or two about your clean journey, or just say, "Hey, I get it..." send us quick note. We're happy to hear from you and we love to learn from you through your experiences.

Summer is in full swing. We're slipping into the sun-drenched days, we might be taking a little time off here and there, and we're chasing the perfect summer weekend. Then the new week starts and it's time to hop back on the clock again. We don't want to get burned out, and if we can't get away, then it's really important to know how to take smart breaks to stay productive and happy every darn day.

We sneak-in time away or a vacation to rejuvenate, regenerate, and sometimes to just get our groove back. It's really, really important to do this every day, at work, at home, or wherever we spend our days. Doing this keeps our productivity in high gear without suffering from fatigue and burnout. It's all about taking smart breaks. We can take a quick break during the day and then get back into being even more productive than before.

If you haven't dialed into Marie Forleo yet, then take a peek and watch some of her fun and inspiring/helpful/enlightening videos. We're highlighting one of her latest ~ Five Science-Backed Ways to Beat Burnout by Taking Smart Breaks. It's all about the R.E.S.E.T. to stay productive and happy.

Marie breaks it down into an easy acronym to remember. Here we go:

R ~ review the day ahead and plan breaks in advance, even the night before, if possible.
E ~ make breaks easy to remember. Set timers. Science shows us that we're the most productive in 90 minutes snaps, and taking a 5-10 minute little adjustment in between these breaks keeps us moving at full speed ahead.
S ~ step away from the screens. It's not only good for the muscles in your eyes, but for our creativity.
E ~ exersate... a clever combination of exercise and hydrate! Moving the muscles and taking a quick walk gives us those happy hormones. We sometimes break into a little dance, or make a snow angel, or a sand angel, on the floor (depending on which Skin Studio we're in).  And hydrate! The lack of hydration increases brain fog and can make us dull and not funny even when we think we are. :)
T ~ then it's time to tune back in after the break. Regroup, sit up straight, stand tall, and get ready for your R.E.S.E.T. Easy? Helpful? Proven? Yes.

Image: MarieForleo.com

Whether it's cleaning up the routine at home, being aware of the ingredients we're eating, or being mindful of what we're using on our bodies and where it came from, the destination is sweet, but it's the journey along that way that teaches us.

Any of us that have been through hardships or struggles with health know that it can be a blessing because of the lessons we learn along the way. My Rosacea, thyroid disease, adult acne, and sensitive skin... these are some of my best teachers! :)

Until next time, keep chasing happiness, remember to R.E.S.E.T. yourself, and know the difference between 'clean' products that those that really aren't. Like a shark lurking in the water, the scary ingredients can sneak up on you. Yes, this is an actual photo I snapped at our local beach! 

Enjoy summer!

xx

~ Lisa