Men’s Skincare is a Serious Issue – Organic is Best!
As buyOrganics adds Eselle Organics, the latest Soil Association certified men’s skin care line to its on-line store, Sonia Kalia-Sagoo examines the serious issues behind the surge in interest in organic skin care for men. Firstly, contrary to popular belief, organic skin care is not about men who like to wear cream, hug trees or eat quiche…. You shave don’t you? You wash your hair and use deodorant (hopefully!). What about hair gel and aftershave? Then this article is for you … read on!
From toothpaste to skin creams, shaving foams, deodorants and hair gels, right through to hair dyes, aftershaves and shampoos, men are putting more and more different products onto and into their bodies on a daily basis. Whilst the average woman uses 12 different toiletry products per day, applying over 175 chemical compounds to her body, the average man applies a little less than this, but with men’s skincare a rapidly growing market, they are fast catching up with some men using a great deal more.
Whilst anti-smoking remedies such as nicotine patches flag up the fact that 60 per cent of what we put onto our skin is absorbed into our bloodstreams, the connection between this and the slathering of face, hair and body with lotions and potions on a daily basis seems to go unheeded. According to US action lobby the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are ten particularly toxic substances found in skin care products which should be avoided at all costs. Whilst legislation is a little tighter in the EU, with on-line shopping booming, these days international boundaries are no barrier to people obtaining products from overseas, meaning that men can be exposed to suspect ingredients in their favourite products without being aware. Studies have shown that harmful ingredients in everyday products can cause cancers, affect fertility and certain “gender bending” toxins can affect hormones and have even been linked to feminisation of baby boys eg. breast growth. For the record, the ten ingredients you really should avoid are: Placenta (used in some specialized conditioners), Mercury, Lead (one of the ingredients in men’s hair colouring range Grecian for example), fragrance (yes! you may smell nice but fragrance one of the top five allergens in the world and really worth avoiding unless you pick unfragranced or organic products which contain essential oils instead), animal parts (shaving creams can contain tallow, which when sourced from mink and emu can be particularly hazardous, not to mention stomach-turning), hydroquinine (a skin lightening chemical), nanoparticles (increasingly added to suncreams and skincare products, both of which are used by men), phthalates (widely used in fragranced products and of particular concern to men, as phthalates have been intimated in sperm damage and hormone problems in males), and last but certainly not least, petroleum products including petroleum waste (coal tar), often used in scalp treatments such as anti-dandruff shampoos – which are targeted towards men.
But guys, don’t worry – you don’t have to look forward to a lifetime of scraggly hair, bushy beards and dodgy skin – help is at hand! Organic men’s grooming and personal care products are the ideal solution – not just for the male skin but also the environment, as organic ingredients are grown, harvested and produced with respect for nature and without pesticides, fertilizers or genetic modification. More and more brands are becoming available – such as Miessence, Spiezia, Earthbound Organics, EcoSopia, Green People and a new totally organic and paraben-free range of specialist products just for men, Eyre Biobotanics – all of which have been carefully chosen for specialist UK organic on-line store buyOrganics (www.buyorganics.co.uk). Recent additions to this store, Eselle Organics and Raw Gaia, both use only organically grown ingredients – which may sound a bit of a faff but honestly are made from cold pressed techniques which maintain the high antioxidant levels of the raw ingredients that make your skin and hair healthy from the inside out but not have any adverse affects which other man-made chemicals are suspected of.
Natural and organic creams and oils in men’s skin care ranges are particularly important in shaving and aftershave products, as they can dramatically help reduce the traumas often associated with shaving, such as rashes, nicks and ingrown hairs. For example, Miessence includes aloe vera, safflower and guar in their shaving range; Eyre Biobotanics uses lemon myrtle which protects against razor burn. Using a balm rather than an astringent after shaving is highly recommended – not just because of the toxic ingredients found in regular splash-ons, but because an organic balm will soothe an refresh rather than sting and cause inflammation. Miessence’s after shave balm contains organic witch hazel and chamomile, naturally soothing and without any hidden toxins.
Organic men’s skin care products certainly have the ingredients to do a better job than their non-organic counterparts, which is great news for men’s bodies inside and outside – and the ranges available are packaged just as attractively for a male audience – meaning they are a welcome addition to any man’s bathroom shelf, not just for his skin and well-being, but the environment as a whole.
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