Green direction in cosmetology

Many vital processes in the skin depend on the presence of substances that the body cannot synthesize itself. A person receives them from food, mainly from plants. Among them are such important compounds as antioxidants, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Often attempts to isolate a particular active principle from plants in its pure form by clearing it of "ballast" end in failure - purified substances exhibit less or incomplete activity compared to the original plant extracts. This suggests that in addition to those substances whose properties we know, plants contain many other components that are also necessary for the body. The human body evolved surrounded by these substances, they became an integral part of its metabolism, and with a lack of them, it can no longer function correctly. Let us add that since time immemorial, people have been treated with plants and used them to care for their skin and hair. And the more data appears on the amazing complexity of the functioning of living systems, the close interaction of body cells and the laws by which they live, the more obvious it becomes that man is unlikely to ever be able to come up with something better than unique recipes created by nature.

There are no labels, annotations or recommendations for use on the products from the "nature's storehouse". All we know about their properties is either data obtained as a result of scientific research (and it has not yet been possible to study all the substances contained in plants) or information stored in the treasury of folk experience. Since among the substances synthesized by plants there are substances that are either toxic in themselves or become toxic when interacting with other substances (as well as under the influence of UV radiation, long-term storage, etc.), we cannot consider natural cosmetics a priori "good" and "harmless". In addition, the creation of space products containing only natural ingredients is an art that requires knowledge and skill. If the ingredients are poorly selected, "natural cosmetics" may be unstable, susceptible to oxidation or microbial action, or have an unpleasant consistency; irritants and personal substances, allergens may get into it. And then cosmetics containing many useful stress substances will become a source of serious problems.

Of course, cosmetics should contain natural substances. And if cosmetics contain "more healing natural elixirs", we will all only benefit. Provided that the manufacturer of natural cosmetics approaches its creation very responsibly and has the necessary knowledge, and the labels and annotations contain only accurate and truthful information.

Cosmetics are intended to improve a person's appearance, but consumers usually expect more from cosmetics and expect an improvement in the condition of the skin. Improving the condition of the skin is a much more complex task than improving its appearance. Therefore, it is important to understand that most cosmetics have a temporary, purely cosmetic (not therapeutic) effect. When choosing cosmetics, it is necessary to consider the possible effect of all its ingredients on the skin - from the base to active additives. Marketing considerations play a large role in the development of cosmetic formulations - the cream should have an attractive appearance, be pleasant to apply to the skin, be well absorbed, leave a feeling of tenderness and softness, and have an immediate improving effect. Sometimes these requirements are poorly compatible with the safety requirements of the cosmetic product. The following components of cosmetic formulations, surface-active substances (SAS), solvents, preservatives, saturated fats, as well as some biologically active additives, which can cause an allergic reaction in some people, can have a negative effect on the skin.

Cosmetics can be useful without penetrating deeply into the skin. They can act as an additional shield that will protect the skin from dehydration, intercept toxins, cut off harmful UV radiation, etc.

Recently, there has been a tendency to saturate cosmetics with biologically active substances capable of influencing the physiology of the skin. The term cosmeceuticals has been proposed for these preparations. In this regard, the issue of the safety of these products is particularly acute. In order to protect your skin from damage, you must be conscious when choosing cosmetics, remembering that a cosmetic product does not consist of biologically active substances alone and that all its ingredients have a certain biological activity.