Fragrantly Beautiful

Why Aren't You Using the Right Facial Cream?

By Laurel Levine

Let me tell you a quick story. The old standard for facial cream is still one of the most common ingredients that are used today. Petrolatum or white petroleum jelly has been in use for over 50 years. When it first hit the market, promoters claimed that it promoted healing and moisturized. It has been proven that those claims were false, but that didn't stop cosmetic companies from using it.

As long as their customers don't find out that petrolatum is not actually a moisturizer, they'll be okay. But, as more and more people learn about better alternatives, some of the major cosmetic companies may end up out of business.

Many of us are returning to more natural products and with good cause. Natural ingredients are safer and more effective than their synthetic counterparts. Mineral oil and petrolatum, at one time, took the place of natural plant oils, which had been used since ancient times to soften, smooth and soothe irritated skin.

Today's better facial cream contains many of those ancient plant oils. Ingredients like Shea butter, jojoba oil, avocado, wakame kelp, grape seed oil, olive oil and active Manuka honey are being seen more frequently. And, it's about time.

Those ingredients can keep your skin younger looking and even repair some of the damage that less beneficial skincare products have done over time. Plant oils, fruits and honey have antioxidant activity. Antioxidants prevent and repair free radical damage. That damage occurs on a molecular level, but eventually it becomes visible in the form of wrinkles and sagging.

The reason that petrolatum cannot moisturize is because crude oil, the raw ingredient, is not similar to the skin's own oils. The oil produced by the sebaceous glands, deep beneath the skin's surface, provides lubrication and protection from the elements. We wash sebum away with our cleansers, because old oily buildup attracts dirt and bacteria, causing odor and blemishes. But, if we don't use something to replenish the outer layers, they will become dry and easily damaged.
Using a facial cream after cleansing is important. Plant oils are very similar to sebum. Shea butter is nearly identical. These oils are readily absorbed. They do not cause greasiness and will not clog the pores as petrolatum does. The better grades of Shea butter have pharmaceutical activity. They reduce redness and underlying inflammation. After just a few weeks, they transform the skin's appearance.

Shea butter is typically recommended for nighttime facial cream. It is a little too heavy to use during the day. Grape seed oil is a better ingredient for active day creams. For women, grape seed oil provides the added benefit of preventing makeup from clogging the pores. Women that use moisturizers that contain it find that their makeup is easier to remove.

So there you have it. Petrolatum is not the only bad ingredient that cosmetic companies commonly use. It's just one of the most common ones. A well informed consumer can easily find a safe and effective facial cream, as long as she reads the label of ingredients.

If you'd like to learn more about little known but clinically tested natural ingredients that are used for treating healthy skin, visit my website today.

Laurel is a long time user and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.beautiful-skin-site.com/

By Laurel Levine
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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 3:12 PM