If you have ever stood in front of the mystifying array of bottles, tubes and jars on your local department store's beauty counter, feeling completely confused, you are not alone. Fine, so everything has its contents labelled, but what on earth is that eighteen syllable compound, and what does it do? The TV commercial might have bombarded you with 'the science bit' to explain why you should buy it, but do you really want to put it on your skin?
There have been several scare stories about common ingredients in commercial skincare products which research suggests are carcinogenic. It's easy to leap immediately into panic over this, and the internet is full of articles about 'how your face cream is killing you', but - as industry manufacturers are keen to point out - there is still little concrete evidence to prove a direct link between skincare products and cancer. For example, this site on the safety of antiperspirants, published by Unilever, quotes several experts as attributing cancer solely to 'western' lifestyle factors such as diet.
However, as with the cocktail effect theory, which suggests that the chemicals and pollutants we absorb every day through our food, skincare and environment may combine unpredictably to cause health problems, some researchers continue to advise caution in the matter of what we put into our bodies. [To read more about the cocktail effect, you may find the PAN-UK (Pesticide Action Network) site useful.] It is my personal opinion that this is really just common sense. Centuries ago, women applied white lead as a cosmetic paint. More recently, we believed organo-phosphates and DDT were safe.
Additionally, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may be concerned about animal products in your skincare. Creams and lotions for the skin, for example, are essentially made by mixing water and fat and, to do this, you need an emulsifier. Most commercial emulsifiers are made from rendered pig fat, and so it can be very difficult to find products that are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Difficult, too, is finding skincare products that are actually made sustainably and ethically. A large proportion of manufactured creams use petroleum industry by-products, while others bill themselves as 'natural' or somehow 'eco-friendly' by containing soy or palm oil, which often supports mass deforestation in vulnerable places such as Borneo.
So, if you are concerned about the contents, safety, sustainability, ethics or - let's face it - even just the cost of your skincare products (it could just be me, but I don't like to spend more on a moisturiser than I normally do on a pair of shoes), a viable solution may be to make your own. It's easy, fun and can even be turned into a second income. You'll find you can make everything from cleanser to shampoo in your own kitchen and, best of all, you can tailor your recipes to suit your own needs.
What Next?
Of course, the first step is determining what your skin needs. To go to my page on skin types or take the Know Your Skin Test, click here. There's also a glossary of raw materials I use and an explanation of terms here, or use the links at the top of the page.
If you want to cut to the chase, get straight to the method and find out how to make your own skincare products, click here for the recipes. If you are looking for specific info on skincare for lymphoedema, post-cancer or radiotherapy, please click here.
If you're not sure you want to make your own skincare products, you might like to check out a few natural or holistic brands. Try Dr. Hauschka, Weleda, or Logona for hypoallergenic, natural skincare and beauty products. You can also buy some of my handmade products securely through the web, or come visit me at craft fairs around the South West.
If you'd like to know more about some of the controversial ingredients used in commercial skincare products, why they're thought to be dangerous, and the available alternatives, take a look at my blog entry: 'What the heck are you putting on your face? : Potentially Harmful Ingredients in Skincare'.