The Truth About Skincare Trends: How to Choose What’s Safe for Your Skin with Honey Girl Organics
Honey Girl Organics is all about nourishing your skin with the highest-quality formulas available, crafted with ingredients that are as close to their natural state as possible. Everything we create is done with care and intention so you and your whole family can trust us with your health and skincare needs. That’s why we love diving into skincare trends, providing you with a helpful resource to determine whether a trend is worth experimenting with.
This blog is a little different: instead of focusing on one specific trend, we’re educating you on how to make more informed choices when deciding whether to jump on the latest skincare bandwagon. After all, our goal at Honey Girl Organics is to empower you with the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for your skin!
With new buzzwords popping up daily and trends being created overnight, it’s more important than ever to have discernment. So, let’s dive into how you can spot trends worth trying and those you might want to steer clear of. This involves evaluating your skin type, the health of the formula based on its ingredients, and whether it would truly benefit your routine.
The Healthy Trend Checklist: How to Spot Healthy Ingredients vs. Toxic Ones
The first item on our checklist is the ability to scan an ingredient list and identify red flags. It's essential to be able to read labels confidently and know precisely what you're putting on your skin daily!
🔍 Look for Obvious Toxic Ingredients
Many conventional products, with flashy marketing and social media buzz, are packed with toxic ingredients. These products might be marketed as a "miracle balm" that solves all your skin concerns but lurking behind the pretty packaging are ingredients you should never bring into your home, let alone apply to your skin daily. For example, 1,4-Dioxane is not listed as an ingredient but can be a hidden contaminant in foaming products like shampoos and body washes. It is formed as a byproduct of ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG compounds, and other ingredients with 'eth' or 'polyethylene glycol.' Since it's a known carcinogen, it's best to avoid these ingredients when possible!
🌸 Avoid Products with Artificial Fragrances
Yes, the product might transport you to a tropical island with the scent of coconuts and vanilla, but what you’re not smelling are the harmful and potentially toxic chemicals used to produce that fragrance! If the packaging simply says "fragrance" and doesn't explain the source, you can almost guarantee that these added ingredients harm your skin, body, and overall health. Many artificial fragrances contain phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption, allergies, and even long-term health risks.
🎨 Say No to Artificial Colors
Some of the most beloved skincare products are filled with bright colors, but unless stated otherwise, these likely contain artificial dyes! Watch for ingredients like 'CI,' 'FD&C,' 'D&C,' or 'lake' dyes; many are derived from petroleum and linked to skin irritation, allergies, and potential toxicity with long-term exposure.
⚠️ Avoid Ingredients Linked to Hormonal Disruption
Certain chemicals, like BHA or BHT, can disrupt your endocrine system, which regulates hormones in your body. These chemicals are also linked to reproductive toxicity. Another ingredient to watch out for is anything with the word "paraben" in it, as these are known hormone disruptors.
⛔ Ditch Petroleum and Petroleum-Based Ingredients
Petroleum and mineral oils are often found in conventional skincare formulas because they create a barrier on the skin. However, they can do more harm than good and should be avoided! These ingredients are linked to an increased risk of cancer and hormone imbalances. So, when deciding between a trendy product and taking care of your overall health, the trade-off is simply not worth it.
Get Comfortable Using Tools to Help You Decide on Trends
We highly recommend using the EWG's Skin Deep Database. This tool is a game-changer! You can scan products using their barcode feature, which will give you a rating for the product's safety. It also provides a detailed breakdown of the ingredients, a health-to-toxicity scale, and an explanation of why the product might be rated higher in toxicity.
We get it; avoiding toxic ingredients can feel like a full-time job. However, using an app or tool like this to help you decide can be extremely helpful, especially if you’re just learning about healthy skincare. It can support you when determining if a skincare trend aligns with your health goals!
Not All Trends Are Created Equal – Your Skin Type Matters!
Now that you’ve done your ingredient detective work, it’s time to get personal! It's essential to remember that trends aren’t one-size-fits-all. Even if the trend has passed the ingredient quality test, it might not be right for your skin type or specific needs.
At Honey Girl, we believe in personalized skincare, which is why this is part of our checklist. If a trend is meant for oily skin but you have dry skin, it’s not a match! Getting comfortable with this checklist process will help you determine if a trending product is worth your money and time and if it truly meets your skin's unique needs.
Skincare trends are fun and exciting! It’s thrilling to follow influencers and watch their experiences with new products, and we totally get the allure of trying something that promises impressive results. However, being mindful of the ingredients, knowing your skin’s needs, and using tools like the EWG Skin Deep Database will help keep your trends clean and your skin clear.
Always look beyond the buzzwords and marketing, and you’ll be on your way to healthy, glowing skin, no matter what trend you follow!
With love,
Ashley and the Honey Girl Organics Team