Are we too clean?
Is our crusade to have healthy skin causing us to cleanse frequently?
Is lathering up with a decadent body wash the guilt-free indulgence we once thought it was?
And what repercussions – if any – do our cravings for cleanliness and healthy skin have?
Are there beauty implications in over-cleansing?
- stripping our hair of its natural oil
- damaging our skin’s protective properties
- upsetting the delicate micro-flora in our skin’s biome
Since World War II, more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been introduced to our society, with 40 million tonnes manufactured worldwide. Interestingly, we seem far more susceptible to allergies and autoimmune diseases nowadays.
The simple fact is that we live in a chemical soup – from our environment to the haven of our homes.
Consumers should be asking if we know what ingredients are in our personal care products and what are the best body wash ingredients we can use.
Common Sulphates
One of the biggest culprits is surfactant chemical compounds responsible for the luscious foam found in your body washes.
Traditionally, surfactants were derived from petrochemicals, and although biodegradable, they were tough to break down. The concentrations of these foaming agents in sewerage plants and groundwater may be tiny, but their long-term consequences are still unknown.
If you are looking for the best body wash ingredients, sulfate-free shampoo products don’t contain the controversial ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS).
Best Body Wash Ingredients
Below, we have compiled a list of some of the best body wash ingredients you may want to consider if natural is how you want to go.
These ingredients are derived from natural sources, such as coconut oil and sugar, helping protect your skin’s health.
Natural Detergents
Detergents: Alpha and Beta sugar are some of the safest bath and body wash ingredients. They do the same job as their chemical counterparts, helping to release surface tension and loosen oil and dirt while being mild and kind to the skin.
Fat-restoring Agent Omega: This is one of the best body wash ingredients for dry skin, naturally replacing essential fats in the hair and scalp.
PH-Regulating Ingredient: Lactic acid naturally balances the pH of a product to match our skin’s pH balance. It is a very effective body wash ingredient, which gently sloughs away dead skin cells.
Natural formulas may also include vitamins, emollients, and botanical extracts.
These harmful ingredients may have lost their lustre; there are psychological reasons why we enjoy the art of cleansing and massaging shampoo into our hair, for instance, stimulating the production of endorphins, which gives us a sense of well-being.
To conclude: The naked truth.
For all the things that we berate ourselves for in life, surely being clean shouldn’t be one of them?
We need to educate ourselves on what the best ingredients for body wash are for our skin and start using them.
This will help to protect not only the health of our body but also the health of our planet.
After all, what we use on our skin
- Goes down the drain
- Into the ecosystem
- Into the water table
- This feeds our animals and plants
- Or poisons them
So everything you use in and on your skin should be nutritious and safe.
Starting with your personal care products, including your body wash ingredients.
Hi Samantha! Great site you’re doing a wonderful job. I’m experiencing problems with skin sensitivity and allergies, getting sick often etc. I’m taking small steps to change what I put on and put into my body. I’ll keep reading your wonderful site ?
Hi Ebony
Thank you for the lovely message, this is what is so rewarding to me, having some like yourself who wants to return their skin back to health, getting something out of the literiture I write. Thanks once again for the positive feedback 🙂
Thank you, Samantha, for this information! It is very helpful. God bless you and more power. 🙂
Thank you so much Samantha you are awesome, I myself are into the beauty industry, your website has helped me a lot in my current research on all natural body wash ingredients.
I am so glad you have oundthe information of use
Yes It was very helpful ill tell you all about how much you have helped me soon enough thank you and your awesome!