Surely you have ever found yourself in the dilemma of whether to choose a natural cosmetic product or one that contains chemicals. On the one hand, natural products are sold to us as superior since they are “purer” and beneficial for our skin. And, for a few years now, marketing has been responsible for creating this negative image of those that contain chemicals, giving them the image of being harmful or ineffective.

But, the truth is that not everything chemical is toxic, nor is everything natural healthy. Since its inception, cosmetics and chemistry have been great allies, and it is undoubtedly an industry in which science has a lot to do with it and it will be difficult for them to be completely separated.
For example, making a cream might sound easy, but it is not it's as much about the creation itself as it is about what its purpose is: Is it a moisturizer? for wrinkles? To remove stains? The function of each depends on the chemical affinity between its components and its formulation.

That said, the effectiveness of a product depends on the effectiveness between components and not so much on whether they are chemical or not. Something as simple as soap to remove grease depends 100% on the chemical reaction, as well as hair dyes and their ability to change color (regardless of whether they are natural dyes or not).

Today more than ever, the world of cosmetics is surrounded by many myths and half-truths about the use and role of chemistry and chemical products. At CHEM FLUID we love to provide you with useful information to help you make decisions, so we've done this blog to tell you about some myths about the use of chemicals in cosmetics.

What are the main myths and truths that revolve around cosmetics?

MYTH: NATURAL COSMETICS DO NOT CONTAIN CHEMICALS

Natural cosmetology, also known as green cosmetics, is actually no better or worse than conventional cosmetics. In fact, sometimes what changes is the origin of the ingredients. For example: vegan cosmetics are aimed at a specific consumer with specific lifestyle habits, therefore their composition will not contain any ingredient derived from animal origin such as lanolin.

As for organic or natural cosmetic products, the difference also lies in the origin of the ingredients and the chemical transformation, but it has NOTHING to do with the effectiveness of the product. A product may be natural but not necessarily effective for its purpose. 

In other words, when a cosmetic product says it is natural, it mainly refers to the origin of its raw material. But any cosmetic ingredient, whether natural or containing chemicals, must be processed so that it can fulfill the function for which it was created.

TRUTH: CHEMICAL COSMETICS IS NOT “WORSE”

Keep in mind that the most suitable cosmetic for you is the one that best meets your specific needs. There are ingredients that are highly effective and are obtained by chemical synthesis, since this process allows the isolation of the most powerful component.

In addition, there are cosmetics that cannot be manufactured entirely with natural ingredients, an example is sunscreen.

MYTH: NATURAL COSMETICS AND PERFUMERY ONLY INCLUDES MAKE-UP, CREAM AND PERFUME

This is very FALSE. It is true that when we mention cosmetics and perfumery, these products are the ones that first come to mind, but this world is much more varied; shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, oils, deodorants and much more are part of this industry.

MYTH: COSMETICS AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR OUR SKIN HEALTH

This is another great myth supported mainly by marketing, which over the years has sold what is natural as "healthier", but it is not necessarily true. As we told you a moment ago, that a cosmetic product is Natural doesn't make it better or worse, it just makes it different.

Similarly, it all depends on the purpose of the product and even the type of skin. For example: if a person has very sensitive skin, it may be more advisable to use natural products since they do not contain chemical ingredients. But if a person suffers from skin conditions or allergies, the most recommended and effective thing to do is to use a conventional cosmetic product that can act immediately and solve the root problem.

TRUTH: THE PRESENCE OF CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS DOES NOT INCREASE THE RISK OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS

One of the great advantages of using chemicals in cosmetics is that their composition is 100% known. The amount of product used is much more precise than a product of natural origin, where its composition is not exact and may vary. 

One of the great advantages of using chemicals in cosmetics is that their composition is 100% known. The amount of product used is much more precise than a product of natural origin, where its composition is not exact and may vary. 

MYTH: THE PRESENCE OF CHEMICALS IN A COSMETIC PRODUCT MAKES IT MORE TOXIC 

Ingredients such as silicones, preservatives, parabens and sulfates have gained a bad reputation for being harmful to health. 

But the truth is that for it to have an adverse effect it would require a very high concentration. And, as we mentioned before, everything will depend on the purpose for which you want to use a product. It is unfair to say that a product is good or bad judging only its composition, since the analysis must be more complete and in-depth. 

TRUTH: CHEMISTRY IS NECESSARY

A cosmetic is a perfect ecosystem for microorganisms as it has water, fats and even plant extracts. 

The use of preservatives (chemicals) in addition to eliminating any bacteria, extends the duration of the product and therefore increases the safety of its use. Although some cosmetics do not need preservatives, manufacturers include them along with antioxidants to prevent cross-contamination due to this, which is quite common.

Unfortunately, if a product is contaminated you will hardly notice it – unless it is moldy. A contaminated product can cause problems such as dermatitis or skin infections because it degrades the formula and makes it lose its effectiveness. 

What ingredients should we avoid?

Something super important that we must mention is that we must not confuse a natural product with a home remedy. On the internet you see so many things and routines that are not always supported or supported. Please, avoid home remedies, especially those based on lemon or baking soda. Although they can be wonderful as household cleaning products, they are not for our skin.

The lemon has a pH that is too acidic and the bicarbonate is very alkaline. Prolonged use of them will end up damaging the condition of the skin and because it will weaken its protective barrier function and the microbiome. What does this mean? that can occur from irritations and inflammations to spots or burns due to sun exposure.

Read, learn and compare

This topic is super extensive and definitely on the internet you will find as much information as you can imagine. Of course, many of them will be defending a point and telling many more myths and truths than the ones you find in this blog. But we believe that, as in everything, the key lies in researching, relying on information backed up with facts, expert opinions and, of course, the best thing you can do is read the labels of the products you want to buy; this not only to see the ingredients but also the composition and percentages of each one.

It might seem complicated, but it's best to do a little "homework" and make an informed decision that's right for you. More than anything because miracles in cosmetics do not exist... Many times the expectations we have are not reality and this is due (in large part) to marketing strategies.

At Chems Fluid we trust science and are committed to offering safe, high-quality chemical materials for the manufacture of skin care products, hair care, dental products, perfumery and much more.