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10 Things You Should Know About Plant-based Skincare
With a heightened interest in health-focused and sustainable products, plant-based products have been gaining attention from consumers everywhere. Plant-based skincare interest and adoption is slowly but surely winning converts. In this guide, we will examine what is plant-based skincare before comparing them with traditional skincare products, and also diving into the suitability of plant-based skincare products, as well as some ways to switch to using plant-based skincare.
Let’s look at Plant-based Skincare!
1. What is a plant-based product?
According to Stephanie Eckelkamp over at EcoBeautyWorks, "[plant-based] products are made from plant materials instead of synthetic ingredients such as petroleum derivatives or animal byproducts." Because plant-based products use plant material rather than man-made chemicals, they tend to be more natural and less likely to cause adverse reactions than their chemical counterparts.
2. What are the benefits of plant-based skincare?
Plant-based skincare offers a number of benefits. First and foremost, plant-based products are more natural than traditional ones. Because they're made from plant material instead of chemicals, plant-based products have been found to be less harsh on the skin because they don't strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture like traditional beauty products do. Another benefit plant-based products offer is that they tend to be better for sensitive skin types because most plant materials are hypoallergenic. Finally, plant-based products may be quite effective at treating different skin conditions if you suffer from acne or eczema because plants such as chamomile (found in many moisturizers) have natural anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial for treating such conditions.
3. How do plant-based skincare products work?
Plant-based products are made from plant materials and plant material has some of the same qualities as do chemicals, but plant material is less harsh on your skin than chemical ingredients are. For example, Chlorophyll, one of the main plant extracts used in plant-based skincare, absorbs different wavelengths of light so it's particularly useful for people who want to get a more even skin tone. Plant oils like argan oil can also be absorbed into the skin and serve as an effective moisturizer because they absorb quickly into the deepest layer of your epidermis (the uppermost layer of your dermis where the skin cells reside).
Comparing plant-based skincare products with traditional skincare products
4. How well do plant-based skincare products work as compared to the traditional skincare products?
While plant-based beauty products haven't been around nearly as long as traditional beauty products, they treat your face well too, especially when it comes to acne treatment.
Plant-based ingredients like plant oils and plant extracts can be very beneficial for acne prone skin because plant products don't clog pores like a lot of traditional beauty products do. Plant extracts are highly effective for acne treatments as plant oils contain active ingredients like omega fatty acids which can help clear up your pimples fast while leaving your face feeling refreshed rather than dry and irritated. In fact, plant extracts are the only ingredient that has been proven to kill bacteria, fight acne and prevent breakouts. Plant extracts also enhance the production of collagen in your body (which means more elasticity and healthier looking skin).
Even plant-based makeup is less likely to cause breakouts than conventional makeup! If you have oily or combination skin, plant-based skincare can also help with reducing shine and preventing oil from appearing on your face throughout the day.
5. Do plant-based skincare products cost more than traditional brands?
The short answer is no, and here's why. When you look at the price of a product, it’s important to consider what ingredients are included in that product. For example, if a product costs $30, but has mainly water and other fillers, then that's not such a good deal. On the other hand, if it costs $30 but contains natural quality ingredients and leaves your skin feeling moisturized, then this is worth the investment.
Traditional brands often use harmful chemicals in their products, which can be cheap to manufacture at scale, to create benefits that are not necessary to the health of your skin or your body in general.
Sometimes the price difference between these two types of skincare products is not too much. It is true that some plant-based products may cost more up front, but in the long run they are cheaper because you need less of them, which means you will spend less money on skin care in your lifetime.
6. Do plant-based skincare brands test on animals?
While plant based beauty products haven't been around nearly as long as traditional beauty products, many plant-based companies are choosing to go cruelty-free in order to appeal to customers who care more about their ethics than the products they use.
Are plant-based skincare products suitable for me?
7. How do I know if a plant based skincare brand is “natural enough” for my skin?
Most plant based beauty products claim to be organic but not all plant based/natural beauty companies are certified by the USDA's National Organic Program so there is still a chance that plant oils used in vegan/plant-based skincare lines come from non-organic sources overseas or even imported from other countries with lower standards for plant-based products. In order to ensure that plant based skincare products are natural enough for your skin make sure to look for plant oils in their raw form (like coconuts, castor, jojoba, sweet almond oil and olive oil) rather than plant oils that have been refined or processed into something else (like sunflower oil which is also used in things like soap).
8. Can I use plant-based skincare products even though I have sensitive skin?
Yes! Because plant-based skincare products rarely (if ever) contain harsh chemicals, hence the plant-based skincare products are always gentler than traditional brands. Plant extracts don't contain chemicals or irritants (and they're not tested on animals) so plant-based skincare is suitable for all skin types because plant extracts only produce results when used in combination with other active ingredients (most of which aren't plant derived). Plant-based skincare products do a great job at healing blemishes and fading scars because plant extracts work on the skin’s cellular level, which explains why they could improve your skin health faster and with less irritation.
Now that I am aware of the benefits of plant-based skincare products, what should I do?
9. How can I make the switch to using plant-based skincare?
The best way to make the switch from traditional skin care products to plant-based products is to take it one step at a time. For example, if you've just recently found out that you're allergic to something like lanolin, then there are plant alternatives available for your favorite beauty soaps and moisturizers. If the plant based product doesn't work as well for you, you might want to avoid products that contain fragrances, or artificial preservatives as they could be potential irritants or allergens.
If you've never been into natural vegan skincare before, the plant-derived ingredients in most plant based skincare lines might cause your skin to break out--especially if you have acne prone or sensitive skin. In order to prevent this from happening when switching to plant-based skincare try introducing one new product at a time (like an oil cleanser or plant oil moisturizer) before you use a plant-based toner, plant-based moisturizer or plant-based eye cream. If your skin doesn't react badly to that plant product, remove the old products you were using and replace them with plant-based alternatives one by one until you're fully replaced all of your beauty habits with plant-based skincare.
10. What are some notable plant-based brands out there?
There are many plant-based skincare brands available in the market, but here are some interesting brands that embody the philosophy of plant-based beauty in their own way.
Tata Harper
Being the pioneer in the natural luxury skincare line with their own farm, Tataharper offers products that are 100% free from genetically modified organisms, artificial colors, artificial fragrances and synthetic chemicals. On top of skincare and also beauty products such as cleansers, masks, and cosmetics, they also introduce specific products which target different skin concerns such as redness, dry skin and pores.
THREE Cosmetics
This Japanese brand takes a holistic approach in promoting beauty - “mind, skin and skin together as a whole”. With this modern approach, Three reaches out to its consumers with various product lines, including the inner care products and men’s line.
Kjaer Weis
Kjaer Weis aims to combine high quality ingredients with modern design in developing its products. On top of the wide range of beauty products from eye to cheek and lip, the company also brings in skincare products such as toner, cleanser and facial oil.
Kumaya
Last but certainly not least, our very own skincare product line - Kumuya. We strive to empower everyone with beautiful and healthy skin through our multi-pathway approach of nutritious clean EWG-verified (Environmental Working Group) products, nutrition from food and mental wellbeing. With our vegan skincare range, not only do we incorporate science-proven active ingredients, we also ensure they are at concentrations that have cellular impact. Lab results have even demonstrated their effectiveness. Experience Kumuya's clean, plant-based products here.
Plants are by no means new in anyway but understanding the science behind the powers of their incredible healing properties are only at the tip of the surface. As demand increases so will new plant discoveries grow, to support healthier, happier skin for beauty enthusiasts all over the world.
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