The markets are flooded with so many products these days that getting confused is extremely easy – labels can read anything from organic to natural to clean and then so many more things in between that feeling slightly overwhelmed is but natural. Because there are so many different types of products out there, there are just as many myths associated with them too.
Before we can get into actual myth busting, it is important that we understand the difference between organic, natural and clean.
- Natural means what it says – the ingredients are all those that can be found with ease in nature.
- Organic might seem interchangeable with natural, but it is not, because there are more stringent rules when it comes to organic. Not only should the ingredients be chemical free and pesticide free, they also need to be produced without any genetic interference as well. If a product is not officially certified organic, it cannot be sold in the aisles of organic skincare products.
- Clean products are those which are free from any ingredients that could or would be considered toxic to human health.
Now, let’s move onto the myths and the facts associated with these varieties of skin care products:
- Higher the SPF, the better the product – A sunscreen is essential to the skin; you need to make sure that you protect it at all costs. SPF or Sun Protection Factor is a scale which allows one to measure how much protection a product can accord against UVB rays. If you pick something that has an SPF 30, it can offer you up to 97% blockage, while SPF 50 will offer you 98% and SPF 90 will offer you 98% blockage. What you also need to keep in mind is whether the product will also offer you protection against UVA rays too. The PA rating will tell you about the UVA protection which ranges from PA + TO PA++++ with four pluses being the maximum. Should you pick indē wild’s AM Sunscreen Glow Drops, you will get protection from both UVA and UVB rays, because it has SPF 50 PA++++ ratings, which ensures proper protection. Some regions also mention “broad spectrum protection” on the product packaging instead of the PA rating system.
- Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis will lead to a deficiency of vitamin D – There is no real connection between the two, because sunscreen will have minimal effects on vitamin D levels of the body. The deficiency is caused when the body is unable to process the same. Everybody is at risk when it comes to vitamin D deficiency, irrespective of their skin tone. People who live in areas with more sun and those who spend more time outdoors will always be more in need of sunscreen to offer protection.
- Anti-ageing products will make your fine lines disappear overnight – Even if you are using natural or clean or organic products for skin, there is no magical formula that will make your first signs of aging disappear overnight. Ingredients such as retinol and rosehip oil are known to help reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines, but they need time. These ingredients will help boost collagen production, which will give you plumper and more elasticity in the skin, which can help reduce those lines.
- Clean products will not be as effective as regular skin care products – There is this general notion that products that are clean or natural will not be as effective as those which have chemicals in them. The fact of the matter is that there are products like the ones we offer at indē wild, which are the perfect blend of chemistry and ayurveda. We pick some ingredients that are chemical in nature and some that are respected in the pages of Ayurveda and blend them to create truly effective products.
- Acne and pimples can happen only to teenagers – Acne is not completely age dependent, which means that it can happen to anyone at any time. Certain conditions of the body, unhealthy eating habits and the general interaction of your skin with external sources such as pollution, sun and even makeup products could lead to acne. This is one of the reasons why you need to look for products that are meant for your skin and in case you have an acne problem, then you need to choose products with ingredients that are meant to target the same.
- If you have oily skin, you can leave the moisturiser out – It doesn’t matter what type of skin you have, a good quality moisturiser is a must have in your skin care routine. When you do not apply moisturiser on your skin, because you think that it is too oily, your skin will work overtime to produce more oil, making your skin oilier. Instead opt for a lightweight gel moisturiser or a moisturising SPF product for the day.
- Chemical free is always better – No! We at indē wild have understood the power and benefits of chemistry and we know how some chemical ingredients can prove to be extremely beneficial. It is imperative, however, to have a knowledge of which chemicals will work for the skin and in what amounts and concentrations. So, when you pick an indē wild product, you will see that they are all combinations of chemical as well as ayurveda based ingredients.
It is important to debunk the myths and misinformation related to clean, organic and natural skin care products and choose with care. At indē wild, we bring to you a range of skin and hair care products that are all results of years of research and are the perfect combination of ayurveda and chemistry.