Is It Better To Use Organic Skin Care Products?

When it comes to our health and our complexions, are organic skincare products better for us? We know that our skin absorbs a large portion of what we apply to it topically. For this reason, many individuals choose to opt for skincare products comprised of organic ingredients, taking comfort in the fact that their products are naturally derived and do not contain potentially harmful additives. But are they in fact better for our skin?

Why you should switch to Certified Organic Skincare

1. Certification. Just like food products, certified organic skincare means that ingredients have met specific criteria in order to achieve certification via a government-approved organic certification program. Artificial substances are not used and plant-derived ingredients have been produced and manufactured without the use of pesticides.
2. Pesticides On The Skin. Pesticides are used as a fundamental part of agriculture around the world, most commonly to destroy microorganisms that may threaten crops. While they effectively destroy insects and plant diseases, they may also be harmful to humans - including the health of our skin. A 2023 peer-reviewed study from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explains that even small repeated exposure to some pesticides may result in “increased risk of chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, reproductive disorders, male infertility, hormonal dysfunction, autoimmune diseases, and kidney failure” (1). This study also specifically noted damaging side effects of three commonly used pesticides in healthy human keratinocyte (skin) cells.
3. Ageing Through Oxidative Stress. Another peer-reviewed study, published in 2022 in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, mirrors the findings of the previous study, exploring the onset of oxidative stress in human skin cells. Oxidative stress is the term used for an excess production of free radicals in the body, or specific area or cell group. Free radicals are proven to trigger a variety of damaging impacts in the body, including inflammation, damage to tissues and proteins, and changes in DNA. This study’s findings when studying human keratinocyte cells include pesticide-induced oxidative stress caused by both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). “ROS and RNS can activate at least five independent signalling pathways including mitochondrial-induced apoptosis”. This, in simple terms, means premature cell death, which is not only problematic for the health of our skin but also for its appearance, including premature signs of ageing. Research in the area of pesticides and other potentially harmful additives in skincare is still continuing to develop. However, based on what we do know, many pesticides appear to present a number of negative impacts in our bodies - including our skin. Opting for certified organic skincare means resting assured your products are free from the harmful impacts of pesticides.

References

1. Sule, R. O., Condon, L., & Gomes, A. V. (2022). A Common Feature of Pesticides: Oxidative Stress—The Role of Oxidative Stress in Pesticide-Induced Toxicity. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2022https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5563759
2. Leri, M., Vasarri, M., Barletta, E., Schiavone, N., Bergonzi, M. C., Bucciantini, M., & Donatella Degl’Innocenti. (2023). The Protective Role of Oleuropein Aglycone against Pesticide-Induced Toxicity in a Human Keratinocytes Cell Model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(19), 14553. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914553