How Can I Lessen the Amount of Chemicals I Use On My Sensitive Skin?

Before I answer this question, I’d like to reveal a few truths:

Fact: Everything in nature is made of chemicals, according to scientific definition.

Fact: The opposite of ‘natural‘ is not ‘chemical-free.‘

Fact: There is no legal definition by the FDA of ‘natural‘ as it applies to cosmetics.

Fact: Consumers are concerned about what they put in their bodies and what they put on their skin.

Fact: Every skin care company has both their own beliefs of what ‘chemical‘ and ‘natural‘ means to them and their choice in which skin care ingredients they choose to use.

It is my belief that: …

-It’s important to minimize the use of irritants that are used in skin care products.

-It’s important to tap into the best benefits that nature AND science offer. There are benefits to using both naturally derived ingredients and ingredients formulated scientifically.

- Nature offers us a slow and steady course that works gently with the skin (with proven results), while science offers the more advanced (and sometimes intensive ingredients) that can be required as we age.

-Choosing skin care products to use on your skin should fit in with your own personal belief system of how you want to care for yourself. You need to use what is right for you.

-Most people would prefer to avoid taking prescription medication for their skin if they could achieve the same—or better— results with skin care products and professional skin treatments. (We have had many clients that chose to take themselves off of acne or rosacea prescription medication because of the results they were getting by using skin care products exclusively for the needs of their skin type. See our nine skin types.)

- Many people think they have sensitive skin because they get irritated to harsh products. But read why it’s the harsh products that are the problem, not their skin.

What we use in the Renée Rouleau skin care products

-Lightweight, non-pore clogging formulas
-Cold-pressed, herbal plant extracts & essential oils
-Pure, cold processed, plant based carrier oils
-Performance ingredients at effective levels (To ensure the formula remains potent)
-Special delivery vehicles (To enhance penetration and absorption)
-Cruelty-free ingredients (Products tested on humans, not animals)
-Simple packaging (You pay for what’s inside the bottle, not fancy packaging!)

Pay attention to the ingredients that are being used in your skin care products. If any of the below ingredients are listed, I highly suggest you avoid them.

What we avoid in the Renée Rouleau skin care products

-Mineral Oil & Petrolatum (Pore-clogging and suffocating to the skin)
-SD Alcohol 40 and Denatured Alcohol (The “bad” alcohols commonly found in toners. They are extremely drying)
-Isopropyl Myristate & Isopropyl Palmitate (Can cause blackheads. Read the best way to remove blackheads)
-Synthetic dyes (Can be a skin irritant)
-Synthetic fragrances in our skin care products (The #1 cause of allergic reactions to products. Avoid products containing the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the ingredient listing)
-Known sensitizers (Ingredients that can cause irritation)
-Heavy oils (Suffocates the skin and leave it feeling greasy)
-Sodium or Ammonium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate (Extremely drying and irritating to the skin)
-Apricot kernels, or seed/shell powders (Natural particles found in facial scrubs that can scratch and irritate the skin causing bacteria to spread)

Note: -Parabens (This is a preservative. Not all of the Renée Rouleau products are paraben-free but many are. Those that are paraben-free will be indicated in the product description on our website. However, parabens have not been shown to be harmful. For more information about parabens, Read: Five Ingredient Myths You Need to Know)

Get products recommended for your skin type by choosing one of our nine skin types.

Have a skin concern? Check out Skin Source—the A-Z guide on everything from acne, exfoliation and large pores to brown spots, sun protection and so much more!

Content Copyright © 2012, Renée Rouleau, Inc

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Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.