The reality is that many cosmetic products contain dangerous ingredients such as parabens and formaldehyde. These kinds of chemicals have been linked to hormonal imbalances, respiratory problems and even cancers. Given that on average women use 12 personal care products each day, imagine how many potentially dangerous chemicals they can be exposed to. Some measures suggest it’s around 168!

Now if you are like me, I don’t want to be poisoning myself, but I also don’t want to do a whole lot of research about products the that I choose to use. So I was very pleased to learn about the Nutriance range.

And confession time! I have never been able to stick with a skin care regime for very long – and I have wasted a lot of money in the process. Worse still, my mother did her best to teach me to take care of my skin, saying that I would eventually regret it if I didn’t. But I knew better – until I had to admit much later in life that she was right! Then I was introduced to the Nutraince range and I have been a regular daily user from that moment on! Maybe I can’t reverse much of the damage, but I am certainly slowing down the ageing process pretty well.

Instead of rehashing what someone else has written here is some information you might find interesting:

What to Look for in Clean Skin Care

By Dr. Susan Beck
Global Science Network member

Ever since I learned there was such a thing, I have been a fanatical devotee of clean beauty products. It seemed silly to me to be so picky about every piece of organic fruit I ate or avoid bringing anything but the purest cleaning products into my home, but not be scrupulous about what I use on my skin. For me, “Clean Beauty” products needed to fulfil two criteria: no toxic ingredients and no animal testing. Simple. And since I always choose companies with strong core values, if I find products from a company that supports causes I believe in then I’m hooked. Finding beauty products that met my standards used to be tricky because they were few and far between. Now, like many industries, this one has proliferated creating a whole different challenge: How do I choose?

As a researcher I wanted to know what “clean beauty” means in 2019. I already shared what I’m seeking in a clean beauty line, so starting there I looked into the new generation of skin care offerings. The good news is that your expectations, like mine, have room to evolve. Even better, I discovered one brand, Nutriance Organic, of NeoLife, that stands out from the crowd.

Doing My Research
I analyzed the “clean” skin care lines of over 40 companies, scouring their claims about what is and isn’t in their products: they avoid using parabens and other undesirable ingredients, most are vegan or vegetarian and state that they’re cruelty free (not tested on animals). They use sustainable packaging and invest in causes such as combating climate change through using alternative energy sources or planting trees. This is all to the good and to be expected.

However, I found that when touting their products some companies are more hype than substance. For example, I saw claims that lines were “organic”, but in fact the products aren’t certified organic and include only a small amount of organic ingredients. Or, some companies who did offer a few certified organic items in their skin care line didn’t maintain that commitment across the rest of their products. Then I found out something that really surprised me: Most clean skin care companies have not tested their products on humans. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic they don’t test on animals, but the clinician in me can’t help wondering how can these companies back up their claims? How do they know if their specific formula really moisturizes, cleanses, or helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles if they don’t perform clinical tests on people?

Clinical Testing
This question led me to Nutriance Organic. Not only is the line completely vegan, they also checked my no-animal-testing box (because Nutriance Organic is made in France, and the European Union banned cosmetic testing on animals in 2013, the products are cruelty free). Purity of ingredients is my other must-have. Europe generally takes its cosmetics, and its organic label, very seriously. Every product in the Nutriance Organic line is certified organic by the European Ecocert under COSMOS®*. COSMOS enforces organic standards specifically defined for cosmetics that include:

1. No GMOs
2. Green Chemistry – with stringent limitations on toxicity and biodegradability
3. Strict water standards
4. Plant-based ingredients – must contain at least 95% with a minimum of 10% organic ingredients by weight originating from organic farming
5. Mineral-based ingredients – must be of natural origin
6. Packaging – must be environmentally friendly
7. Company sustainability – must have environmental and waste management plans for their manufacturers
8. Marketing claims – must be accurate and non-misleading.

And in order to get products certified organic by COSMOS, companies have to make sure their products are made without synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates or other toxic ingredients. Check, check, check.

*COSMOS is a not-for-profit, independent organization based in Belgium that was created in 2017 to harmonize organic regulations specifically for cosmetics between 5 previously separate certifying European agencies: Ecocert Greenlife SAS (France), Cosmebio® (France), BDIH® (Germany), ICEA (Italy) and Soil Association ® (Great Britain).

But what really won me over was the fact that they have clinical research on humans for every single product in their line, all tested at leading research institutes in France to demonstrate and confirm effectiveness. Their ingredients were chosen expressly for their efficacy on human skin and in particular for their positive effects on the skin barrier function.

Ingredients include variety of innovative marine botanicals for skin elasticity, collagen production, hyaluronic acid stimulation and metalloproteinase inhibition, which play a role in wrinkle formation. The results are impressive.

Choosing Wisely
The clean beauty landscape has certainly changed since I was first introduced to it. Rightly, people are demanding more from the companies they trust with their skin care, and companies are upping their game. Nutriance Organic seems to be setting the bar high and setting themselves apart. And did I mention, NeoLife also have a Family Foundation that supports organizations around the world that provide food, shelter and medical services to children in need? I’m hooked.

Nutriance Organic uses environmentally conscious and sustainable manufacturing processes. The Atlantic littoral seaweed belts are in ideal ecological conditions. The zone is distant from any source of chemical pollution and there are no industrial activities near the Molène Archipelago. These seaweeds don’t concentrate heavy metals, but they provide an abundance and diversity of vital nutrients such as trace minerals and skin protective phytonutrients such as carotenoids and polyphenols.

The seaweeds are identified and hand picked from the rocky intertidal zones. This traditional harvesting method is a recognized sustainable practice, which has been verified to protect the biodiversity of the seaweeds and their renewal. The harvested seaweeds are then carefully treated within 24 hours of harvest by maceration, using a cold process without chemicals or solvents. This natural process preserves both the key nutritional virtues and the microbiological qualities of the seaweed extracts.

Nutriance Organic is NOT animal tested, non-comedogenic, 100% vegan, and paraben-free.
Exclusive formulas feature:
• Fresh Marine Seaweed Extracts
Using hand harvesting and gentle extraction techniques for quality and environmental sustainability.
Extracted within 24 hours of harvest for potency.
• Pure & Patented Seawater
Biocompatible for perfect harmony with the epidermis. With more than 80 trace minerals.
• Essential Oils
Including Lime, Sweet Almond, English Lavender, Cranberry, and Chamomile.
• Botanical Waters & Botanical Extracts
Including Cornflower, Witch Hazel, Ginseng and Ginkgo biloba.
• Protective Antioxidants
Including carotenoids and polyphenols

If you’d like to explore further you can take a look here:

https://neolifeafrica.com/positiveoptions/shop/product/2935 (for combination to oily skin)

https://neolifeafrica.com/positiveoptions/shop/product/2934 (for normal to dry skin)

Or you can message me on facebook or leave a whatsapp message on +27 (0)84 506 3643 and I’ll get back to you.

Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions and experiences of the author. They are for information purposes and do not replace a consultation with your doctor.