Brace yourself because you’re going to learn so much in this episode! This question came up quite often in our Additive-Free Made Easy Group. Just why are petroleum-based ingredients harmful to your health? You might want to read the back of your skincare product labels after hearing this podcast! Petroleum ingredients are found in some of the most popular skincare products around.

What are petroleum-based products?

This is likely the biggest question we get asked. In a nutshell, they are a by-product of crude oil. Yes, something you put in your car or lubricate your car engine with. That’s what’s going on your skin. It just blows our mind that health authorities allow companies to place petroleum in popular beauty care products!

There are a couple of grades of petroleum to look for:

  • Xylene
  • Toluene
  • Mineral oil (perhaps the most deceptive branding)
  • Liquid paraffin
  • Paraffin wax
  • Petroleum jelly (has been around for 50 to 60 years as a base in makeup products)

While there are no real links to major medical issues, there are plenty of concerns expressed by medical professionals and it doesn’t offer your skin any health benefits. If the main ingredient in your skin care product is a petroleum-derived ingredient, we believe you’re simply throwing your money away.

You need to ask yourself the question, is this a product you want to go onto your skin? By now you’ll be aware that whatever you put onto your skin, then leaches into your skin and makes its way into your bloodstream.

Anti-ageing miracles!

Petroleum-based products sit on top of your skin, essentially creating an extra layer, which is the reason why companies use it in anti-ageing products. This helps to disguise wrinkles and lines, helping your skin to feel ultra-moisturised and soft, but the problem is that it doesn’t actually absorb deep into the layers where you want it to be, instead, it’s only creating a pretend layer of moisturiser.

Can your skin actually breathe?

You don’t realise it at first, but the product ends up really drying out your skin, which requires another product to counter-act the damage done. It acts as a barrier, suffocating your skin as it’s unable to breathe naturally. This leads to clogged pores, acne, blackheads and other nasty skin conditions.

If you’re at the gym or out and about on a hot day, if your skin can’t sweat, everything is staying inside the layers of your skin. This goes completely against what your skin is designed for, TO BREATH AND SWEAT. You just basically will not sweat out all the impurities in your body. Ironically this is very ageing for your skin! Therefore, we highly recommend avoiding these products.

Natural alternatives that support your skin health

There are so many better things you can be doing for your skin. Like what I hear you ask?

Well, you want to start using something like jojoba oil, which is incredibly hydrating and penetrates deep within the layers of your skin. Jojoba oil is as close to the natural oils in your skin (called sebum) as anything you can find.

As you age, your sebum production actually decreases over time, which is where your fine lines and dry skin starts to occur. Jojoba oil helps to replace that natural sebum in your skin, which will help to reduce the fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

Jojoba oil contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and is super gentle and non-irritating, making it perfect for all skin types, regardless of whether you have oily or dry skin or even acne prone skin.

To make your own body oil:

  • 100ml of Jojoba oil (a great organic one). It’s very cheap to buy!
  • 15 drops of Frankincense (again get a top quality essential oil) – it’s been in skin care products for hundreds and hundreds of years, and it’s one of the most popular products in skin care for that very reason. It’s been used since Cleopatra days!
  • 10 drops of Geranium- Promotes the appearance of clear, smooth skin and is perfect if you do suffer from skin irritations. Has a calming effect which makes it great for applying before bedtime.
  • 10 drops Ylang ylang – Has a floral fragrance and has been known to support healthy skin and hair, promoting an amazing glow for both!

When you can make your own amazing natural oil products like this, we see no reason to want to buy a pretend product that clogs your pores and only adds to the ageing process.

Rosehip oil

Don’t get confused with Rose essential oil, Rosehip oil actually uses the seeds from the roses. It has amazing benefits for your skin, as it’s full of beta-carotene which is a potent form of vitamin A and is also loaded with Vitamin C and E. It also contains all the essential fatty acids for radiant, youthful skin! This helps with dark spots or pigmentation.

Rosehip is great for moisturising your face and you can also mix up with Jojoba oil. For a face or eye serum use:

  • 30ml of Rosehip oil
  • 10 drops of Lavender essential oil– Calming and soothing which makes it great for night time use
  • 5 drops of Lemon essential oil which is packed with vitamins, helping to reduce pigmentation
  • Blue Tansy, Geranium, Frankincense or any other essential oil of your choice will also go great in this face/eye serum

Fractionated coconut oil

Fractionated coconut oil is perfect for your whole body, makes a great massage oil (well so does jojoba oil!) It’s super light, absorbs quickly and won’t sit on your skin feeling sticky or greasy.

It’s colourless and odourless which makes it a great carrier oil if you wish to mix an essential oil in. It makes a great perfume blend. It’s super cheap too and you can mix in jojoba oil and rosehip oil if you want a triple blend!

If you’re not one to make DIY products yourself or don’t have the time, we have so many great natural skin care products over at our website here.

All of these serums only take a few minutes to whip up, we can almost guarantee will be cheaper and more beneficial for your skin health than any anti-aging skin care product you might buy at an expensive department store. It makes the world of difference to know that you’re using nothing but natural ingredients that are supporting your health. We highly recommend top quality essential oils like doTERRA! Why not switch up your routine, save some money and improve your skin at the same time. Once you start you can’t stop!

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