How many red flags did you ignore only to find yourself hurting more?

Ouch! But we get you, sis! It’s easy to get carried away by the great promises and ignore the warning signs until it’s too late. But remember: you deserve better! Small compromises may lead to bigger ones and will  keep you stuck in the toxicity. Avoiding risks to guard your peace is always worth it.

Almost everything can carry red flags, not just relationships. Some are even hiding behind our favorite and most-used beauty and skincare products (uh-oh)!

Natural or NOT-ural?

REAL TALK: It’s easy to fall for highly raved-about skincare products when you see great reviews with buzzwords like “natural,” “holy grail,” and “sustainable.” It’s understandable—we only want the best for our skin and take cues from others’ experiences. However, these products—no matter how appealing—may still contain toxic chemicals that build up into real and serious risks for your body, your family, and even the environment.

To help Filipinos combat disinformation and make wise choices as consumers, Human Nature, the pioneer brand of effective, safe, and affordable genuinely natural products, encourages the habit of doing the 3Rs—READ the label, REPLACE unsafe products with Philippines’ genuinely natural ones, and RAISE AWARENESS—one step at a time. 

To keep or to skip?

Looking for the right skincare products is pretty much like looking for your right match (free from red flags, of course!). To help you find your “The One”, here are the top most common harmful ingredients to keep an eye out for in product labels, and their natural counterparts. 

Red Flag #1: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES)

Don’t you just love it when your face wash, soap, or shampoo creates a foamy lather? While it sounds fun, what’s sad is that these suds are usually caused by SLS. This harsh chemical may strip your skin and hair of essential moisture, cause irritation, and make them dry.

✅Natural counterparts: Gentler, non-stripping surfactants like sodium cocoyl isethionate (coconut-oil-derived) and decyl glucoside (coconut-derived). Try products like Nourishing Facial Wash and Strengthening Shampoo.

Red Flag #2: Parabens

Preserving a toxic, long-term relationship is not worth it if it puts you at serious risk. Just like how parabens prolong the shelf life of common skincare and cosmetic products, but may cause irritation and allergic reactions. They are also known as endocrine disruptors and may weaken the immune system.

✅ Natural counterparts: Plant-derived preservatives like rosemary essential oil, gluconolactone (from corn), and glyceryl caprylate (coco, palm, and glycerin derived). Try our Cooling Body Cleanser and Feminine Wash Bar.

Red Flag #3: Mineral oil

Another red flag is mineral oil, which is used in lotions, moisturizers, and makeup removers. While it’s known to lock in moisture to heal dry or irritated skin, it can also clog pores, suffocate the skin, and damage the skin barrier. 

✅ Natural counterparts: Cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, passion fruit oil, and castor oil. Consider products like Sunflower Beauty Oil, Natural Healthy Lotion, and Marine Caviar HydroMiracle Moisturizer.

Red Flag #4: Silicone

Usually found in conditioners and hair styling products, silicone is also a no-no in skin and hair care. While it can make your hair look silky and healthy, this harmful ingredient coats skin and hair like plastic, which may lead to clogged pores as well as speed up skin aging.

✅ Natural counterparts: Cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, passion fruit oil, castor oil. Opt for silicone-free creams like Radiant Grace Night Cream, Moisturizing Conditioner, and Hair Revival Coco Mask.

Red Flag #5: Lake dyes/FD&C colors

A product looks natural but has striking colors? It most likely contains an added synthetic dye! Lake dyes in personal care products may contain contaminants which may be neurotoxic, possibly carcinogenic, and may cause skin irritations. 

✅Natural counterparts: Mineral oxide pigments. Opt for natural and nourishing makeup like Blush & Bloom Color Cream and Made to Bloom.

Choosing beauty without risk

Ever since we started in 2008, we have been conscientiously committed to ensuring that no harmful chemicals slip into our formulations. From research to formulation and production to distribution, Human Nature upholds the strictest standards for naturalness, human safety, and environmental responsibility. Since we use natural ingredients, our microbial safety standard is also set 100 times higher than the local industry’s. Likewise, our products aren’t only natural but also cruelty-free and environmental-friendly

Why risk it when you can choose beauty, safety, and health at the same time? Start choosing products that promise you more than just beauty! All it takes is for you to read the label, replace unsafe products with natural alternatives, and raise awareness.

Tara, let’s #SwitchToNatural and be #MoreThanJustBeautiful