Beware! There are hidden dangers in botanical skin care products. The name may sound safe and natural, but the ingredients aren’t always so “friendly.”

Before making an effort to evaluate the ingredients and learn the adverse reactions they can cause, I have probably been exposed to dozens, perhaps hundreds of toxins. Of course, that was before consumer safety advocates got involved and before major news organizations began reporting on the latest research.

But, I still find it very annoying that cosmetic companies are so lightly regulated. They are not required to test their raw ingredients for contaminants. They are not required to test the purity of each batch.

Many years ago, when regulations were first written, cosmetics were not believed to penetrate the outermost layers of the skin. They believed that the epidermis was like a fortress and that nothing could enter.

Now, we know that ingredients like artificial preservatives penetrate the skin and accumulate in the tissues. And just because they’re botanical skincare products doesn’t mean they’re free of artificial preservatives. Believe me.

The word “botanicals” on the label can actually refer to an artificial fragrance that “smells” like a plant. Sometimes they include a plant extract, just to be honest. But, they still add an artificial preservative, which makes them unsafe in my opinion.

Then, there are the sunscreen compounds. Even organic companies use these compounds. Only zinc oxide has been shown to be safe and effective in protecting skin from harmful UVA and B rays. Several of the other organic sunscreens are now known to actually “cause” cancer. Wasn’t that what we were trying to avoid?

There are wonderful botanical skin care products out there, you just have to shop carefully and know what to look for. To moisturize and lubricate, grapeseed oil is effective. For effective preservation of the ingredients, cold-press manufacturing techniques must be used and natural vitamin E must be added.

For cleansing, you want tea tree oil, manuka honey, or orange oil extracts. You don’t want a concentrated fragrance, not even one like linalool. It is natural, but it still causes allergic reactions.

For a deep pore cleansing, weekly or bi-weekly mask, you can skip the botanical skincare products and reach for clay extracts. Kaolin and bentone gel, for example, work in synergy to absorb excess oil and literally “pull” dirt out of pores.

To prolong the health and appearance of your skin, you need anti-aging ingredients like functional keratin. If you have dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or even acne, this ingredient is one of the most beneficial in the world.

Reduces inflammation and redness. Relieves itching. Promotes the production of new cells and fibers. It has the antioxidant activity of two kiwis and a serving of broccoli, combined. There is nothing like that.

It cannot be considered one of the botanical skin care products, because it is extracted from sheep’s wool. But, if you want something really effective, that’s what you should be looking for.