Myth No. 3 - It’s 100% natural, it must be safe.

Yes, I know November Blossom makes Our Promise on being 100% natural, then why am I calling out that natural isn’t necessarily safe? More and more often I see the words “natural”, “green”, “plant-based” sprinkled across marketing ads. And that’s exactly what they are - marketing. There is actually, to date, no legal definition for the term “natural” (though the EU is now working on this!).

As you’ve already learned from the first two myths we’ve busted, essential oils, though natural, can prove to be dangerous and toxic if used in inappropriate concentrations, or by inappropriate audience. Peppermint essential oil, for example, should never be applied to or put near children under three due to the strong menthol content (Tisserand Institute, 2018) that may cause neurological issues.

It is also important to recognize the converse, that synthetics aren’t necessarily bad - there I’ve said (written) it! A huge topic is the presence of synthically-derived preservatives in otherwise natural skincare products. So many products claim to be “preservatives-free” but contain hydrous (water-based) ingredients that will breed the growth of mold and bacteria over time. The presence of preservatives, in appropriate proportions, is actually much needed to curb these dangerous nasties from forming.

So what’s the moral of the story?

Look beyond the marketing claims and really challenge the safety and functional purpose of each ingredient in your skincare products.

At November Blossom, we are 100% transparent about the content and function of each ingredient in all of our products, because we strongly believe in the integrity of our products and will never insert unnecessary or harmful fillers in our formulations.

You may think you don’t have the knowledge to differentiate the good from the bad. Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for! Keep following our blog and we’ll take you through the ABCs of how to read your skincare product labels like a pro!