Have you ever thought about what's in a rose? Or a banana, a strawberry or a lemon? They are all made up of chemicals, just like everything else on Earth.
Most people believe that natural substances are better or safer than synthetic ones. And unfortunately, claiming that "natural" is a benefit of a product has become a marketing trend.
What is a natural product?
The term "natural" is used in chemistry to describe a substance or condition that is derived from nature. A substance is natural if it is derived from a plant, mineral or animal without having undergone a synthetic process.
What is a synthetic product?
It is a substance that has been formulated or manipulated by a chemical process and chemically altered by humans from the original, natural substance that came from a plant, mineral or animal. Today there is much confusion about the safety of the ingredients used to formulate cosmetics, entering into a competition between natural chemicals against synthetic substances.
A chemophobia is being generated around the ingredients in cosmetics that generates a great deal of confusion for the consumer. But the reality is that everything in nature contains chemicals. On this basis, look for cosmetic products with the ingredients that best suit your preferences.
The question is, is natural cosmetics better than synthetic cosmetics?
Natural cosmetics are no better or worse than synthetic cosmetics.
If you thought that synthetic molecules were much worse than natural ones, it is time to tell you that there is no difference between synthetic and natural ones beyond their origin. Here is a clear and simple example.
Vitamin C molecule
This is the Vitamin C molecule, whether it is synthetic or natural. The molecule is exactly the same because if something is changed, it would no longer be Vitamin C, it would be something else. The effect on the skin will be the same wherever it comes from. The fact that an ingredient or molecule is of natural origin does not mean that it is the best for our skin, since there is the possibility that it may cause an adverse reaction, as can happen with allergens, which are very present in citrus fruits. And it is here where synthesizing a molecule can generate a real benefit, eliminating the part that produces such reactions.
Synthetic Substance = Sustainable Action
Most importantly, sometimes synthetic substances can be a responsible choice. For example, if not grown sustainably, the use of a natural ingredient, such as palm oil, could have negative effects, such as deforestation. This is why it is synthesized in a laboratory.
Another example would be vanilla essence, a chemical substance produced by vanillin. Vanillin is natural, and can be extracted from the pods of a plant, but there is a great demand, and very little production. For this reason, vanilla essence synthesized in a laboratory is often used. In many cases, this is done in order to minimize the damage to the environment, thus reducing the environmental impact. By preparing this extract instead of extracting it from the plant, apart from having a lower cost, it manages to reduce the environmental impact.
Conclusion
In conclusion, natural chemicals are not better than synthetic substances. They are simply the same molecules, distinguished by their origin.
For this reason we must try to look beyond and not let any claim scare us when using any product, since there is no product that is not formed by chemical substances.
Do not get carried away by fashions or advertising campaigns. Just use the tool of knowledge to reason and make your own decisions, no claim will be able to scare you!
