Many people are now turning to organic skincare products, sourced from nature. They are full of beneficial antioxidants and moisturisers and as they are made from organic ingredients, they are grown and produced sustainably using the most advanced practices. And importantly, organic skincare products are not tested on animals.

Aficionados of organic skin care claim that they actually work better than their mainstream artificial counterparts. But how? Quite a number of chemical ingredients are used in non-organic skincare products for cheap filling and a quick fix, but they actually do your skin more harm than good. In the long-term, synthetic ingredients can cause irritation, sun sensitivity and, as with anything chemical, there is talk they can lead to cancer.

While organic skin care will not be a miracle overnight cure, it is actually changing your skin from the inside out, instead of just on the outside. It will also benefit your overall health and the health of the planet.

Natural products work with your skin to enhance its regenerative and healing properties, with the result being skin that not only looks radiant, but feels radiant, too.

Here’s a list of some of the harmful ingredients to avoid when choosing skincare:

Sodium lauryl sulphate
Methyl paraben, propyl paraben, ethyl paraben, butyl paraben
Stearalkonium chloride
Triethanolamine
Propylene glycol
Diazolidinyl urea and imidazolidinyl urea

Natural skincare products can assist in the anti-ageing process while nourishing the skin and keeping it healthy. Some of the best ingredients to look out for when buying natural skincare includes:

Essential oils – they get into the deep layers of the skin to hydrate, nourish and rejuvenate skin cells.
Vitamin A – this will moisturise the skin and scalp and enhance the skin’s elasticity.
Vitamin B – great for hair, skin and nails and can soothe dry skin.
Vitamin E – this will soften the skin and moisturise within the epidermis.
Vitamin C – a powerful antioxidant, this can restore a smooth surface to skin showing signs of ageing.
Unrefined vegetable and nut oils – these are full of lipids, triglycerides, sterols and antioxidants and help restore barrier function.
Herbs and botanicals such as aloe vera, lavender oil and nettle.

Also keep an eye out for shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and hemp oil, grapeseed extract, seaweed extract and pomegranate extract.

1. Watermelon seeds
While watermelon is a very popular fruit, we usually don’t eat any of the seeds. But, maybe we should start. Watermelon seeds are loaded with nutrients including essential proteins, minerals and fatty acids. They’re rich in vitamin B such as thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and folate as well as magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron, zinc, phosphorus and copper.
Watermelon seeds are said to prevent the signs of ageing due to the antioxidants and oils they contain which make your skin look healthier, younger and more vibrant. Studies show that results can be seen by consuming one or two handfuls of watermelon seeds each week.
Try roasting them and eat them as a snack or sprinkle on salads or drink watermelon seed tea which can benefit cardiac health.

2. Blackcurrants
These beauties are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and are being touted for their effects on muscle recovery, performance and fat burning.But that’s not all they’re good for. They can be used as an aid to help the immune system, eye and gut health, blood flow and kidney health.Blackcurrant extracts have been shown to reduce risk factors for metabolic conditions such as types 1 and  2  diabetes.
The entire blackcurrant plant – from the leaves to the seeds – can be used for a number of conditions. The most common form is blackcurrant seed oil, but you can also make tea from the plant’s leaves (fresh or dried). Blackcurrant juice is a potent way to get this superfood into your body, but you can also try blackcurrant powder.
Full of vitamins, the most prevalent being vitamin C, blackcurrants have four times the amount of vitamin C that you’ll find in oranges and twice the amount of antioxidants as blueberries. Their leaves have a range of properties including antiviral, antitoxic and antiseptic. The high GLA content in blackcurrants can help to reduce joint and muscle damage, pain, stiffness and soreness.
Clinical trials in the United States have shown that blackcurrants can improve eye function including blood flow to the eyes and symptoms of visual fatigue (particularly from computer work). One study showed that one tablespoon of blackcurrant berries reduced eye strain within two hours of taking it.

3. Algae
Get ready for an ‘algae boom’ – it might not be too far away. Rich in omega-3 fats (EPA and DHA) found only in oily fish, algae is great for vegans and vegetarians who want to supplement their diet with these essential fatty acids.
But non-meat and dairy eaters aren’t the only ones who can benefit from algae. Spirulina, popular at juice bars and in supplements for many years, is a type of algae and more than 90% of baby formulas use algae oil as the source of their healthy fats. This type of algae is known as Chlorella and is packed with nutrients such as healthy triglyceride oils, protein and micro nutrients.
When made into an oil, algae has less saturated fats than olive or canola oil, making it a great alternative for healthy cooking.

4. Black bean pasta
This might just be the ticket if you love pasta but are trying to avoid it. Black bean pasta is a great source of plant-based protein, and it’s gluten-free. It’s very high in fibre so will help with digestion and because it’s digested slowly, will make you feel fuller for longer. It’s also been shown to help with weight loss.
With a low sugar content, it’s an ideal choice for diabetics and weight watchers and is also very high in antioxidants. Research studies have shown that black beans can play a large role in good heart health, promoting anti-hypertensive properties.
And what you see is what you get – black bean pasta is just spaghetti noodles made from black beans, with no preservatives or additives.

5. Turmeric
We’ve been onto this one for a while, and  2016  really  saw turmeric come into its own due to its many health benefits. In fact, turmeric is one of the most effective nutritional supplements available to us and studies show that it has major benefits for your brain and body.
In addition to being the spice that gives curry its yellow colour, turmeric has been used in India for thousands of years as a medicinal herb. It contains compounds called curcuminoids, the most important being curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric. Curcumin has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
Turmeric is also believed to dramatically increase the antioxidant capacity of the body, while curcumin has been linked to improved brain function and lowering the risk of brain diseases. It may be helpful in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s and has shown promise in the treatment of depression.
Curcumin is also being touted to improve heart health, help fight the ageing process and has been known to help the painful and often crippling effects of arthritis.

For a start, organically grown food is free from harmful chemicals. It’s also loaded with nutrients and is the smart choice to preserve the environment. And the fact that it tastes great makes the decision to embrace this global trend pretty convincing.

Here are 7 reasons why it’s better to go organic.

1. No harmful chemicals
Chemicals are poison and unfortunately, they are present in commercially grown food. We also don’t know the long-term effects to our health that ingesting a cocktail of chemicals will cause. Organic farmers don’t use chemicals or pesticides on their crops, guaranteeing fresh food right from the source.

2. No GMOs
Chemicals are poison and unfortunately, they are present in commercially grown food. We also don’t know the long-term effects to our health that ingesting a cocktail of chemicals will cause. Organic farmers don’t use chemicals or pesticides on their crops, guaranteeing fresh food right from the source.

3. It’s better for the environment
Organic farms are committed to preserving the environment. They focus on sustainability and respect the natural biodiversity of the environment by using organic fertilisers and crop rotations which help to combat soil erosion and lead to less groundwater pollution. And, organic farming creates stable habitats for local wildlife.

4. It’s better for you
There are more nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and enzymes than what you’ll find in commercially grown food. A number of significant studies have shown that when comparing the nutritional value of organic against
commercially grown vegetables, fruits and grains, organic comes out on top. On average, organically grown foods provide more than 20% iron, 27% more vitamin C, almost 30% more magnesium and over 13% more phosphorous.

5. It tastes great
As a rule, organically grown foods taste better because well-balanced and nourished soil produces strong and healthy plants and you’ll be able to enjoy the real taste of the food without any additives, unnecessary flavouring and artificial preservatives.

6. Future generations will benefit
Buying organically grown foods will help to create a sustainable future for many generations to come. While research shows that pesticides can be related to birth defects, neurological problems and cancer, by going organic you can do your bit to build stronger generations.

7. Avoid hormones and other drugs in animal products
Antibiotics, drugs and growth hormones are directly passed into meat and dairy products from the feed of animals that are not organically raised. This cocktail of additives passes to us and can weaken the immune system and cause a multitude of health problems.