While conventional cosmetics are made from synthetic ingredients, natural cosmetics draw on the bounty of the natural world. Their formulas consist primarily of plant extracts and minerals. This makes them much safer not only for you, but also for the ecosystem.
How do natural cosmetics differ from conventional ones?
Conventional cosmetics are designed to deliver quick results at the lowest possible cost. As a result, they often rely on cheaper ingredients, even if their effects are superficial or may cause side effects.
Natural cosmetics, on the other hand, take a holistic approach to caring for the health and beauty of your skin. They deliver long-lasting results without risking skin imbalance.
We can distinguish natural cosmetics from synthetic ones by looking at their ingredients. While the raw materials for natural skincare products come from plants and minerals, mass-produced products are created artificially, and we often don’t fully understand the effects of a given substance until long after it has hit the shelves.
Plant waters: More about hydrosols in natural cosmetics
Water is an essential ingredient in cosmetics because it enables active ingredients to be absorbed into the skin. Most cosmetics—both conventional and natural—contain plain distilled water. However, research shows that floral water, or hydrosol, can be far more effective in cosmetics. Hydrosols deliver active ingredients more deeply and effectively. They also have a soothing effect, allowing a single product to deliver as many as a dozen different active ingredients.
At Phenomé, we were the first in the world to replace regular water entirely with hydrosols. All our cosmetics are made exclusively with plant-based waters; this remains a top-tier approach, as the quality of these formulas is significantly higher than that of water-based formulations.
Active ingredients in natural cosmetics
At Phenomé, we use only natural ingredients sourced from organic farms. This ensures that our products are free of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide residues.
What’s more, Phenomé products contain over a dozen specially selected active ingredients! The active ingredients in these creams work on multiple levels—from the outer layers of the skin down to the cellular level—delivering faster results and long-lasting improvements in skin condition.
By comparison, conventional cosmetics use synthetic substances that often only work on the surface. They are also not biodegradable. In contrast, when you use other natural cosmetics, you usually provide your skin with only one or two active ingredients.
Preservatives in natural cosmetics
Naturalne konserwanty w kosmetykach Phenomé są bezpieczne i pozytywnie zaopiniowane przez organizacje certyfikujące ekologiczne produkty do pielęgnacji jak Ecocert czy Cosmos.
Conventional cosmetics, on the other hand, are preserved with synthetic substances that are increasingly controversial among scientists. They can cause skin inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and even cancer.
Organic cosmetics vs. natural cosmetics
Natural cosmetics are based on plant extracts and minerals, but these ingredients do not necessarily come from organic farming. Organic cosmetics, on the other hand, must demonstrate that at least 90 percent of their ingredients are organic.
Unfortunately, the lack of a legal definition for “natural cosmetics” allows many companies to market products as eco-friendly even though natural ingredients make up less than 1% of their composition!
To ensure that you’re actually paying for the quality of the ingredients—and not just for a green logo—look for brands that meet the rigorous standards of certification organizations like Phenomé.
What does “organic” mean?
Organic cosmetics are made using natural ingredients sourced from organic farms. These farms must adhere to strict guidelines regarding ecosystem safety.
Unfortunately, when we shop in a hurry, we often don’t take the time to carefully review the ingredients in our cosmetics. Not only do we risk irritating our skin, but we also compromise its ability to protect us from harmful substances in the air.
At Phenomé, the selection of natural ingredients in line with the principles of sustainability forms the foundation of our formulations.
What is the difference between natural and synthetic cosmetics?
There are no legal regulations governing natural cosmetics. So while the difference between them and products containing artificial ingredients should be obvious, products that appear eco-friendly at first glance often turn out to be full of synthetics upon closer inspection. The best approach is to check the ingredient list—the so-called INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) list—yourself and stick to trusted brands.
Vegan cosmetics
Vegan cosmetics are not tested on animals and must not contain any animal-derived ingredients, including honey and beeswax.
Phenomé cosmetics contain only plant and mineral extracts, which is why they are all vegan.
Why should you incorporate vegan skincare products into your daily skincare routine?
The decision to stop using cosmetics containing animal-derived ingredients is tantamount to opposing the infliction of suffering on animals.
We believe that our daily choices should reflect our values, which is why vegan, eco-friendly cosmetics are a step toward a cleaner, cruelty-free world.
“Cruelty-free” is a label you’ll find on all Phenomé products.
Skincare Trends in the Natural Cosmetics Market
As both producers and consumers, we have a choice: we can try at all costs to keep up with whatever is currently in vogue, or we can choose only those skincare trends that align with our values and meet the needs of our skin.
At Phenomé, we are delighted to see that the ideas which formed the foundation of our brand are gaining increasing popularity. We therefore support “green” trends that raise consumer awareness and heighten customer expectations regarding the ethical sourcing of natural cosmetics. At the same time, we prioritize a modern approach to developing premium formulations and the techniques and methods used to create effective, innovative natural cosmetics.
Skin minimalizm
One of the most surprising trends of recent times—skinimalism—holds a special place in our hearts. Paradoxically, it’s a trend that encourages not buying more products, but rather reducing your consumption. This approach is not only good for your wallet, but above all, it allows your overworked skin to rest and significantly reduces the amount of waste produced. What’s more, using just a few carefully selected cosmetics doesn’t mean your skincare routine is any less effective. On the contrary, just three products rich in high-quality active ingredients will take better care of your skin than bathroom shelves groaning under the weight of random cosmetics.
Superfoods in Skincare
Cosmetics containing superfoods—ingredients with a very rich nutritional profile—are also all the rage. These exceptionally healthy ingredients make ideal active ingredients, restoring the skin’s balance, slowing down the aging process, and protecting it from dehydration and harmful external factors.
Natural body care products
Many of us carefully select skincare products for our faces but neglect our bodies. That is why Phenomé natural body care products are designed to comprehensively care for skin that craves both hydration and tenderness. To this end, we have developed products for daily body care that not only deeply moisturize and nourish, but also smell wonderful and delight with their texture. After such a sensual ritual, your body will reward you with firmness and a beautiful complexion, making your skin look healthy and youthful.
Natural cosmetics that are good for men
We believe that natural skincare knows no age or gender. We understand the needs of men’s skin, which is why we design our products to be suitable for men as well. Because men’s skin is thicker, skincare products for men should, above all, absorb perfectly. Our products achieve this thanks to their hydrosol-based formulas. Furthermore, men tend to develop deeper wrinkles, so it’s worth incorporating natural active ingredients with antioxidant properties into their daily skincare routine. Finally, men’s skin is prone to acne, which can be addressed with our natural skincare products for men that soothe and regulate the skin.
Natural body care products, on the other hand, will not only leave our beloved men with deeply moisturized skin, but also make them feel great.
Natural hair care products
Phenomé’s natural hair care products will help you enjoy healthy-looking, shiny hair. Our shampoos, packed with natural active ingredients, leave no residue, so your hair stays fresh and light longer. Their rich formulas also make your hair easy to style and leave it velvety soft to the touch.
The PURIFYING exfoliating hair mask will restore balance to oily hair or hair prone to dandruff, while the REGENERATING mask will repair dry or damaged hair.
Eco-friendly cosmetic packaging—why?
The cosmetics industry accounts for more than one-third of the waste in landfills, which is why it’s important to pay attention to how products are packaged when choosing skincare items. Unfortunately, most cosmetic packaging, especially plastic packaging, is not recyclable, which is a major contributor to environmental pollution. Worldwide, only 9% of plastic packaging is recycled; the rest poses a serious environmental problem.
That is why Phenomé natural cosmetics has committed to reducing the use of plastic, film, and multi-layered packaging by introducing eco-friendly cosmetic packaging that is easier to recycle. The light-colored jars we’re introducing, instead of dark ones, make the recycling process easier. We want to take care of our planet and minimize our impact on the environment.