Most people are aware of concerns about the significant number of chemicals in our food, but have you ever thought about the amount of substances you might also be putting onto your skin?

According to recent research, women apply an average of 168 chemicals to their faces and bodies every day through perfumes, cosmetics and skin care products.

Some of these compounds might be completely harmless, but others have been proven to be carcinogens and neurotoxins, and combined with each other they may have additional health implications.

The good news is, the natural beauty product market has been steadily growing, which means you can find a range of paraben or chemical-free products, it just takes some research and patience.

Here are three steps to help you adopt a chemical-free beauty regime:

Cut down on products

By reducing the number of products you use, you’ll also be cutting out any number of chemicals which are absorbed by the skin and into the bloodstream.

Ask yourself whether you need five lipsticks, or three types of moisturiser, or four brands of perfume, and then start shopping for simpler and more natural alternatives.

Several leading brands operate in the ‘natural’ or chemical-free space, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find what you need.

In fact, some of the most well-known skincare providers are completely chemical-free or offer chemical-free versions of their products such as Weleda and Origins. Although you should remember that there is limited regulation of most beauty products, so some can be labelled ‘natural’ when they are far from it.

Know your ingredients

Carry out some research into products which have been proven as harmful. The Internet has a wealth of information on synthetic ingredients which are known skin irritants.

There are also various apps available, including Codecheck and Think Dirty, which will scan your beauty products and provide toxicity ratings and information on the ingredients you should try to avoid.

When you buy a product always read the list of ingredients and try to choose ones which have the fewest, are plant-based, and ideally organically certified.

Some of the natural ingredients to look out for include honey, essential oils, aloe, green tea, or clay. Some of the ingredients to avoid include parabens, petrochemicals, sodium laureth or lauryl sulphate, phthalates, and man-made fragrances.

Be patient

Whenever you transition to a new beauty product there will probably be a period when it may not seem like the right fit.

If the product is causing irritation or a reaction then you should stop using it immediately, but if your skin just needs time to adjust, try to be patient.

Experts advise that our bodies are full of toxins, so if you experience breakouts while using plant-based products, it might actually be your body eliminating the chemicals it has already stored up.

Trial and error is probably inevitable, but if you manage to transition to cleaner, more natural and chemical-free products, it’ll hopefully be worthwhile.

Sources: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics / The Guardian / Sheerluxe / WebMD / The Telegraph