Natural care: meet the needs of our body, not modify them

The cosmetics that you use for the skin or the hair are studied to meet the needs of our body and sometimes to correct failures in our metabolism. It is by no means a question of modifying the cells of our body, as this could have the effect of confusing the messages that our skin and hair receive, and causing them to produce an inappropriate response.

How the skin works

To understand the effect of cosmetics, you need to know how the skin works. It is made up of several layers - epidermis, dermis and hypodermis - and performs different functions: immune barrier, physical and chemical protection, elimination of waste through sweat and sebum, regulation of body temperature, production of vitamin D and transmission of information between the outside and the inside of our body.

Our skin is made up of 70% water, 27.5% protein, 2% lipids, 0.5% mineral salts.

The stratum corneum

Our skin is covered with a stratum corneum - stratum corneum - which is an amalgam of cells ensuring its impermeability and resistance. This layer is ephemeral because its cells die off and are replaced by cells from the lower layer. This process is permanent. The skin renewal cycle is about a month. This is why, even if you have healthy skin, you may notice flaking: the skin peels, which corresponds to dead skin that falls off.

You already understand at this point that hydrating the skin is not done to prevent dead skin from forming and falling off, which is a natural occurrence. Moisturising your skin consists of nourishing the layer just below the stratum corneum to give it more vitality. We don't change the metabolic process, we just give it a little boost.

The epidermis

The epidermis is then the outermost tissue of the skin, just below the stratum corneum. The epidermis is our shell, it protects us from external aggressions, but nevertheless lets through some elements that it filters. Some cells are hydrophilic, that is, they allow water to pass through, others are lipophilic and allow fatty substances to pass through.

Despite everything, the skin acts as a barrier, otherwise we would not be waterproof!

We apply cosmetics to the epidermis which "sorts" the substances they contain and let them pass or not. If you use an oily product, for example, your skin will absorb some of it, depending on what it needs. If you apply too much fat, your skin closes the barrier and you stay oily.

If you have sensitive skin, it means the epidermis is not performing its function properly. You will therefore use products that will compensate for the failures of your skin, but you will not change its constitution.

The dermis

Below the epidermis is the thickest part of the skin, the dermis. It contains vital building blocks like collagen, blood vessels and nerves. Collagen fibers are proteins to which you owe the suppleness and elasticity of your skin. The dermis is therefore a strategic part of the body, responsible for the good health of the skin.

The hypodermis

Finally, the hypodermis is the deepest part of the skin. This subcutaneous tissue forms a fatty layer that allows our metabolism to regulate our body temperature to keep it constant.

The hair structure

Hair is the other part of the body that we apply cosmetics to. They are made up of 95% keratin, a fibrous and helical protein that is also part of the composition of the skin and all integuments (hair and nails).

The hair structure is divided into 3 parts:

1. the cuticle is its thin protective layer made up of a multitude of tiny scales, all facing the same direction and overlapping

2. the cortex is the main component of hair

3. the cord represents the central part of the hair

The cuticle contains the nourishing part which allows the hair to develop in good health, to be supple and silky.

As with the skin, you must let your hair protect itself naturally, especially thanks to the cuticles. If you have particular problems, the treatment you apply should strengthen their defense, not upset it.

The absorption of cosmetic products through the skin and hair

Cosmetic products contain a large amount of water. When you apply the cosmetic to the skin or hair, part of the water evaporates, while the active ingredients must penetrate the body. For the penetration rate to be as high as possible, the dosage of the product must be well studied.

The skin being an “intelligent” organ, it filters welcome substances. However, when it comes to foreign chemicals, his judgment can be hit and miss. Therefore, industrial products are not recommended. They can alter the chemical reactions of certain cells, while the purpose of a cosmetic is to make them work better.

Our metabolism is an extremely sophisticated and intelligent machine because it is capable of learning. You see it with the diseases that make you immune. Once you caught them, your metabolism figured out how they worked and what their weapons were. He then built a defense strategy that allows you to no longer catch these particular diseases.

This is why there is no question of upsetting your metabolism. On the contrary, you will strengthen the weapons he already has.

Cosmetics and hydration of the skin and hair

The use of natural cosmetic products provides aids to the skin and to the hair in particular to regulate their hydration which is the first essential element to remain in good health.

If you use chemicals that disrupt the metabolism of your skin and hair, you may upset the balance and get reactions that are contrary to your goal. Indeed, we know that one of the main functions of the skin is to protect us and to choose what should or should not pass through its barrier. If a chemical alters the perception of cells, then the exchanges between the inside and outside of the body are disrupted.

If your skin no longer holds water, it dries up, becomes rough and porous. If, on the contrary, it is too hydrated, it makes water retention, which causes the cells to swell. In either case, the skin no longer performs its barrier work.

How to meet the needs of your metabolism

By using natural cosmetics, you strengthen your body to allow it to function better. If you suffer from specific problems, like sensitive skin, dry hair, etc., you will choose a product that will work in the same direction as your metabolism, without ever trying to “contradict” it.

On the other hand, besides cosmetics, you need to give your cells the fuel they need to run the machine. That is, just eat a good diet, exercise, and moderate sun exposure, while you need to rebuild your vitamin D stock.