Do you know what’s in your Skincare?
Posted 21 April 10Growing our ‘green’ consciousness means also growing our social and spiritual consciousness, supporting the health of both humanity and nature. This is how we can truly embrace the symbiotic existence we share with our planet, and these are all essential components of a sustainable approach to living on earth.
One of the easiest ways that you can make a powerful contribution to growing ‘green’ consciousness on earth is to support product brands that are socially and environmentally aware, thus casting a financial vote for a greener earth. The growing number of organic and ‘natural’ product ranges is a powerful invitation and opportunity for everybody to make the move to green.
Natural and Organic Skincare
Cast your green vote by choosing a skincare brand that is committed to sustainability on earth. Many people are doing this for the personal health benefits of natural and organic skincare, but the benefits don’t stop there. If you choose a brand that practices sustainable farming, supports Fair Trade and uses Eco-Certified ingredients, then the benefits reach beyond you to all humanity and earth.
Soref (2006) writes: “The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in the United States found that 815 chemicals used in non-organic personal care products and cosmetics are toxic to human health. Importantly, these synthetic chemicals later end up polluting our oceans, rivers and soils.” The question is not can we afford to buy natural and organic personal care products; It’s “Can we afford not to?”
Sustainable Farming – A way to Heal the Earth
Australians are well placed to embrace natural and organic skincare products, with the largest amount of certified organic farming land in the world. – Romano (2007) Synthetic fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides for farming have been damaging to the earth and to humans who consume contaminated foods and water. When these artificial chemicals became more popular throughout Europe in the early 1900s, Dr Rudolf Steiner, philosopher and creator of Anthroposophy, saw the damaging effects that they were having on nature and livestock and he declared his own agricultural technique ‘Biodynamics’ a way to heal the earth. Today more than ever, we need this sort of wisdom to keep us green.
Biodynamics is a science in its own right that tunes into the physical and the spiritual aspects of nature such as natural forces, planetary movements and the lunar cycle. It takes organic farming a step further, emphasizing life energy and seeking to create the most dynamic, life-charged produce. According to the Biodynamic Agriculture Australia, this form of agriculture, with its natural farm-sourced special preparations and spiritual consciousness is able to create deeper soil and root depth, increase water holding capacity of soils (good in drought and flood), and improve plant and animal health and yield, reducing weeds and pests.
To check if your skincare brand uses Biodynamic farming, ask to see their Demeter certification, proving international recognition of the company’s biodynamic practices.
Nuturing our Spiritual Connection to Nature
It takes an holistic approach to life, such as Anthroposophy, to best understand the natural forces at work in the environment and co-exist in harmony with nature. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) created this holistic approach to food, skincare and health in the 1920s, and it continues to be popular throughout the world. Studies reveal the anthroposophic lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of allergies, skin problems and asthma in the young, and improve immunity and gut health.
Anthroposophy helps children cultivate their social and environmental consciousness, and instils in them a deep appreciation of nature. There are many challenges young people face with regards to becoming more conscious in this way, such as the rapidly growing dependence on television, thrill and titillation, and time spent indoors.
Author Matthew Fox comments on this in his book ‘Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh’ (1999): “A lot of animals are remarkably good at sitting still…and this is something TV never captures. The nature documentaries are as absurdly action-packed as the soap operas, where a life’s worth of divorce, adultery, and sudden death are crammed into a week’s worth of watching – trying to understand “nature” from watching Wild Kingdom is as tough as trying to understand “life” from watching Dynasty.”
The Vote for Earth
Every day there is a new opportunity for you to cast your green vote; with the products you purchase and the social and environmental consciousness you model to others. The most wonderful gift we can give to our children is an appreciation of nature and a taste of social consciousness. It lifts them to their higher potentials as human beings, does wonders for their health and nurtures the earth.
The bubhub: Do you know what’s in your Skincare?
