More and more, we are seeing an increase in popularity of natural ingredients in beauty and skincare products. It has become common knowledge that natural products have fewer side effects and are more gentle than their heavily processed counterparts. Now, it’s important to take action and make sure you make the change in your own lifestyle.

It’s been shown in a study by the Environmental Working Group that the average woman uses around 168 chemicals on their body every single day. Men use roughly half of that amount, but it’s still a lot. Through time this can lead to a lot of problems, though their severity will depend on the person.

For one, the chemicals in beauty products are one of the only unregulated products by the FDA, meaning there isn’t really a way for you to know if the product is safe or not. Even if the label claims that it is 100% okay for use, some chemicals in the formula might not go well with your skin simply because of your skin type. On top of that, a product that seems to work well may cause harm in the long run and does not cause any visible harm in the short-term. Our skin has a natural protective barrier designed to protect itself from dangerous compounds, but as 60% of what’s put on the skin is directly absorbed, there are lots of harmful chemicals that may penetrate regardless and get to the bloodstream.

That’s not to say natural ingredients are 100% safe, of course. There are some natural and organic ingredients that still have a high chance of causing skin irritation if used in excess or with the wrong skin type. Some may cause skin sensitivity that will accumulate over time, disrupting the skin’s renewal of itself and making it more vulnerable and delicate. Some natural products that may have these effects and for which you should watch out for are alcohol, cinnamon, lime, and lemon.

But when the right natural ingredients are used, the list of benefits goes on and on. We have to keep in mind that we were life carved out of nature, just like any other being on the earth. It’s only logical that things coming from the earth are much better for us compared to man-made products – they work with your skin rather than against it. They are generally more gentle than their chemical counterparts and have a lower risk of causing irritation and allergic reactions, meaning they’re especially suitable for those with sensitive skin. Some examples of good natural ingredients are cocoa butter, clays, honey, olive oil, and jojoba oil.

This next point goes hand in hand with the previous topic, as fragrances are more often added to chemical formulas to cover up their chemical smell. Though these fragrances are pleasing to the nostrils, they’re not so pleasing to your skin. These chemicals are often the culprits to skin irritation, redness, itching, or other discomforts. Again, since the FDA doesn’t do much to control or monitor chemicals in cosmetics, some smells come from toxic chemicals that can be dangerous to the wearer.

With that said, natural fragrances aren’t all that good either. You may have heard lots of good stuff about essential oils, but their benefits come from breathing them in, not from putting them on your skin. In fact, they can harm the skin and cause irritation to the wearer.

Because of this, we highly recommend you opt for an odorless product. By odorless we don’t mean they don’t smell like anything at all, but simply that any smell comes only from natural oils or other ingredients. Most of the time, the fragrance will be indicated on their packaging, but sometimes they are sneaked in and not carefully pointed out on their label. Again, you can look at the list of ingredients to double check.

Unlike the other two characteristics, this one does not concern balms or moisturizers. Rather, it’s something to consider with files and scrubs. The coarseness of the file or the size of the gritty bits in the scrubs can cause harm if they are too rough. After all, it’s your skin they are are scrubbing, and no matter how thick or dry it is it’s still a part of your body.

When the file or the scrub is so rough that it strips away all the dry skin in one go, the body may try to regulate itself by producing even more to protect itself. This process may sound awfully familiar to you if you’ve had skin problems or acne as well – you used products that dried out your oily skin, but in response to the drastic change, your skin started producing even more oils, resulting in more acne and skin problems. It’s an endless cycle, where every time you think you’ve conquered the problem, the problem comes back. For the feet, though your heel may feel super smooth at first, it could begin to get rough and dry in just a few days. On top of that, coarse files and gritty scrubs can be so ‘efficient’ that you accidentally strip off too much and end up with a tender or even bleeding foot.

With that said, these items are still okay to use. Their biggest advantage is their efficiency – they can strip off years of accumulated dry skin on the heel in just a couple of minutes, and make them look nice and smooth. If you need results quick – for example, if you’ve got an important event next week where you’ll have to wear open-heeled shoes – they are the go-to option. But just make sure that you use them in moderation and know when to stop to prevent any painful aftereffects. Use them slowly and stay attuned to your senses for any tenderness or pain. If possible, apply a moisturizer afterward to smooth out the skin and keep it moisturized.

The best part about using these tools at home rather than going to a salon is the sanitation. At home, you are responsible for keeping all your items clean and sanitized. When you’ve done so, you can rest easy when using them. In the salon, however, sanitation is put into the responsibility of others that may not do as good of a job. Of course, it sounds disgusting, but there are more serious consequences than that. If the tools used on your feet are not cleaned properly and/or if you get a nick or a cut by accident, you could easily get a fungal infection or other types of unpleasant conditions.

At home, you have to take the necessary measures to ensure all your tools are sanitary. After every use, your tool is bound to have some powdery skin still lingering on it. Just using water and soap isn’t enough. It is recommended that you use a brush of some kind (a toothbrush should be fine – just don’t use your own) to scrub it and get into every little crevice that might exist. Then, use a disinfecting solution or sanitizing liquid and soak or spray the tool. Finally, put it into an airtight bag to ensure it is sealed off from any bacteria outside.

Cost and value are always one of the determining factors when it comes to many of our products. The reason being is that we want to share the best value products for the price. Other than that, we wanted to widen the spectrum of the different costs that an individual can expect.

When looking at the value of foot care products it's important to take the brand, ingredients, and type of product into consideration. Not only will this affect how long it lasts, but how well it performs, and also, the safety of using it. You don't want to cut corners on a product and have it affect your skin negatively or cause any issues. It might be worth it to pay slightly more to ensure your safety.