Step by Step to Natural Cosmetics

The beauty industry has a major influence on consumption as well as on the use of conventional cosmetics. In recent years, a shift could be observed due to various factors: More and more people are choosing natural cosmetics. Our skin is our largest organ, which contributes to maintaining the skin barrier through various functions and thus helps secure our health. We should therefore pay more attention to our skin. It's important to take a close look at which ingredients we bring it into contact with. Nature can do a great deal for healthy and beautiful skin, hair, and nails. Essential oils and extracts from resins, seeds, and flowers have been valued for their healing properties for many hundreds of years. As a young startup, we want not only to sell our products but also to accompany you in reconsidering conventional cosmetics. After a long search, we discovered the perfect ingredients for our cosmetics and subsequently brought our first product to market in 2016. The conscious handling of ingredients makes it possible to escape the toxic routine and let our skin breathe. Because our skin is the mirror of our health.

The Problems with Conventional Cosmetics

Conventional cosmetics contain plenty of controversial ingredients. Often these are not recognizable at first glance, as they are described with difficult designations on the ingredient list. Here's a small overview of the most commonly used ingredients and what they can do in your body:

Sulfates

are a washing substance found in most conventional cleaning products. These are used as foam builders and as fat-dissolving cleansing for skin and hair to remove excess sebum there. Sulfates are the most commonly used surfactant in conventional cosmetics because they are a cost-effective ingredient. Problem: The overly thorough cleaning with sulfates causes the horn layers of skin and hair to swell. This washes away too much of what would actually be good for the body's own protection. The skin becomes brittle, tends to itch, flake, and redden.

Microplastics

consist of tiny plastic beads, no larger than up to five millimeters. Through mechanical cleaning, they help in care and cleaning products to remove dead skin cells particularly well. They also serve as binding agents in almost all cosmetics. Problem: the small plastic particles are not completely filtered out in sewage treatment plants. The particles end up in the sea as pollutants for fish and other marine animals. This is not only bad for the living beings and thus also for the environment, but by eating fish, the beads also end up on our plates and in our bodies.

Parabens

are used as preservatives in cosmetics to protect the product from germs and bacteria. Problem: many types of parabens are suspected of promoting cancer and actively influencing the hormone system. In high doses, this poses a risk to your health. Since 2015, the parabens "propylparaben" and "butylparaben" are no longer permitted in baby cosmetics in the EU.

Lilial

is a synthetic fragrance that is supposed to resemble the scent of lily of the valley. The liquid, yellowish or colorless substance is often used in cosmetic and cleaning products. Problem: this ingredient has a high allergy potential. Especially people who tend to have contact allergies should avoid this substance.

Paraffins

are a micro wax obtained from petroleum. Paraffins are able to lay as a film on the skin and not penetrate. This makes the skin feel pleasantly cared for, but unfortunately this only applies to the upper skin layer. Problem: with long-term use, the skin dries out because it is restricted or prevented from breathing and thus from metabolism.

So you see, synthetic ingredients can be real poison for the body and nature.

The decisive difference between conventional cosmetics and natural cosmetics is that natural substances are absorbed differently in the cell than synthetic substances. In natural cosmetics, essential oils and fruit aromas are used for color and fragrance. The natural substances help skin and hair return to their balance. They receive nutrients and are protected from moisture loss. This supports the skin in regenerating effectively.

Cosmetics are designated as natural cosmetics whose ingredients are predominantly of natural origin and consistently avoid synthetic fragrances, colorants, and preservatives. In genuine natural cosmetics, only what can be returned to the natural cycle and does not burden the environment for long is permitted. However, natural cosmetics is not a protected term.

Seals provide information about the guidelines according to which the products were manufactured. For controlled natural cosmetics, the following applies: they contain no petroleum-based ingredients and are free from silicones, artificial fragrances, and synthetic emulsifiers. Microplastics and most preservatives are prohibited. Natural raw materials may only be chemically modified slightly. Stricter requirements apply for animal testing, and depending on the seal, part of the ingredients comes from organic cultivation.

Since natural cosmetics are so safe, they are suitable for everyone and also in every life situation. You're also doing something good for the environment!

Due to all the reasons mentioned, we don't believe in conventional cosmetics. The best medicine for young and healthy skin comes from within and from nature. Our products have been on the market since 2016, and from the beginning, harmful ingredients had no right to exist with us. On the contrary: we searched for the perfect natural ingredients to create the perfect care with all important nutrients for you.

Quality Matters

Even in antiquity, people knew about natural plant powers. Healing with medicinal plants is also a form of therapy that was written about in Greek and Roman antiquity. Plants have been used for many centuries to produce effective medicine and cosmetics. The ancient knowledge about the effect of plant power still plays an important role today, which is steadily growing.

Natural cosmetics bring skin and hair into balance with natural substances. They thereby receive nutrients and are protected from moisture loss.

Natural cosmetics are subject to strict requirements to obtain certification. Criteria to obtain one of the common seals are as follows:

1. Natural cosmetics avoid synthetic colorants and fragrances as well as parabens (preservatives). Paraffins (petroleum), silicones, or other genetically modified organisms also have no justification in natural cosmetics.

2. Since natural cosmetics avoid parabens, we must resort to other substances to make our cosmetics shelf-stable. As a first step, it's important to use only high-quality raw materials that are free from impurities. With the help of essential oil, Vitamin C, or organic alcohol, we can make our cleaning and care products naturally shelf-stable.

3. Ingredients in natural cosmetics should be natural, which usually means plant-based. Depending on the certification, mineral or animal components are also permitted to a certain extent. The quantitatively most important ingredients are oils, fats, and waxes such as argan oil, olive oil, soy oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, or beeswax.

4. The production (cultivation and harvest as well as processing), packaging, and transport should be as sustainable as possible – that is, environmentally and resource-conserving.

5. Depending on the level of certification, the quantities of ingredients that must come from organic cultivation are also prescribed.

Which seals should you look for?

Here we explain the most common seals to you.

BDIH: the Federal Association of German Industry and Trade Companies certifies cosmetics as "natural" if they are free from petroleum products as well as synthetic colorants, fragrances, and preservatives. All ingredients must come "as much as possible from organic cultivation."

Natrue: the Natrue seal, which originally emerged from the industry's own initiative, is now one of the most important certificates in natural cosmetics. As with BDIH, only natural substances from controlled organic cultivation are permitted here.

Ecocert: this seal is rather rare to find in Germany. Nevertheless, you should not doubt its credibility. Ecocert distinguishes between "natural cosmetics" – meaning at least 50% of the ingredients must be plant-based and 5% organic – and "organic cosmetics," where at least 95% of the ingredients must be plant-based and at least 10% organic.

Demeter: is a pioneer in the field of natural cosmetics. As early as 1990, the Demeter brand community introduced the first guidelines. In addition to the common rules, high biodegradability and absolute transparency in declaration are important to Demeter.

Quality has its price!

High-quality ingredients are significantly more expensive to obtain than the cheap components of conventional cosmetics. These high-quality substances are adapted to the natural balance of the skin.

Since the production facility or conditions often play a major role in sustainability, natural cosmetics are often priced at a higher level than conventional cosmetics.

Cosmetics are only as good as their ingredients. High-quality and natural components of our cosmetics meet our standards and should also fulfill yours.

And how are efficacy and compatibility tested?

Natural cosmetics is not a protected term, which is why the designation does not automatically mean that the cosmetics are cruelty-free or vegan. The seals mentioned above therefore help you with your selection.

Cruelty-free cosmetics

Animal testing in cosmetics has been banned in the EU since 2013, but there are different regulations internationally. You should consider this before making new purchases.

Vegan

These products contain no ingredients that were produced by or from animals. However, this does not mean that they may not have been tested on animals.

The good news is that natural cosmetics are trending and the industry has therefore been targeting consumers for years and expanding the global market. Whether on the internet, in cosmetic studios, or in drugstores – popular natural cosmetics can be found everywhere. At TocoCare, we address people of all genders, all ages, and all skin types.

Without Compromise

The power of nature, pure skincare, less is more. Detoxify your skin from a toxic routine. Detox your life, detox your skin. Use the forces of nature to develop your own strength from within. Holistic care with natural cosmetics is therefore recommended.

TocoCare promises you

- To work only with valuable organic oils

- To use purely vegan ingredients (except for the lip balm where we use beeswax)

- To use the high-quality natural Vitamin E complex in our products

- Not to use petroleum products or other chemicals

- To be hypoallergenic

- And to manufacture our products in Germany.

Initial Worsening

Since natural cosmetics contain no film formers like silicones, they cannot cover up skin and hair damage but must provide real improvement to be repurchased. For this reason, you don't immediately see a positive change with every new product and sometimes have to accept a short adjustment phase. However, a natural anti-aging product, for example, continues to work for a short time even after discontinuation, while conventional products that only covered the wrinkles immediately stop working and therefore often result in an apparent worsening of the skin. In addition, the claim of certified natural cosmetics is always to improve the skin and keep it healthy, while it's usually sufficient for conventional manufacturers to make the skin "look healthy." Instead of concealing or covering up skin problems with cosmetics, we want to help our skin achieve a healthy radiance.

A new care line is like a kind of dietary change for the skin. It receives more nutrients that it must process. This adjustment can take about one regeneration cycle. When you change your diet, your digestion probably also reacts differently than expected at first. This is also how it behaves with new, better products for your skin. The uppermost skin layer constantly renews itself. In the underlying epidermis, new cells are formed that are slowly pushed upward by the following cells. In doing so, they slowly become keratinized. When they reach the top, they form the new skin surface until they are completely dead and renewed. Your skin needs 28 days to completely renew itself.

Our skin has forgotten over time how to regenerate itself. Natural cosmetics do not replace natural skin function but support it. To do this, they supply the skin with, for example, nourishing oils that are then either directly incorporated into the skin barrier or processed into something useful. Natural ingredients are far more complex than mineral oil products. Your skin must first get used to the new task again.

Is it possible for cosmetics to accelerate skin renewal?

That depends entirely on how quickly the epidermis forms new cells. You have no influence on that. However, you can do something to get rid of dead skin cells faster. Peels are best suited for this. They remove the uppermost horny layer and make your skin look immediately fresher and more even. You achieve the best results if you do a peel once or twice a week. However, cell division is not accelerated by this; you can only support your skin in regeneration. A mindful lifestyle, for example, has a positive effect here. Regular exercise, fresh air, sufficient sleep, a healthy diet, and good skincare provide additional support. Definitely avoid too much sun, stress, alcohol, and cigarettes. This harms your skin.

Give your skin the time it needs!

Please note: initial worsening is not a must, but possible. Give your skin time to get used to the new products. Be patient instead of changing products too quickly. Natural cosmetics support a long-term and skin-specific process for optimal care of your largest organ!