You have no doubt heard about GMOs in processed foods and supplements and their negative health impacts. But did you know this kind of biological technology can also be there in your skin and hair care products?
As quickly as clean beauty products are becoming ever more prevalent in the industry, so are its GMO-based equivalents. For instance, ingredients like rose and other oils, soy lecithin or perhaps even fennel seed extract used in beauty products may have had their origins in labs and it’s likely you’d never be able to extrapolate the real sources.
So if you are a conscious buyer who usually thinks twice about what you put on your body, it’s time to learn about non-GMO skin care.
What Is GMO?
GMOs and genetic engineering is a controversial topic which involves manipulation of the genome and cells. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines GMOs as ‘Organisms whose Genetic Material (or DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally’.
Such GMOs can be plants, animals, or microorganisms who have been genetically engineered, that is to say, modified in the lab. This is usually done to make these organisms resistant to herbicides, improve the quality and quantity of the produce, nutrient fortification, drought and disease resistance, etc…
The Issue?
The market today utilizes a large number of ingredients, which are mainly of plant origin. Since large scale production of raw materials is often required to meet the ever-increasing market demand, GMO crops as raw materials (having better productivity) are being utilized by almost all beauty brands.
How it affects us?
Our skin is absorptive in nature, which means anything we apply on our skin eventually gets absorbed into the bloodstream. When the raw materials in the formula are GMO-based, the active ingredients with altered DNA enters into the bloodstream which can potentially cause harm to human health and life. The changes are so slow that it might take years to notice them and such negative effects may even cause DNA changes which may transfer to future generations. Some of these worrisome consequences are potentially:
- Allergies
- Infertility and hormonal issues.
- Immunity issues.
- Uncontrolled release of GMOs in the environment which can have a negative effect on wild crops and biodiversity.
How To Identify/Avoid GMOs in Skin Care?
Just like foods and supplements, it has now become imperative to choose GMO-free, Organic, and Clean Beauty products.
Today, a number of genetic crops or plants have been used in skin care formulas. Some of the most common ingredients in skin care that have a fairly high chance of being derived from GMO sources are: Vegetable proteins and amino acids, lauric acid, sodium citrate, glycerin, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, maltodextrins, etc. Such ingredients are more common in anti-aging products and moisturizers. Many formulas may also be derived from common GMO-based plants like sunflower, orange, rice, lemon, bilberry, aloe vera, etc.
The list of GMOs in skin care is practically endless. So, the best way to avoid them in your skin care or other beauty products is to:
- Search for labels that have ‘Non GMO’ or ‘GMO-free’ imprinted on them. You can also check the brand’s website before you choose to use the products.
- Non GMO ingredients are often harvested from the wild (that is, naturally sourced) and produced from Non-GMO seeds in small batches.
It is also important to note that non-GMO (or truly original) ingredients are the ones that produce TRUE Ayurvedic results. This is why here @PuravedaOrganics, we use only non-GMO, wildgathered, and Organic ingredients that produce unparalleled safe and effective results.
