Five sources I trust for information on natural skincare

Now more than ever it's important to know that what we read - usually online - has truth or facts to support it. In academic terms, this is known as empirical evidence. Proof that you can back up your opinions, ideas or information with valid examples.

It's been drilled into me since the age of nine to find sources that are trustworthy when making any kind of point, or learning anything new. So when my interest in natural skincare grew and I had questions, I needed to find sources that knew what they were talking about, and had the evidence to prove it.

So below are five sources I use to check and gather information that I know I can trust, that you may find useful too.

1. EWG (Environmental Working Group)

The EWG are a non-profit organisation providing clarity on what is in so many of the products we use, backed up with scientific research. This is why it's my go-to when I come across a new ingredient.

Their Skin Deep guide lets you search for a cosmetic product who's brand submitted themselves to the EWG to be ranked on the safety and quality of the ingredients they use. For this reason, you might not find every brand you know here. But you can search for specific ingredients and receive a breakdown on what it is, where it comes from, and how safe it is for you and the planet.

2. Plant-Based Beauty: The Essential Guide To Detoxing Your Beauty Routine by Jess Arnaudin

After developing an interest in natural skincare, I was gifted this book. And I'm so thankful for it. It is a beautifully designed, easy to read guide that's perfect for starting your journey into plant-based products.

Jess Arnaudin, a qualified skin therapist, discusses in easy-to-understand terms the properties natural ingredients have, and their benefits to our skin. She even shares a variety of recipes for face oils, bath soaks, and even a salt spray (the only one I've ever made and the best one I've ever used), so we can really understand how ingredients work together and alongside our skin.

Jess Arnaudin's guide is perfect for anyone interested in natural skincare. Image by Alysia Georgiades

3. Think Dirty

This app, which I originally found at the back of Jess Arnaudin's book, is a great little platform that helps you keep track of what you use on your skin, hair, nails, and even around your home.

Founded by Lily Tse, the app aims to make consumers more aware of how clean different ingredients are. Ingredients are given a ranking from 0-10 (0 being proven to have no impact on our health, and 10 being a proven carcinogen), that determines an average score for the overall product so you know how clean, or dirty, it is.

From being able to search for brands and products to creating your own 'beauty shelf' to learn how clean your skincare routine is, Think Dirty also offers monthly beauty boxes that let you try a range of clean products at once.

4. The Nature of Beauty by Imelda Burke

If Plant-Based Beauty is the perfect book for beginners, then The Nature of Beauty is for intermediates and the advanced. It's a level up in terms of understanding the skin, taking a more scientific approach to why natural products can be just as good as synthetic ones.

It's extremely insightful, drawing connections between our skin's chemistry and a product's chemistry. Outlining how our skin changes as we age, and what different plant oils and natural clays can do for it. Author, Imelda Burke, who has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to natural skincare, shares what she's learned throughout her career in the industry, providing a deeper insight into what we should know.

Don't forget to check the back of the book, where Burke suggests natural alternatives to popular high-street and luxury brands.

Imelda Burke's The Nature of Beauty delves deep into organic skincare. Image by Alysia Georgiades

5. Brand blogs

Whenever I come across a new brand, I scour the website searching for their story, what they stand for and how they produce their products. Nowadays many of them have blogs, where they delve deeper into the topics that are important to them, and that's where I often learn more about how their products work, and why.

Since they are promoting their brand, it's important to read around their blog for a well-rounded perspective. But the more sites I read, the more I notice how they are all trying to say the same thing, and combining their knowledge gives you a holisitic view of the industry.

Blogs I've learned from:

Cover image courtesy of Unsplash