However, can these ingredients really penetrate the skin & deliver the benefits that are purportedly designed to deliver? How many of them are truly natural and how many of them synthetic? What about the synthetic ingredients? Are they really beneficial or harmful? Can they penetrate the skins and cause health issues? Are there any harmful side effects in the longer run?

These are not always questions that are easy to answer.

The skin is the largest organ on our bodies and is by nature designed to act as a barrier to protect our bodies from the external environment. Research seems to suggest that the majority of biomolecules will never penetrate the skin. Substances such as oils, silicones, and waxes found in many moisturisers are too big to slip through the epidermis. However, research has also shown that certain synthetic particles are small enough to enter the body through the skin, especially when the epidermis is compromised, or when the pores are open in a warmer environment, or through the hair follicles on our skins, etc.

In fact, the US CDC cautions in its workplace recommendations that “some chemicals can enter the body through the skin and injure individual organs or groups of organs”. While the caution is specific to chemicals exposure in the workplace, it is not presumptuous to relate this to what we use on our bodies everyday.

Certainly, not a very smart move to ignore this fact especially when we are on a health journey.

Suffice to say, as consumers we may not be that adept at telling what can and cannot penetrate the skins, nor can we often keep up with the latest on research. Perhaps one way we can protect ourselves and reduce our risks is to adhere to simple personal care regimes and choosing products that that has been proven with safe ingredients.

If you don’t already have a favorite washing product or are unsure about what is a safe alternative, check out our Brixy Bars.