Myth: "Natural products are always better for the skin and the environment."

Fact: Not everything that occurs in nature is automatically suitable for our bodies. By purifying, optimizing, or synthesizing ingredients in a lab, we can actually minimize irritations and lower the environmental impact.

As humans, we can react strongly to certain natural organisms. Think of plants or pollen that are toxic or irritating upon touch or ingestion. At the same time, that exact same plant may contain valuable active compounds; hence, after careful, purifying processing in a laboratory, they often work wonderfully on the skin.

Synthetic or chemical ingredients are developed in a controlled laboratory environment. This process often begins with 'stripping' a natural organism: the effective, active components are extracted while potential allergens or toxins are left out. This creates high-quality, stable "new" ingredients that cannot be found in that pure form directly in the wild.

In fact, everything around us is chemical in nature — including ourselves and water. 'Chemical' is certainly not a dirty word, and it definitely deserves a place in a well-thought-out skincare routine.

Both natural and synthetic ingredients have the potential to trigger an allergy or skin irritation. Skincare is therefore not about a black-and-white choice between 'natural' versus 'synthetic', but about finding a personal balance and discovering the formulas, combinations, and concentrations that best suit your unique skin type.