In a world of crowded bathroom shelves and complex skincare routines, healthier skin is often less about adding the latest product and more about understanding what the skin is exposed to every day.
While conversations about “toxic beauty” can sometimes tip into fear, both consumer advocates and researchers agree that awareness matters. CHOICE has highlighted that some cosmetic ingredients raise questions in scientific research, particularly when exposure occurs daily and across multiple products, even though products on the Australian market must meet regulatory standards and are considered safe when used as directed.
For Armidale’s Aysha Paddison, from holistic wellness akin care brand Orgone Your Life, skin health is inseparable from overall wellbeing.
“My work is rooted in natural skincare formulation and conscious living,” she said. “I create products using high-quality botanical ingredients, organic oils, plant extracts and essential oils, with a strong focus on supporting skin health without compromising the body’s natural balance.”
For Aysha, label literacy is key.
“One of the most important beauty tips I can share is to read ingredient labels carefully,” she said.
“Many conventional products contain ingredients that are marketed as safe, but can still disrupt hormones, weaken the skin barrier, or place extra strain on the body over time.”
She points to ingredients such as synthetic fragrance or parfum, PEGs (polyethylene glycols), polysorbates, phthalates and certain harsh preservatives, which are often hidden under technical names.
“These ingredients can accumulate through repeated daily use across cleansers, moisturisers, makeup and body products,” she said. “That long-term load may show up as skin sensitivity, breakouts, inflammation or premature ageing.”
Those concerns are echoed, cautiously, in academic research. A 2024 review published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health examined the toxicological impacts of synthetic cosmetics and personal care products, noting that repeated exposure to certain chemical classes and mixtures has been associated in studies with endocrine disruption, skin irritation and broader health effects .
Importantly, the review emphasised that the greatest uncertainty lies not with single ingredients used in isolation, but with cumulative exposure and chemical mixtures. Many products are assessed ingredient by ingredient, yet people are exposed to dozens of formulations daily, often for decades. The authors argue that long-term, low-level exposure and combined effects are still not fully understood.
This reinforces the value of simplifying routines and supporting the skin’s natural barrier.
“Our skin is designed to protect us,” Aysha said.
“When we constantly strip it with harsh cleansers, aggressive exfoliation or over-treatment, it becomes inflamed and reactive.
“When the barrier is supported instead, the skin becomes calmer and more resilient.”
She encourages people to look for ingredients that work with the skin rather than against it, including hyaluronic acid for hydration and natural plumping, niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier and even tone, panthenol (vitamin B5), nourishing plant oils and gentle botanical extracts.
“When the skin barrier is supported rather than stripped, the skin naturally becomes more hydrated, resilient and luminous,” she said. “That healthy glow doesn’t need to be forced.”
Skincare, however, is only part of the picture. Aysha believes internal health plays a major role in how skin looks and feels.
“True beauty reflects what is happening inside the body as much as outside,” she said. “What we eat, drink and absorb daily will eventually show on our skin.”
One simple ritual she recommends is starting the day with lemon or lime water.
“It gently supports liver function and the body’s natural detoxification pathways,” she said. “Over time, people often notice brighter skin, reduced puffiness and fewer breakouts.”
For those feeling overwhelmed by trends and conflicting advice, the message is reassuringly simple.
“Healthy skin isn’t about perfection,” Aysha said. “It’s about hydration, mineral support, toxin reduction and mindful self-care working together. When we nourish the body properly, the skin responds naturally.”
Throughout February we’re going to be helping New Englanders look good and feel great.
Read all the Fantastic Feb stories here
Sign up to share your tips and advice here