Soy (Glycine Soja)
Soy is one of the mainstays of green beauty, and it’s the only basic ingredient that should always be
certified organic or GMO-free if you find it in an ingredients list. Soybean oil is made of linolenic,
linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids, which make it a great emollient, and soybean protein
isolate can nourish and moisturize skin and hair. Yet, soy is rich in isoflavones, called genistein and
daidzein, which are potent phytoestrogens. Women with current or past breast cancer, as well as
those with a family history of breast cancer, should be aware of the risks of potential tumor growth
when using soy-rich cosmetic products for a prolonged period. At the same time, women in Japan and
China, where soy is a dietary staple, have significantly less severe menopausal symptoms and enter
menopause at a later age. Soy may have a protective effect on the brain and cardiovascular systems.
However, until science knows more about what effect phytoestrogens have on humans, I recommend
refraining from using cosmetic preparations containing high concentrations of soy isoflavones.
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
An extract from the bark and leaves of this plant is highly astringent and antiseptic. Witch hazel is
traditionally used for the treatment of sores, bruises, swelling, hemorrhoids, and postpartum tears of
the perineum. In cosmetics, witch hazel extract is commonly used in cleansers and toners for acne-
prone skin, in aftershaves, and in topical treatments for insect bites. To prepare your own witch hazel
toners, look for steam distillates of witch hazel, also called hydrosols or hydrolats, rather than
conventional witch hazel, which contains alcohol.
Take Your Vitamins
We all know that taking vitamins orally provides important nutritional benefits. Hundreds of well-
designed studies validate the power of vitamins: they make us healthier by boosting our immune
systems, control free radicals, and even protect against cancer and heart disease. There are so many
health benefits for taking vitamins, especially if you opt for more expensive natural vitamins that
contain more bioavailable substances than conventional synthetic pills.
There’s a common notion that rubbing vitamins into the top skin layer of cells will not improve
your skin in any way because (1) only low concentrations are used in cosmetic products; (2) the
stability of most vitamins decreases as soon as they are exposed to the air and light; and (3) the form
of the vitamin molecule (an ester or a mixture of isomers) may not be absorbed or metabolized
effectively by the skin. However, recent scientific findings prove that vitamins A, C, D, E, and K are
indeed very effectively absorbed by the skin and deliver a host of benefits for healthy skin, hair, and
nails.
Vitamin A (beta-carotene, retinol)
Vitamin A exists in many forms: as an alcohol (retinol), an aldehyde (retinal), or an acid (retinoic
acid). Provitamins, or natural precursors to vitamin A, include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and
beta-cryptoxanthin. In cosmetics, vitamin A as a retinol and beta-carotene is used to help repair and
reverse sun damage and to inhibit collagen and elastin breakdown. Some other benefits of beta-
carotene include its ability to combat and prevent skin disorders, such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema.