Natural-Washing: The Fine Print Behind “All-Natural”
Pretty Labels, Real Ingredients: A Friendly Tour Past the Buzzwords
Ohhh, how we love the buzzwords of our day.
Walk through a farmers market or scroll online long enough and suddenly everything is natural, clean, botanical, and handcrafted.
Which is wonderful.
Unless the formula inside the jar doesn’t quite match the story on the label.
Because sometimes what looks earthy and wholesome on the outside is… doing a little creative storytelling on the inside.
That disconnect is often called natural-washing — when packaging and branding suggest something plant-based or handmade, while the ingredient list leans on inexpensive fillers, synthetic fragrance blends, or cosmetic shortcuts.
This isn’t about fear.
It’s about learning how to read what you’re buying — and deciding what matters to you (and your skin).
Preservatives: The Unsung, Unsexy Shelf-Life Heroes
Preservatives exist to keep products from turning into tiny science experiments.
They help prevent mold, yeast, and bacterial growth — especially in formulas that contain water or travel long distances before being opened.
Parabens are one family of commonly used synthetic preservatives. You might spot them as:
methylparaben
ethylparaben
propylparaben
butylparaben
They’ve been around for decades because they’re effective, inexpensive, and very good at their jobs.
Other synthetic preservatives include:
phenoxyethanol
sodium benzoate
potassium sorbate
While these preservatives are found in trace amounts within nature, when they hit an ingredients list they are most assuredly synthesized for reliability and shelf life.
Some people are perfectly comfortable with these ingredients. Others prefer to steer clear — and I happen to fall into that second group.
But personal preference aside, what matters most is honest labeling.
Calling a formula entirely natural gets a little complicated when lab-made stabilizers RSVP yes.
Transparency is the real hero here.
Other Things Worth Watching For
Mineral Oil Instead of Plant Oils
Mineral oil is petroleum-derived and widely used because it’s inexpensive and shelf-stable. It can form a slick barrier on the skin, but it doesn’t offer the naturally occurring fatty acids or plant compounds found in oils like olive, coconut, sunflower, or jojoba — especially when those oils have been slowly infused with real herbs.
(And yes… I have opinions about sunflower and jojoba too ….. I don’t use them — but that’s a story for another blog. ) 😏
Artificial Fragrance Oils
Fragrance oils are lab-created blends designed to smell like basically anything.
Ocean breeze. Cupcake. Midnight garden. Tropical vacation in February.
They’re far cheaper than pure botanical oils — and they don’t actually come from the plant itself.
If a product smells strongly floral or fruity but contains no botanicals or essential oils on the label… that scent didn’t come from a leaf.
Added Colorants
Dyes are often used to make a balm look extra herbal or vibrant. Green doesn’t always mean chlorophyll, and purple doesn’t automatically come from plants.
Real herb infusions usually create subtle, earthy tones — not glow-stick green.
The Price Question
What makes many shoppers raise an eyebrow is when inexpensive shortcuts are paired with premium, artisan-style pricing.
If you’re paying handmade prices, it’s fair to expect thoughtfully sourced plant oils, real herbs, and transparency about what’s inside.
No smoke.
No mirrors.
No suspiciously tropical balms.
How I Do Things at StrangeMakes
At StrangeMakes, my products were born out of my own pain-healing journey — and I still formulate the way I shop: carefully, curiously, and with labels I’d want to read myself.
That means:
using plant oils instead of petroleum bases
infusing real herbs rather than relying on synthetic fragrance
listing ingredients plainly — no proprietary mystery blends
working in small batches
choosing formulas that let the plants do the work
I’m not here to scare anyone away from skincare.
I’m here to help people understand what they’re using — and to offer an option rooted in transparency, plants, and practical experience.
Stay curious.
Stay picky.
Stay Strange.
