Beyond “Natural”: Choosing Skincare with Discernment

What Does Living More Naturally Really Mean? (Updated)

This was originally written five years ago. Re-reading it these many years later, I see how much I've grown and learned. So, instead of quietly updating it, I have decided to rewrite, republish and share it with you all.

You can read more about my journey here. 

My hope is that this further demonstrates my commitment to transparency, continued growth, and being vulnerable in sharing that with all of you, in hopes of motivating others to do the same.

It’s okay to change our minds as we learn and gain better information.

Rigid adherence to ideas despite new information is not wisdom. It isn’t strength. It’s stagnation.

So… let's talk about it. Is the natural label the most important metric when determining safety? 

Many people will tell you it is. Natural at all costs. 

The phrase “all natural” sure sounds comforting, doesn’t it?

When most of us hear it, we imagine something simple. Something wholesome. Something straight from the earth, untouched by unnecessary processing.

But over time, I’ve learned that “natural” is one of the most misunderstood and most misused words in food, skincare, and wellness.

It looks good on a label.
It feels good to buy.
And far too often, it means very little.

Why “Natural” Is So Hard to Define

For the purpose of this chat, I am going to focus primarily on the realm of cosmetics and not the food industry. I have always and will always advocate for whole foods and consuming foods as close to how mother nature created them as possible.

The FDA has historically kept very loose guidelines around words like “natural” and “made with natural ingredients.” Their definition has generally centered on whether something contains “artificial or synthetic” additions. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

In reality, almost everything we use and consume has been processed in some way.

🫒 Cold-pressed oils are processed.
🌸 Distilled essential oils are processed.
🍶 Fermented ingredients are processed.
🌿 Even herbal infusions involve processing via extraction.

Processing itself is not the enemy.
Intent, method, and safety matter far more.

Many families today are trying to live more consciously, and I love seeing that. People want to feed their kids better, reduce unnecessary exposure, and make thoughtful choices.

But most people are also busy. They don’t have time to research every ingredient or decode every label.

So they trust the word “natural.”

And sometimes that trust is misplaced.

“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Better

In the food world, we’ve seen how ingredients like MSG, “natural flavors,” and high-fructose corn syrup can hide behind friendly language.

In skincare, it’s similar.

A product can contain:

🌼 One botanical extract
🥑 Several unrefined oils

…and still be mostly unstable, improperly preserved, or poorly formulated.

Calling something “natural” does not guarantee it is:

✔️ Safe
✔️ Effective
✔️ Properly preserved
✔️ Professionally formulated
✔️ Tested for stability

That matters.

Especially when products are being sold for daily use on sensitive skin, children, or compromised skin barriers.

Natural Does Not Automatically Mean Safe

There is another assumption that often lives underneath the word “natural”:

That if something comes from nature, it must be gentle.
That if it’s plant-based, it must be harmless.
That if it’s “pure,” it can’t cause harm.

But nature has never worked that way.

Some of the most powerful substances on earth are completely natural.

🌿 Poison ivy is natural.
🍄 Deadly mushrooms are natural.
🌱 Deadly nightshade is natural.
☠️ Hemlock is natural.

And they can all seriously harm you.

Plants are living organisms. They evolved defense mechanisms to protect themselves from insects, animals, fungi, and environmental stress. Many of the same compounds that protect a plant are the very things that cause irritation, allergic reactions, or sensitivity in humans.

This is why so many people are allergic to “natural” ingredients.

🌿 Lavender
🌹 Rose
🌱 Soy
🌾 Wheat
🥜 Beans & nuts
🌾 Oat
🍊 Citrus
🥥 Coconut

All natural and all capable of causing reactions in the wrong context.

Even gentle herbs can become irritating when they are:

⚠️ Used at improper concentrations
⚠️ Extracted incorrectly
⚠️ Applied too frequently
⚠️ Combined poorly
⚠️ Used on compromised skin

“Natural” does not mean “risk-free.”

It means powerful and that power deserves respect.

Responsible formulation is about understanding how plant chemistry interacts with human skin and not assuming that nature will always be kind.

One of the biggest mindset shifts is learning to respect nature’s power instead of assuming its safety.

My Own Shift in Perspective

When I first started this journey, I leaned heavily into the “natural is always better” mindset. Many of us do at first.

Over time and through study, testing, formulation training, and experience, I learned that responsible formulation is about balance.

Nature gives us incredible tools and science helps us use them safely.

These are not opposites.
They are partners.

Today, my priority is not “natural at all costs.”

My priority is:

🛡️ Safety
⚖️ Stability
🤍 Skin compatibility
🔍 Transparency
🌙 Long-term skin health

A beautifully wild, preservative-free cream that grows mold in three weeks is not a gift to your skin, no matter how organic the oils were.

Your Skin Deserves Thoughtfulness

Your skin is your largest organ. While not everything penetrates deeply, what you apply repeatedly does matter.

Think about how many products touch your body every day:

🧴 Lotion
🧼 Soap
🫧 Shampoo
💧 Deodorant
🧴 Facial care
🪥 Toothpaste
💄 Makeup
👶 Baby products
🧺 Laundry detergent

That’s a lot of exposure.

The answer isn’t fear.
It’s discernment.

Some ingredients sound scary and are harmless. Some sound wholesome and cause problems. Context matters.

How to Shop Mindfully (Especially from Small Makers)

With so many home businesses and small makers popping up, this is more important than ever.

Supporting small businesses is wonderful.
But “handmade” does not automatically mean “well-formulated.”

Here are simple things you can look for:

1. Full Ingredient Transparency 🌿

You should be able to see:

📄 A complete ingredient list
🔍 In recognizable INCI names
📚 Not just “proprietary blends” or trade names

Example:
Trade name: Emulsifying Wax NF
Proper INCI: Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Polysorbate 60

If someone won’t disclose ingredients, walk away.

2. Proper Preservation (for Water-Based Products) 🧪

Any product with water, aloe, hydrosols, or infusions must be preserved.

🚫 Vitamin E is not a preservative
🚫 Essential oils are not preservatives
🚫 Grapefruit seed extract is not a preservative

Ask what system is used.
A responsible maker will gladly explain.

3. pH Awareness 📏

Creams, cleansers, toners, and serums should be formulated within skin-safe pH ranges.

A formulator who tests and adjusts pH is showing professionalism and responsibility.

4. Batch Tracking & Dating 📅

Look for:

🏷️ Batch numbers
📆 Made-on dates
⌛ Expiration guidance

This shows accountability.

5. Education & Openness 📚

Does the maker:

📖 Share their learning?
🔗 Cite sources?
💬 Admit limitations?
🧠 Talk about testing?

Integrity shows in how someone communicates.

6. Claims That Make Sense 💬

Be cautious of:

🚩 “Cures eczema”
🚩 “Detoxes your skin”
🚩 “Replaces sunscreen”
🚩 “Heals everything”

Good formulators don’t promise miracles. 

7. Clear Safety & Usage Information ⚠️

Responsible skincare doesn’t stop at ingredients. It also includes how a product is meant to be used.

A thoughtfully formulated product should include:

✔️ How to use it
✔️ How often to use it
✔️ Who it is (and isn’t) for
✔️ Warnings or precautions when relevant

Look for things like:

• For external use only
• Avoid contact with eyes
• Patch test before first use
• Not recommended for broken skin
• Consult your provider if pregnant or nursing
• Discontinue if irritation occurs

These aren’t “scary disclaimers.”

They are signs that the maker understands skin physiology and takes responsibility seriously.

Be cautious of products that offer no guidance at all.
Silence is not a safety strategy.

Ethics Still Matter

Ingredients don’t exist in a vacuum.

How something is grown, harvested, mined, refined, and traded matters too. Ethical sourcing, sustainability, and fair labor are all part of conscious living.

It’s impossible to be perfect.
It is possible to be intentional.

Mindful > "Natural" 

To me, living and formulating more mindfully means:

✔️ Choosing ingredients with known safety profiles
✔️ Using evidence alongside tradition
✔️ Preserving products responsibly
✔️ Respecting skin biology
✔️ Avoiding unnecessary additives
✔️ Being honest about trade-offs

There are very few truly “natural” emulsifiers, preservatives, and pigments that perform well on their own.

That’s reality.

Sometimes a nature-identical ingredient is safer and more sustainable than a poorly processed plant extract.

Sometimes a gentle synthetic is kinder to skin than a harsh “natural” alternative.

Discernment matters more than labels.

Why I Do This the Way I Do

My family has always been my first reason for doing this work.

If I wouldn’t put it on my children, my husband, or myself long-term, I won’t sell it.

Every formula represents:

📚 Study
🧪 Testing
🔁 Revision
🤍 Responsibility

I will always be transparent about what’s in my products and why it’s there. I will always share my sourcing when I can. And I will always keep learning because this field never stops evolving.

Progress, Not Perfection

Years ago, I challenged myself to learn how to make one thing at a time instead of buying it.

That slow, steady learning built everything you see today.

You don’t have to do it all.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You just have to be intentional.

Choose better when you can. Learn as you go. Support people who value integrity.

That’s conscious living.

So… What Does “Natural” Mean to You?

We began with a word that sounds comforting.

“Natural.”

Simple. Safe. Reassuring.

We ended with a different word. 

"Mindful".

Real care for our bodies, our families, and our communities goes deeper than a label and a claim.

It lives in questions.
In learning.
In discernment.
In integrity.

Where do you draw your lines?
What matters most to you?
What are you trying to protect and prioritize?

There’s no single right answer.

But there is a better way to ask better questions.

And I’m always here to help you learn how.

With love,
Mama Bumble