Rethinking Skincare: Why it’s Time to Break the Beauty Rules
Do you ever find yourself rethinking skincare and questioning what’s truly inside the products you reach for every day? I had another one of those quiet, curious moments recently while looking for a simple aloe vera gel to calm and hydrate my skin.
I wasn’t in my studio and needed something quick. Just pure aloe in a gel form to soothe and refresh. But as I scanned the shelves, I spotted alcohol listed as the second ingredient in more than one product.
Why? Brands often add it to create a cooling sensation. And while alcohol can be used strategically to enhance ingredient absorption, it shouldn’t be the second most prominent ingredient in something meant to calm. At that level, it’s far more likely to dry and irritate, especially for sensitive skin.
It’s moments like these that remind me why we need to rethink skincare—to build a more honest, intentional, and nourishing future for our skin, our health, and our planet.
Let’s take a closer look—and break some outdated beauty rules along the way.
Why Rethinking Skincare Matters: A History Written in Harm
The beauty industry has long dazzled us with glossy promises: flawless skin, eternal youth, and instant radiance. But behind the sparkle lies something less glamorous—a long history of marketing over meaning, quick fixes over long-term care, and, too often, profit over people.
The roots of the beauty industry run deep—and not always in nourishing soil. A glance back reveals an unsettling pattern: dangerous trends dressed up as must-have miracles.
- Lead in Makeup: In the 18th century, powdered lead was used to create the pale, porcelain look that was so fashionable. Women unknowingly applied poison to their skin, resulting in hair loss, scarring, and, in some tragic cases, death.
- Radium in Skincare: In the early 1900s, “glow-enhancing” creams laced with radium were all the rage. They did make the skin radiant—because they were literally radioactive. The result? Burns, disfigurement, and serious long-term health complications.
- Mercury in Lightening Creams: Shockingly, mercury still appears in some illegal skin-lightening products today, despite being linked to kidney damage and neurological harm.
These examples may sound like relics of the past, but their legacy lingers. Our ingredients may have changed, but the industry’s habit of prioritising trends over well-being hasn’t shifted nearly enough.
And while we may shake our heads at the use of radium, it’s worth asking: are we really so different when we layer product after product filled with unregulated or poorly researched ingredients?
Rethinking Skincare Safety: The Illusion of “It’s Fine in Small Doses”
One of the most commonly repeated phrases in skincare is: “It’s safe in small doses.”
At first, it sounds comforting. But let’s take a closer look.
Most of us aren’t using just one product. We’re layering cleansers, toners, serums, moisturisers, SPF, makeup, body care, fragrance, and more. Each one might include preservatives, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, silicones, or actives. On their own, many of these ingredients are considered safe. But what happens when they accumulate, layer after layer, every single day? That’s where things get complicated.
Why is Rethinking Skincare so Complicated?
Even natural ingredients—like essential oils—fall into this category. I love and use them regularly. They’ve been part of traditional skincare and wellbeing rituals for hundreds of years. But just like synthetics, they need to be used with care, knowledge, and proper dilution.
Essential oils are safe in small doses. But when every product contains them, or they’re used without understanding their potency, they can lead to sensitisation, barrier disruption, or irritation over time. That’s why I always formulate with intention—considering the full picture of cumulative exposure, not just isolated ingredients.
It’s not about rejecting ingredients—it’s about using all ingredients wisely, whether they’re lab-created or plant-derived.
Microplastics in Skincare
Recently, I discovered that my favourite foundation contained microplastics—tiny synthetic particles with no benefit to the skin. Their only function? To enhance texture and extend shelf life.
That discovery didn’t sit right with me.
Microplastics have now been found in the bloodstream, lungs, and even human cancer tissue. A 2021 study detected plastic particles in both cancerous and non-cancerous breast tissue. In 2024, researchers found microplastics in every colorectal cancer tumour they studied.
While there’s no proven causal link, their presence raises valid concerns. What are we really absorbing through our food, water, air—and yes, skincare?
And here’s the crux of the issue: we don’t fully know the long-term effects of cumulative exposure. The science simply hasn’t caught up with our modern beauty routines. And the burden of safety often falls on us, the consumers.
That’s not true transparency. That’s marketing dressed up as reassurance.
As someone with BRCA2 and a family history of cancer, I don’t take these questions lightly. But I’m not here to create fear. I’m here to advocate for clarity, safety, and informed choices. Because we deserve skincare that honours more than just our appearance.
Rethinking Skincare: Not Fear—Awareness
Recently, I heard an industry executive claim the natural beauty movement was “rooted in fear-mongering.”
Let me reassure you: the movement I’ve been part of for over two decades is not about fear—it’s about asking better questions.
It’s about noticing the gap between what we’re told and what’s actually inside our products. It’s about pushing back on outdated norms and greenwashing claims that often go unchallenged.
And it’s not anti-science. It’s pro-transparency.
It’s not about demonising synthetics—it’s about ensuring they’re necessary, non-toxic, and used responsibly.
Most of all, it’s about choice. Real, informed, empowered choice.
Apps like Yuka are helping everyday people reclaim that choice. With one scan, you can see ingredient safety ratings for skincare and food products alike. This isn’t fear. This is curiosity. This is a sign that people are ready to take ownership of what goes on—and into—their bodies.
Rethinking Skincare Overconsumption
The beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging every year, and most of it ends up in landfills or the ocean. With only 9% of plastic ever recycled, it’s clear we can’t shop our way out of this problem—we need fewer, better products with mindful packaging.
– Sources: Zero Waste Week (2022), National Geographic
We need fewer, better products, crafted with care and packaged mindfully.
Why the 10-Step Skincare Routine Isn’t Always Helpful
I’ll admit—when Korean beauty routines first entered the mainstream, I was intrigued. The layering, the textures, the ritual—it was beautiful.
But after years of hands-on experience and working with real skin, I’ve come to see things differently.
Many of these routines aren’t just unnecessary—they’re overwhelming. Especially when every layer contains actives, preservatives, fragrance, or essential oils. It all adds up.
Here’s something I often reflect on: I would never recommend a client come in for a facial treatment every single day. Skin needs time to rest, respond, and breathe. Why should our at-home routines be any different?
Your skin is a living, breathing organ. It thrives on balance, not bombardment.
And overconsumption doesn’t just affect our skin—it affects the planet too.
When I First Started Rethinking Skincare
Years ago, while working as a spa therapist, I was introduced to a “natural” skincare range proudly labelled SLS-free. Curious, I flipped the bottle over—only to find SLES listed instead. A nearly identical ingredient. Just as harsh.
That moment changed everything for me.
I returned to my aromatherapy roots. I began studying formulation seriously. And in time, I founded Rebecca Isabel Skincare: a brand built on transparency, simplicity, and intentional, plant-based formulation.
Breaking the Rules for a Healthier Future
When I talk about “breaking the beauty rules,” I’m not saying we should ditch skincare altogether. I’m saying we need to redefine it.
We need to honour skin, not fight it. To care deeply, not consume endlessly.
Here’s how we can begin to rethink skincare:
1. Question the Marketing
Words like “hypoallergenic,” “clean,” and “non-comedogenic” aren’t regulated. Flip the bottle. Get curious. Ask questions.
2. Simplify Your Routine
You don’t need 10 steps. You need a few skin-loving products that truly support balance and healing.
3. Prioritise Purposeful Ingredients
Look for products that explain why each ingredient is there. Natural isn’t always better—but thoughtful, well-formulated skincare always is.
4. Support Honest Brands
Choose brands that align with your values. At Rebecca Isabel Skincare, everything is designed with intention—from gentle, multi-functional ingredients to low-waste, waterless formulations.
Top Tip: These days, more and more people are becoming label detectives—curious, not fearful. Apps like Yuka have taken off, letting us scan skincare (and even our snacks!) to check for ingredient safety and transparency. It’s a sign of something hopeful: that we’re no longer accepting the status quo. We’re asking better questions. We’re choosing with care. And we’re learning to trust our instincts again.
Rethink Skincare: Let’s Rewrite the Beauty Rulebook Together
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by labels, trends, or routines, you’re not alone.
I created Rebecca Isabel Skincare and the BareFaced Facts blog to offer something softer, smarter, and more honest. A place to explore skincare not as a never-ending to-do list, but as a mindful, nourishing ritual.
Let’s rethink the beauty rulebook together—not out of fear, but from a place of curiosity, clarity, and connection.
Because your skin deserves better.
And so does your planet.
“Let your skincare be a ritual, not a routine.”
— Rebecca Isabel
