In an age where fear of water impurities has millions drinking bottled water, and concerns about genetically engineered corn has others searching for natural food sources, many people are also wondering what type of products to use for healthy skincare.

We are frightened by the new world we seemingly live in, and at first blush may think that organic or natural is the way to go - as the words "organic" and "natural" in and of themselves engender visions of a time when life was simpler, purer and more wholesome.

This fear often drives us to the multitude of publications promoting organic or natural lifestyles; however once we delve into their pages the information barrage may be overwhelming.

Are soy beans really good for us, and if so do we have to eat five pounds a day to see any benefit? Lemon juice may help bleach out age spots, but is all that acid really healthy for our skin? Can ginseng actually alleviate wrinkles, and if so, why doesnt every skincare company in the world use it as an ingredient?

The truth of the matter is: organic and natural skincare promotions cannot be trusted in a vacuum no more than any other information concerning our health. It is logical to believe that many substances which are an indigenous part of the natural world around us are extremely beneficial to our health, but lets use some common sense. We were given brains to scrutinize, analyze and research for good reason.

This is where scientific research comes into play. Unfortunately, high profile abuses by pharmaceutical companies and others have somewhat tainted the word science in our society, but we must admit that scientific research has more successes than failures to its credit.

The skincare industry, in particular, has been able to rely upon scientific research with great success, in part, because ingredients considered for skincare products can be researched without the high risks associated with products that are internally ingested.

Skincare research that not only investigates the benefits, safety and effectiveness of natural ingredients, but also explores how these ingredients can be enhanced to give us the healthiest skincare product possible, gives us the best of both worlds a wholesome natural approach that results in the most advanced skincare possible.

The answer to the question posed in the title of this article comes down to how we feel about the following: Would we eat mold to cure an infection? Absolutely not, but availing ourselves of the benefits of penicillin is an entirely different story.

Copyright 2005 Alpha Ward-Burns