burnd Q&A | Episode 3

Are natural ingredients automatically safe?

Not necessarily. Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe for use in cosmetics.

For example, belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, was historically used to dilate pupils for beauty purposes. It literally translates to beautiful woman.  However, it is highly toxic and can be fatal. Many poisonous plants contain compounds that are banned in cosmetics due to serious health risks. In modern regulations (like the EU's Annex II), hundreds of "natural" plant extracts are banned because they are potent sensitizers, phototoxins, or systemic poisons. Nature didn't design plants to be skin-safe; it designed them to survive, often by being hostile to anything that touches them. 

That being said, many natural ingredients are safe and effective when used within appropriate guidelines. The key is to ensure they comply with cosmetic labeling rules and do not make drug-like claims.