I am not a fan of absolute positions of any kind – the truth is almost always somewhere in between. That's why I would never say "everything synthetic is bad" or "chemicals harm the skin" or anything of that sort. Why? Because it always depends!
But let's take it step by step:
If a product is labeled "natural cosmetics," it can still contain synthetic substances – these can be emulsifiers, stabilizers, or preservatives or fragrances. However, they can also be active ingredients, for example, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, or retinol. But this does not make the product bad per se. You just have to look a little closer, I'll get to that in a moment.
At the same time, conventional products can also contain natural ingredients, such as aloe vera or jojoba oil. These are usually (not always!) classic greenwashing products from large conventional manufacturing companies. But this does not make the product good per se. More on that later.
Let's stick to case 1 – a natural cosmetic product with synthetic components. This is the case with some brands in my range, for example, if potassium sorbate and/or sodium benzoate are listed as preservatives. These are synthetically produced and are the only two preservatives officially permitted by natural cosmetic certifiers. They are very inexpensive and are therefore widely used. Do I think that's bad? Mostly no. Why? Because we are talking about very low concentrations here and there is no danger to skin and environment. The exception, of course, is an intolerance to one of the substances.
Another case: Naya's Cacay oil contains another synthetic component, namely vitamin A (retinol). This has advantages and disadvantages and is only recommended for certain skin conditions. Advantage: very high proven effectiveness against acne and wrinkles. Disadvantage: the skin becomes more sensitive, possibly reddened, and must always be protected from the sun. Natural retinol alternatives (e.g., bakuchiol or moth bean) are much gentler on the skin, the effect is less strong, but so are the side effects. Therefore, I generally do not consider synthetic retinol to be bad at all - if it suits the skin condition!
However, when we talk about synthetic plastics, my opinion is quite clear. Petroleum-based substances such as polymers, microplastics, or silicones are absolute no-gos for me. As a rule, they all provide the same effect - they make the product supple and create a smooth skin or hair feel. Synthetic plastics can accumulate on the (scalp) skin, clog pores, and lead to impurities. Plasticizers can damage the skin barrier. Then bacteria can more easily penetrate and cause inflammation. And let's not forget: We wash all these substances back into the groundwater. This means they gradually contaminate our drinking water. Hold on tight: in Germany alone, 920 tons of solid microplastics and 24,000 tons of dissolved plastics are used in beauty products every year. Only in Germany! And I really don't think that's an option. That's why I radically sort out individual products, for example from rms, Josh Rosebrook, or even Ilia. Because in these cases, petroleum-based substances are used in individual products. And that doesn't belong on my shelf.
Finally: someone often comes in and proudly tells me that she/he is already using natural cosmetics. And then names a brand from the drugstore that simply advertises a natural ingredient - for example, argan oil. It's great that argan oil is used, but please don't let that distract you from what else is in there!! Because if it's otherwise brimming with petroleum-based substances, then even the most beautiful argan oil won't help you.
So: no, I am not fundamentally against chemistry or against synthetics. But I am fundamentally against synthetic plastics in my cosmetic products. Here there is truly a zero-tolerance limit. Hmm. I guess that's an 'absolute' position after all :-)