Skin care products that are labelled ‘natural’ are a dime a dozen in most pharmacies, makeup stores and even supermarkets these days. Unfortunately, any product can be adorned with a ‘natural’ sticker, even if it contains a portion of artificial ingredients.
So what makes a skin care product truly natural-and how can we be sure natural skin care products are really better for you, your skin and your overall health?
Finding a truly natural skin care product can be confusing, so we’re here to help. Here’s a round-up of the ingredients required to make a skin care product officially ‘natural’, some key benefits of using natural skin care, and a list of natural skin care ingredients to look out for if you’re on the hunt for natural skin care products.
What ingredients are required to make a skin care product truly ‘natural’?
When a skin care product has ‘natural’ on its label, it typically means that all of its contributing ingredients are derived directly from nature, referring to plants, minerals, fruits, etc. This also means it contains no artificial or fake ingredients.
This definition also extends to ingredients that are naturally sourced but then synthesised in a lab. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the process can help maximise the ingredients’ effectiveness by stabilising them. This means if you read ‘aloe vera’ on the label of a natural skin care product, the product is natural, but there’s a chance the aloe vera was slightly processed before mixing other ingredients to create the product.
What are the benefits of using a natural skin care product?
The most prominent benefit of using a certified natural skin care product is that it will be gentler and safer for your skin. This is because a true ‘natural’ product will be devoid of chemicals that can often irritate sensitive skin. The same goes for fragrances, as most natural skincare products won’t contain artificial fragrances that can also irritate skin easily.
Natural skin care products can also help provide better overall skin nutrition. Organic and natural products contain ingredients that skin thrives on, including shea, Manuka, tea tree, coconut and aloe (to name a few).
Another benefit of using natural skin care products is that they are often kinder to the environment. As we’ve mentioned above, most ingredients in natural skin care products are naturally sourced (or natural, but effectively stabilised), so you can be confident that there are less artificial toxins or waste being fed back into the earth.
Beneficial natural skin care ingredients to look out for
Some of the most beneficial ingredients within natural skin care products include honey, cocoa butter, turmeric, aloe vera, oats, green tea, pomegranate, chamomile, seaweed and mulberry (among many others). There are also a range of oils within popular natural skin care products, including olive oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, and argan oil.
Is natural skin care better for you and your skin?
As we’ve mentioned above, natural skin care offers plenty of benefits to its users. Above all, it is true to say that natural skin care products are better for the environment, and as they don’t contain synthetic materials, they are marginally better for your health and skin.
Natural skin care products are designed to treat and nourish the skin without the use of artificial ingredients, so they are a sure-fire way to keep your skin looking clean and healthy.
Luckily for skin care enthusiasts, natural skin care products are easy to find in stores and online. Just be certain to check all ingredients so you’re fully aware of the type of product you’re buying – is it really natural? The advice we’ve provided in this article will help you look beyond the sticker or label, and into the composition of each natural skin care product you come across.
Repost: Clean & Pure