Nature is amazing. It gives us sunsets, cute fluffy animals, delicious foods and loads of gorgeous plants that we can use to look after our skin. These six amazing ingredients will give you amazing skin… naturally.
How do you know which natural ingredients are best for your skin? There are hundreds out there and not all work on all skin types or resolve your specific issues. After all, Nightingale bird droppings are a natural facial treatment in Japan, it doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.
There are a standard group of natural skincare ingredients that you’ll see in a number of products. That’s because they are effective, are suitable for a range of skin types, and are easily available. These are a great way to start your natural skincare regime, with trusted and consistently good and natural skincare ingredients.
How to find great, natural, safe ingredients
Almost anything can be said to be ‘natural’. Pop a nice green, brown, or crisp white label on it and you have yourself ‘natural’ branding. Unfortunately, there are not enough guidelines and laws in NZ and Australia around these claims, so you’ll need to do some of your own research.
There is an organic status that natural skincare brands can get, which earns the product the right to display ‘certified organic’ on the label. There are six governing bodies, but each has its own logo so that’s hard to recognize. However, remember that organic does not equal good. Formaldehyde is natural and organic- you’ll find it in pears, among other things – and while your body needs it in edible form, applying it to your skin is actually toxic. The best thing you can do is read the ingredients list and understand what all the ingredients are. Some complex-sounding ingredients are actually common and natural skincare ingredients.
A good yardstick is looking for vegan, sustainable, or cruelty-free products. These formulations are created with the health of the wider planet in mind and can help in identifying ethical brands. Also, keep an eye out for the following six ingredients. Healthy, natural, helpful, and common, these are all safe for skin and positive.
Aloe Vera
From tropical climates all over the world, aloe vera has been used by indigenous people for thousands of years. The local people knew it soothed irritated skin, helped to heal cuts, and was soothing in the stomach when consumed. Modern science backs these claims up, with aloe vera containing vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C, as well as a range of amino acids, phytochemicals, choline, enzymes, phenolic compounds, and salicylic acids.
It’s one of those natural skincare ingredients that are commonly used in many beauty products, and for good reason. It’s soothing and calming on the skin, and can help repair of burns, rashes and abrasions. Aloe vera has antiviral and antifungal properties, giving it amazing regeneration and healing powers.
Avocado oil
When you have high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend eating an avocado. This is because the fats in avocado supply you with lots of good cholesterol, which helps offset the bad. Those same good fats offer tremendous benefits for your skin too. This is one of those natural skincare ingredients that has got loads of essential nutrients, phytochemicals, lipids, beta carotene, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, D and E.
You’ll see avocado used in the moisturizer as a skin-replenishing agent because it’s super hydrating and good for skin healing. Avocado is especially good for things like psoriasis and eczema. It’s excellent in many ways and it’s a great ingredient to have in your skin care products.
Zum Body Lotion contains incredible ingredients like avocado oil to deeply moisturize and hydrate your skin. Zum Oil contains avocado oil, hemp oil, and other delicious moisturizers that your skin will love!
Cetearyl alcohol
This sounds bad but it’s not (a case of reading and understanding science). When we think of alcohol and skin, we think of drying it out, like in a harmful astringent toner. But cetearyl alcohol is derived naturally (you will want it to have come from coconut or olive oil, not palm oil) and it’s full of fatty acids.
It’s used to make your natural skincare creams thick, creamy, and foamy. So while it does offer some fatty acids, it’s mostly used to give your products the right texture.
Ethyl Macadamiate
This is another product which sounds like it’s bad, but it’s not. It’s derived from macadamia seed oil, and is a clear, colorless liquid. It has fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and ethyl alcohol, and is used as a moisturiser.
It also has antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize free radicals from pollution and everyday living. You might not have considered this as one of the top natural skincare ingredients, but it is!
Olive oil
Humans have been using olive oil for skincare for about 6000 years. No big deal, but it’s kind of a big deal in the history of beauty. From Cleopatra to Aphrodite, beautiful women knew that the fatty acids and squalene, phenolic compounds and polyphenols in olive oil made it really good for your skin.
It’s yet another one of those natural skincare ingredients that are great as a moisturizer and is suitable for even sensitive skin. It helps to support the repair of skin connective tissue and may help to reduce the signs of aging. If you’re hesitant to rub it into your face, try it on your elbows, knees, and heels—giving those dry areas of your body a little extra lushness.
Alternatively, washing your body with Goat’s Milk Soap that contains olive oil gives you lots of benefits and no worries about a greasy feeling afterwards. Indigo Wild has a huge variety of all-natural bar soaps made with olive oil and essential oils that will leave your skin feeling amazing! Zum Wash has amazing ingredients like olive in it as well to give your skin all the benefits of olive oil without having to deal with messy oil and end up smelling like a salad.
Rosehip oil
This is a plant found in Africa, West Asia and Europe. It’s packed full of goodies, including phenolic compounds, fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and all the vitamins you could wish for. It’s also non-comedogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory. It’s highly gentle, making it ideal for those with highly sensitive skin.
It’s yet another one of those natural skincare ingredients that are great for dry, irritated skin, sun damage, scars and burns. Rosehip oil is so gentle you can use it on its own, or as a carrier oil for something else.
