The 9 Best Natural Ingredients to Look For in Skincare
Can you trust that the skincare products on the shelves of big-box stores contain ingredients that are not only effective, but also safe to put on your body?
Unfortunately in the U.S., that’s often not the case.
I used to think that “if it’s on the shelf, then it must be OK!” But now I know otherwise.
The lack of mandated pre-market testing and regulated approval of new beauty and skincare products before they hit store shelves is highly concerning, especially considering that federal regulations in the U.S. have not changed since 1938!
Other countries like those in the European Union and Canada have banned or restricted more than 1,300 ingredients that are found in beauty products, while the U.S. has only banned or restictred 11.
So what’a girl to do that wants the best natural ingredients in her skincare that are safe and effective?
Step #1: Avoid the toxic chemicals that are likely lurking in many of your skincare products in your bathroom right now. Check out this article - The Top 10 Worst Skincare Ingredients to Avoid in 2024 - for a complete list of common skincare ingredients to avoid, and in what most products you’ll most likely find them.
Step #2: Start ditching your old toxic products, as you switch to natural and safe alternatives. Our list of the 9 best natural ingredients to look for in skincare should help!
What are the Best Natural ingredients to Look for in Skincare that are Safe and Effective?
So I’m guessing at this point you’re ready to ditch over half of your beauty cabinet, and are wondering what to do now. Because you still want to take care of your skin, right?!
Now that you know what toxic and harmful ingredients to avoid in your beauty products and skincare, what are the best natural ingredients that you should be looking for that are safe and actually work??
Let’s take a look at the 9 best natural skincare ingredients that are safe and effective and how you can use each one in a natural, non-toxic skincare routine. #yesplease
9 Best Natural Ingredients to Look for in Skincare
#1. 100% Pure Essential Oils
Using essential oils gives you the ability to mix and match your oils to address exactly what skin issues you’re looking to improve. If you have acne, uneven skin tone, want to relieve dry skin, or just want to amp up your overall skin radiance… there’s an oil for that!
Essential oils are simply fragrant extracts distilled from flowers, shrubs, leaves, trees, roots, and seeds. The key to using them safely is to always dilute the oils with a carrier oil (like rosehip, almond, or jojoba, etc.) and administer a patch test to ensure you avoid potential irritation and redness.
Be careful when selecting your essential oils. Despite oils in local big-box stores saying “100% pure,” independent tests have found them to be anything but. Be especially careful with any oil that says “for fragrance,” and always remember that you “get what you pay for.”
#2. Fractionated Coconut Oil -
Coconut oil is a plant-based carrier oil that can be used as a “base” for mixing with essential oils and diluting them safely.
Coconut oil on its own is rich in antioxidants, natural fatty acids, and Vitamin E, and is great for hydrating dry skin. It’s colorless, odorless, and a powerful moisturizer for both skin and hair.
I recommend it as a great base for creating roller bottles of pre-diluted essential oils blends for on-the-go, as well as a base for face serums for people with normal or dry skin. If you have oily skin or acne-prone skin like me (like me!) there are other better choices (such as Rosehip, Hemp, and Jojoba oils) with lower non-comedogenic ratings (meaning they will not clog your pores)
#3. Natural Shea, Cocoa or Mango Butters
Although each of these butters has slightly different properties and benefits, they are a great start place as a base for creating homemade lotions, creams, and body butters.
A very simple formula to follow when creating your own DIY body butter is: 1 part beeswax, 1 part shea/cocoa/mango butter and 1 part carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, coconut, etc). Once they are warmed and mixed together, after cooling a bit, you can then add the essential oils of your choice.
#4. Natural Beeswax
Beeswax is an excellent natural ingredient that can work double duty as a natural exfoliator, as well as creating a protective layer on the skin to keep your skin hydrated. It’s often found in makeup, sunscreen, baby products, and lip balm.
It’s also one of those must-have ingredients to have on hand if you’re into making DIY products at home. I use it in my favorite body butter and body lotion recipes.
#5. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a great addition to making soaps and facial masks due to its pore-cleansing and detoxifying potential. Charcoal is thought to remove dirt, toxins, heavy metals, and chemicals that are attracted to the charcoal molecules and then can be washed away.
With activated charcoal, a little goes a long way, and using too much can be overly drying for the skin, so if you’re DIYing it just remember that less is more. My personal favorite use of activated charcoal is in a charcoal body wash bar.
#6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has quite a few uses outside of just using on skin that has seen a bit too much sun. It contains antioxidants, enzymes, Vitamins A and C, is highly anti-inflammatory, and can be used to help treat burns, acne, and dry skin. It won’t reverse wrinkles that you already have, but it can help prevent you from getting deeper wrinkles and lines in the future.
You can actually use the gel directly from an aloe vera plant’s leaf and apply to your targeted area. Or products that contain aloe vera work just as well.
#7. Rosehip Oil
I personally use rosehip oil as the carrier oil base of my DIY Glow Serum that I apply to my face every night before bed. Rosehip oil is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pore, and it has quite a few benefits on its own.
Rosehip is very high in anti-inflammatory fatty acids and Vitamin A and C which allows it to treat signs of aging and pigmentation, hydrate skin and repair damaged skin, and provide a strong protective antioxidant boost.
#8. Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerin is great at attracting and locking moisture into the skin, which allows it to soften and soothe the complexion. Its pH level is very close to that of skin, which makes it a very gentle product that can be used with sensitive skin. Glycerin has also been documented to restore elasticity and heal damaged skin.
I like to add glycerin to my homemade batches of foaming body wady and hand soap that I make using Castile soap and essential oils.
#9. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a naturally occurring component of healthy skin that helps to protect it from pollution and other environmental stressors. But as you age, Vitamin E levels decrease, which makes it harder for your skin to fight against signs of aging. The good news is that you can replenish your skin with topically applied vitamin E.
I typically add Vitamin E to my DIY facial washes, body wash, and lotions.
My Simple Natural and Non-Toxic Skincare Routine
When I realized that the big beauty product companies cared more about their products’ bottom line than my health and safety, I knew it was time to arm myself with knowledge and make some changes in my life.
I didn’t do it all at once, but I slowly switched over to non-toxic products or my own DIY alternatives, each time that I ran out of one of my mainstream products.
Switching your beauty and skincare products that contain harmful and toxic ingredients to avoid is just one piece of the puzzle. Removing many of those same toxins and harmful chemicals from other products that you use on a daily basis - mainly cleaning products - is the next step in creating a home environment that isn’t tasking on your body.
Wishing you all the health + happiness this season!
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The 9 best natural ingredients to look for in skincare products that actually work! These are the best ingredients for skin that will help your skin glow naturally. #skincare
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