Key Points
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The best natural skin care tips reveal that not all natural ingredients are safe for the skin, nor are all synthetic ingredients bad for your skin.
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Self-care is part of skin care — poor sleeping habits and stress take a toll on your skin.
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Follow the best natural skin care tips to prevent skin condition flare-ups and visible signs of aging.
How many times have you heard that natural is always better than man-made or synthetic alternatives? That mantra runs rampant throughout the food, clothing, medicine, and beauty industries. After hearing it so often, you may assume it must be true, but repeating something doesn't make it true. If you prefer "natural" beauty products, you need to consider the best natural skin care tips to make quality selections.
Several skin care brands emphasize "natural" in their marketing to convince consumers to buy their products because, according to the myth, "natural is better than synthetic" — which often gets a bad rap. Ending the “natural is always better” myth makes the consumer decision-making process more transparent. The best natural skin care tips tell you what to expect and how to use certain products without getting involved in the "natural vs. synthetic" debate.
They also provide information on five amazing moisturizer options to replenish your skin.
What Does “Natural” Mean in Skin Care Products?
"Natural" is not a regulated term in the cosmetics industry. That means skin care brands define natural as whatever they want it to mean. Natural ingredients aren’t necessarily better or safer than synthetic ingredients.
Houston-based dermatologist Dr. Andrea Suarez, known as Dr. Dray in her YouTube videos, explains, “Natural ingredients are full of chemicals […] It would be better if brands would lean towards more synthetic ingredients. Why? Because you’re able to purify out the beneficial component, you’re able to modify it to potentially remove harmful aspects of it that are more likely to trigger sensitivity and irritation.”
In short, some natural ingredients irritate your skin by exposing it to chemicals your skin can't tolerate while formulators of synthetics remove those skin-irritating components.
Before choosing a moisturizer, consider what natural means to you and what you want. Ask yourself these questions the next time you go shopping for a "natural" skin care product: Do you want products that contain all-natural ingredients? Do you want a product that contains a mix of natural and synthetic ingredients? Does a product need to have at least one natural ingredient for you to consider it natural?
Some organizations, like Natrue and Ecocert Cosmos Organic, have strict requirements and definitions of "natural" in evaluating and certifying skin care products as natural.
How To Naturally Treat Your Face
People often think they need a plethora of skin care products to improve the appearance of their skin. While skin care products work wonders for the face, they aren't the only items you should rely on to enhance and protect your complexion.
Practice the following skin care tips to treat your face naturally.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
You are familiar with the term "beauty sleep." The fact behind the often-joking jibe is that lack of sleep has many negative consequences for your skin. Insufficient sleep leaves you with a tired-looking appearance on your face. Poor sleep makes you look paler. It also causes more fine lines, wrinkles, and other unattractive skin imperfections.
Blood flow increases in the skin while you sleep, giving it a more healthy appearance. Those dark circles under the eyes are a tell-tale sign of someone not getting enough sleep.
Reduce Stress
Stress makes skin conditions worse and exacerbates skin diseases like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and acne. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol which causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil in the skin. Excess oil on the skin causes breakouts. The more stress you have, the more likely you are to suffer from acne breakouts. Pimples also take longer to heal if you’re under stress.
Have you ever wondered why you seem to have acne flare-ups right before an important event? Now you know.
What Are The Best Daily Beauty Tips?
Need more beauty tips? Achieving a more flawless-looking complexion relies on embracing healthy skin care habits and breaking the bad ones.
Practicing a proper daily routine is important because it establishes good habits — and habits are hard to break. Consistent healthy skin care habits ensure happy, youthful skin.
Follow a Proper Daily Skin Care Routine
Building a proper skin care routine protects, nourishes, and revitalizes your skin. Following a morning and night beauty routine is as vital to your skin as brushing your teeth at least twice a day is to your teeth.
It’s never too late to start a skin care routine "habit."
Tailor your morning and evening routines to your skin type and needs. Don't copy others’ skin care regimens — even if they are movie stars with flawless skin. Your skin care routine should include these basic steps: cleanse, hydrate, moisturize, and apply sunscreen to your face.
Don’t Touch Your Face
At the risk of sounding like your mother, don’t pick at your skin. Germs are everywhere. People touch door knobs, money, cell phones, light switches, etc., which transfer germs onto their hands. Touching your face with dirty hands transfers bacteria onto your skin, which aggravates skin conditions like acne.
Also, don’t pop your pimples (Yes, Mama). This not only causes scars but leaves you open to infection if not done correctly. Leave pimple-popping to the skin professionals!
Don’t Be Too Harsh on Your Skin
To avoid damaging your skin barrier, don’t scrub or rub your face too harshly. Be gentle when cleansing and exfoliating the skin. Overdoing these skin care practices strips away your skin’s natural oils.
Wash your face and body with lukewarm water. Showering or bathing for less than 10 minutes prevents your skin from losing too much moisture.
Using skin care products designed to be effective and safe for your skin type avoids harming your skin. Overusing even these products does more harm than good to your skin. Be sure to use the right amount of product and only as often as your skin can tolerate.
Get to know your skin to see what products it handles best and how often to apply them.
What Is the Best Natural Moisturizer?
As with any skin care product, the best natural moisturizer depends on your skin type, skin conditions, and preference. What works for you does not work for everyone and what works for your best friend may not work for you. Every person’s skin is different.
Money is a factor in almost every aspect of life, and skin care is no exception. When searching for the best natural moisturizer, consider your budget.
There are many affordable moisturizers, and probably just as many expensive ones. Contrary to common belief, a product's price does not determine its effectiveness. Some cheaper options are as effective as high-priced alternatives.
Focus on the products, not the price. Check the label for any potential skin irritants and ingredients you are allergic to.
5 Best Moisturizers With Natural Ingredients
Not every product on this list is 100 percent “natural,” but many contain ingredients derived from natural sources. Determine if these moisturizers are worth your time and money by learning what you value in a natural beauty product.
1. Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream
Weleda’s Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream is a thick moisturizer that became available on the market in 1926. This best-selling product is specifically designed for dry, rough skin. The Skin Food Original was certified by Natrue — a non-profit association that certifies natural and organic cosmetics according to strict label criteria.
One of its notable ingredients is Calendula officinalis flower (common marigold) extract and chamomile flower extract which soothe and calm the skin. It also contains glycerin, a humectant that is a moisturizing substance that keeps the face hydrated by attracting water to the skin's surface.
This natural product remains a popular moisturizer for many skin care consumers. Satisfied customers report it does wonders for dry skin and lasts a long time after application. Some claim the product makes their skin softer and plump.
On the downside, the product’s container is too small for some people’s liking. Although some love the product’s scent, others are not so happy with the product’s natural fragrance.
2. Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Balancing Gel Moisturizer
The Squalane + Probiotic Balancing Gel Moisturizer is a vegan, cruelty-free option for dry, sensitive skin types. It has the seal of acceptance from the National Eczema Association — a non-profit organization that issues acceptance labels to products that do not contain ingredients not appropriate for people with eczema or sensitive skin.
Its highlighted ingredients include probiotics, red seaweed, ginger extract, swiss garden cress sprouts, glycerin, and plant-based squalane derived from sugar cane. With these skin-loving ingredients, expect a hydrated, brighter complexion with less visible redness and irritation.
Many customers are happy with the light-yet-effective product, calling it a “life saver” and “fantastic” moisturizer for their skin. This product is also free of parabens and fragrance, making it appealing for those with sensitive skin types. However, this gel is not for everyone. Some users have experienced burns and sensitivity to certain ingredients in the formula.
Do a patch test to make sure the product is suitable for your skin.
3. One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-tasking Wonder Balm
This product is prepared with a mixture of chia seeds, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, and more skin-loving ingredients and is suitable for all skin types. The Wonder Balm nourishes, moisturizes, and soothes the skin. It is especially promising for drier and more sensitive skin types.
This three-in-one product acts as a face cleanser and face mask. It’s certified natural and organic under Ecocert's standards for organic and natural cosmetics certification.
Satisfied customers love this product’s versatility and pleasant, “heavenly” smell. Not-so-satisfied customers said the product has an oily feel that left their skin greasy. Others are not so happy about the product's price and say there are cheaper alternatives. Its multi-function capabilities might make it worth the price.
Test it out yourself to see if your skin loves it.
4. Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream Celery-Based Lightweight Moisturizer
This lightweight product nourishes, moisturizes, and improves the skin. It is made with celery superseed complex– a blend of celery and flax extracts to minimize the appearance of pores and improve skin texture. This formula also helps tone and firm the skin.
This moisturizer contains squalane to smoothen, soften, and retain skin moisture. It also has Tsubaki seed oil, an antioxidant-rich and anti-aging ingredient that promotes skin barrier function and combats fine lines and wrinkles. Tsubaki seed oil isn't suitable for people with nut allergies.
This popular product is suitable for all skin types. Happy customers say it leaves their skin feeling very soft and effectively moisturizes without leaving a greasy feel. Many note how light the product is on their skin.
Although it is a fragrance-free product, it does have peppermint extract, which may irritate certain types of skin. Peppermint extract may even trigger allergic reactions, particularly in people with sensitive skin. Some people are also not too pleased with the natural smell of the veggie ingredients. Other consumers don't mind the natural scent of the cucumber and celery components.
5. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane is a lightweight product for all skin types, including more sensitive skin. Its formulated with renewable ingredients, such as plant-derived squalane and sea glacier-derived glacial glycoprotein to hydrate, restore, and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. It also contains avocado oil, which is a natural emollient that moisturizes and soothes the skin.
It promises 24-hour hydration and is free of parabens and fragrance.
This product is not labeled as natural, but it does contain some natural ingredients and is recommended by several dermatologists, which is why it is on the list of best moisturizers.
Customer reviews are mostly positive. In consumer trials, 92 percent of participants said their skin felt softer after using this product. Some customers find this cream very refreshing and particularly love its effectiveness on their dry skin during winter days.
Some people might think the price is a little too high for a facial cream. Some users complain the product is too oily or greasy for their skin, causing them to break out.
Based on these reviews, the product seems to work best for dry skin than for oily and acne-prone skin types. Applying less of the product on the face could prevent the excess shine or greasy feel.
Debunking the "Natural Is Always Better" Myth
Natural can mean anything in the skin care market, so don’t assume it’s great for your skin. Don't judge a product by its label.
Both synthetic and natural ingredients have the potential to irritate your skin or trigger allergic reactions. Both of these types of ingredients benefit your skin. The tricky part is discovering which ingredients — natural or synthetic — your skin tolerates.
A patch test tells you if your skin can handle the product's ingredients.
It gets even more complicated trying to find a moisturizer within your budget, one that is suitable for your skin type, and one that is to your liking.
Finding the best moisturizer for your skin is a trial-and-error process, so don’t get discouraged if the first one you buy is not the right one for you. It is a complicated process that involves choosing a moisturizer that fits your budget, is suitable for your skin type, feels good on your skin, has a pleasant or unoffensive smell, and — most importantly — does what you want it to do.
There is a moisturizer out there for you! Keep trying. The effort is worth the end result.
