While you might be paying more attention to what additives are in your food, have you read what’s in your lotions and creams?
According to the Environmental Working Group, women put 168 different chemicals on their skin every day. These chemicals are in a lot of the skincare products that are sold worldwide.
These chemicals and artificial ingredients stress out your skin and body, causing more long-term damage than short-term good. Thankfully, there are some ingredients that will keep your skin healthy in the long-term and not just for tomorrow.
By looking for skincare products with these natural ingredients, you can look your best for years to come while keeping your skin happy and healthy, too.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one ingredient that many people use and for good reasons. It’s bacteria-fighting, moisture-imparting, and smells great, too.
Coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties make it well suited as a base for facial creams. Redness and irritation from acne are soothed with this ingredient, while puffiness is diminished, too. Not to mention, coconut oil’s medium-chain triglycerides moisturize your skin without sticking around as an oily sheen.
Apple Cider Vinegar
While you’re raiding your cabinets for the coconut oil, you’d better grab the apple cider vinegar, too. This pantry staple is another workhorse beauty product.
Apple cider vinegar levels out the skin’s pH, which helps prevent dryness, breakouts, inflammation, and rashes. Even better, apple cider vinegar’s pH neutralizing capabilities unclog pores and absorb excess oil without over-drying delicate skin.
Rosewater
If apple cider vinegar smells a little too pungent for you, consider using products that contain rosewater instead. Rosewater also balances pH levels and absorbs oil, but with a light, floral scent instead.
The floral scent isn’t its only upside. Rosewater also hydrates and tones the skin to keep breakouts at bay while keeping your skin soft and smooth. Many use rosewater as an age-fighting tool as it’s loaded with the antioxidant Rosa Damascena. Antioxidants slow and prevent cellular damage that causes you to lose our youthful glow over time.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is often used as a soothing gel for burns and irritated skin. You may know about aloe vera if you’ve ever had a sunburn as it cools, hydrates, and promotes healing of damaged skin.
Aloe vera is a natural ingredient that is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-microbial properties. These help your skin naturally repel and recover from environmental stressors. This ingredient can be found in your local store, but you can also easily grow it in your home by picking up an aloe vera plant at your local nursery.
Avocado Oil
If you’re a sun-lover, avocado oil is should be your new best friend. It’s chock full of vitamins A, D, and E, which help protect your skin from UV damage.
Although it’s a great ingredient for those who find themselves in the sun often, avocado oil is a hard-working oil for anyone with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These qualities make it an excellent match for people who struggle with psoriasis and eczema.
Bentonite Clay
If you’re interested in detoxing, you’ve probably come across bentonite clay. This clay absorbs chemicals with a positive charge, pulling them into the clay and away from your skin. Using this clay rids your skin of the funky chemical build-up from years of using beauty products.
Bentonite clay has a substantial mineral content, which has been shown to help the skin absorb and retain moisture more efficiently, too. Proper mineral levels can also help protect you from cancer, which is why bentonite clay is often used in certain mineral and foundation powders.
Oatmeal
As a skincare product, oatmeal is an underappreciated staple. It does much more than calm itchy and irritated skin.
Oatmeal contains saponins, which are natural cleansers that remove dirt and absorb oil without the harmful, often chemically-induced suds. Oats are also lightly abrasive making them an excellent exfoliant to achieve smooth, glowing skin.
Choose Natural Ingredients for Long Term Skin Health
With this easy-to-find list of skincare ingredients, it should be a snap for you to get off chemically processed skincare products and treat your body with a natural regimen. Not only will you look great, but your skin will feel great, too.
Even if you aren’t struggling with eczema, psoriasis, or acne, you’ll find that it’s easy to care for yourself naturally now that you know what to look for next time you find yourself reaching for skin cream or lotion!
