Explore your Solutions with Natural Skin Care

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It’s also the most visible organ. Natural skin care is the key to caring for your body with the best ingredients, including argan oil, chamomile and shea butter.

Natural skin care solutions are vast so this article seeks to break down the information into digestible chunks. You’ll explore these aspects to skin care, such as:

• Learning the definition of natural care
• Getting to know the benefits of your beauty-routine actions
• Defining natural versus organic ingredients
• Spelling out the ingredients and ranking their usefulness
• Changing your beauty routine for the better

As a mature woman, you want to maintain almost pristine skin well into your later years. This goal is possible with natural skin care. Read further to educate yourself as that next shopping trip approaches. You’ll know exactly what to buy among all of the chemical-laden selections.

What Exactly Is “Natural” Skin Care?

Natural skin care is the act of purchasing and using beauty products instilled with ingredients that are found naturally in the world around you. Read the back of a random container in any beauty store, and you’ll struggle to pronounce some of those chemical names. Do you want those synthetic chemicals touching and absorbing into your skin? For most women, the answer to that question is a resounding “no.” However, it can be difficult to find natural ingredients in just one, skin-care product. Be aware that most products have a mixture of both chemical and natural ingredients.

The Legal Perspective

You’ve walked into the beauty-product store looking for those all-natural ingredients. Stand in front of the skin-care aisle, and dozens of products may say “natural” on their labels. This frustrating reality alerts you to the fact that marking a container as “natural” doesn’t mean that the ingredients reflect a pure state There are no legal parameters that limit this terminology to certain products. “Natural” is a term that can be used in almost any capacity. It’s your responsibility to read the ingredient list. It may be a long list, but you’ll know what you’re facing as you read on. If you encounter any alarming ingredients, such as a red dye, start reading the next label. Natural skin care comes from ingredients that are minimally processed and found naturally among plants and other organisms.

Understand the Nomenclature

Natural, skin-care products may be right in front of you, but they’re disguised by specific nomenclature or word choices. In the beauty industry, many ingredients are referred to in their Latin form. The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients institution started this protocol because product lists can now be more global in scale as they reach out to various populations. Take your time as you read certain product labels. If you encounter a term, such as Olea europaea, it might be misconstrued as a chemical. In reality, Olea europaea is the Latin word for olive oil. This ingredient is indeed a natural substance.

Keep it Simple

With so much confusion surrounding natural skin care, your shortcut to the right beauty products is simplification. Identifying natural products means that ingredient lists are simpler than others on the market. Aside from the INCI spellings in Latin, other ingredients should be in plain English. Argan oil is a natural substance that shouldn’t be listed as a complex, synthetic term. In contrast, alcohols might be spelled out as isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. These confusing terms hide the fact that alcohol is part of your beauty product when it’s really a drying substance that ultimately damages the skin. Look for simple words and ingredients that you’re familiar with as the shopping continues. Knowing what natural skin care is will help you narrow down your purchase choices. You’re now armed with a lot of information for that future, shopping trip. Looking for natural ingredients may be your goal, but do you understand the real benefits of their use? Cozy up in your chair because you’re about to learn even more about the advantages of natural skin care.

Breaking Down The Benefits of Using Natural Products

There are numerous reasons why natural products are better than synthetic types. There are some standout reasons, however, that should be noted by every reader. In fact, you and the surrounding world can benefit from natural, skin-care products with consistent use.

• Self-Healing Properties

Natural, skin-care products bring various nutrients to the skin, such as:

• Vitamins
• Minerals

• Reduced Skin Irritation

• Calmed Hormones

• Increased Oxygen Exchange

• Save the Earth

Because the nutrients are combined with other natural ingredients, they’re free to nourish the skin. Vitamins and minerals absorb into the skin where they can invigorate the tissue at the cellular level. Your healthy skin can now interact with its environment by vigorously healing and rejuvenating tissue whenever necessary. You might notice fewer wrinkles and fine lines when you use natural products and lead a healthy lifestyle. Fewer chemicals in your life is also a perk that reflects in your skin’s tone and shine. Human beings evolved within the immediate environment, which means that natural substances are typically compatible with the body. The aloe vera plant, for instance, has an internal liquid that soothes irritated skin. With this fact in mind, natural skin care benefits normally appease people with sensitive skin. The natural ingredients complement the body’s chemistry instead of trying to work around it, such as with chemical-laden products. Your skin can thrive with natural skin care applied each day. You may not be aware that beauty products with high volumes of chemicals can actually influence your hormones. The chemicals leach into your bloodstream through the skin, and the damage is done. Natural ingredients tend to act on a neutral level with your body’s chemistry. As a result, your hormones should remain untouched from periodic, natural-ingredient usage. Your body takes in air through the lungs as they seek out oxygen molecules. This pathway isn’t the only thoroughfare for oxygen, however. Your skin also breathes with the surrounding environment. By using natural products, oxygen can readily transfer between the skin and air. Synthetic or chemical-based products tend to block this exchange, which eventually impacts your health on a myriad of levels. Did you know that your choice of beauty product also affects the Earth? Natural products don’t require a lot of processing, which creates harmful byproducts as they’re released into the air. Most reputable manufacturers try to minimize the amount of processing in regards to natural products because their raw form tends to be more potent than any other creation. Remind yourself that you’re saving the world and improving your body at the same time to encourage a proper, purchasing decision. You’re probably sold on the fact that natural products are simply better for your all-around health. This fact is encouraging for every mature woman as she strives to pick the best product, but there’s confusion over “natural” versus “organic” labels. Calm your nerves because you’re about to understand why these terms differ so that your next purchase is an easy one to make.

Comparing Natural With Organic Skin Care Solutions

The marketing world can confuse consumers during every shopping trip. In many cases, the terms “natural” and “organic” are used interchangeably. These descriptions aren’t exactly the same, however. They’ve become trendy words to sell just about any product to the general public. Regardless of the term in question, you want a skin-care product that’s simple by design. A list of 20 or more ingredients tells you that chemicals can be easily mixed into this concoction. Continue on to see the intricacies behind both natural and organic products, and which ones you should choose for your purposes.

Organic Regulations

When you find an organic product, it’s been evaluated by the USDA. No products can advertise the organic label without being approved by this government entity. Being officially branded as an organic product means that it has these attributes, including:

• No fertilizers
• No pesticides
• No genetically modified processes

Be aware that approved products with the organic seal don’t have to be 100 percent clean. There might be a few ingredients that aren’t organic, but they’re negligible to to the overall quality of the product.

Plant-Derived Ingredients

The “natural” term is used extensively in the beauty-product industry because it doesn’t have any regulations surrounding it. To compete with other products, “natural” and “all-natural” are marked on nearly every conceivable container. Be a savvy consumer by reading over the ingredients. Some natural products have plant-based ingredients, but they’re better described as derived components. Manufacturers may use part of a plant for an ingredient, but it’s processed until the substance is almost a harmful element. To avoid these so-called natural products, select skin-care options based on the reputation of the maker. Their ingredient transparency makes a difference in your complexion.

Mixing the Two

Get the best of both worlds with skin-care products that have a mixture of organic and natural ingredients. These products tend to have the most transparency because the organic ingredients are individually indicated on the outside label. These ingredient labels may be long lists so read them carefully. The organic ingredients will be obvious, which encourages you to focus on the other substances. If the product is marked as natural, the included ingredients should be plant-based items, including aloe vera, essential oils and chamomile.

If you want to know more about how to use essential oils on your skin and hair, read our latest article,”Your Basic Guide to Essential Oil for the Hair and Skin“.

Making Your Own Product

Are you interested in making your own skin-care products? Clever, plant lovers grow their own chamomile and other herbs to mix into a viable, skin-care solution. Try a few ingredients during your experiments, such as:

• Green tea
• Argan oil
• Chamomile
• Cinnamon

Always dab a small amount of your mixture onto your hand or arm in order to test it out. Because you’re using natural and organic ingredients, the test should be a success. Your face will benefit from your experimentation with just a few items from the pantry. You’re clear on the differences between natural and organic ingredients, but does that make every substance good for your skin? Learn all about the best and worst ingredients for your complexion. These facts can guide your purchasing decisions as you shop for that next cleanser or toner.

Understanding The Best And Worst Ingredients For Your Skin

Get to know the winners and losers in the battle for smooth and youthful skin. Here are the top best and worst ingredients to spread onto your face and body.

• Tea Tree Oil

• Argan Oil

• Sea Salt

The best way to smooth away irritated and inflamed skin is through tea-tree oil use. This oil has more than 200 plant species within it, and you’ll notice a soothing sensation from the moment that you dab it on. This oil comes from Morocco, and it’s completely nut based. Look for pure concoctions of this argan-tree treasure because your skin readily absorbs it while benefiting from the vitamins within the golden liquid. Gain these nutrients from your sea-salt ingredient added to any natural, skin-care regimen, such as:

• Sodium
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Calcium

• Shea Butter

• Avocado

The sea salt acts as a scrub, and the skin takes in the elements as they dissolve with some water. You’ve probably heard of shea butter in lotions before, and it’s technically a natural product. The problem with most products on the market today, however, is the fact that the shea butter mixes with chemical-based substances. Shea butter mixed with other natural ingredients will reduce dryness and improve your skin’s flexibility over time. There’s almost nothing that avocado can’t do for your skin. It offers these nutrients, including:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

All of these nutrients move quickly into the skin for the ultimate, moisturizing effect. Use avocado as a single ingredient or mix it in with other natural substances.

• Phthalates

• Propylene Glycol

You’ll find this ingredient under the “worst” listing because it actually disrupts the endocrine system. Your hormones undergo unnatural changes while increasing your breast-cancer chances. For natural, skin-care products, you don’t need this plastic-softening ingredient for any purpose. Alcohol isn’t always a good ingredient for your skin. Propylene glycol is an alcohol that can dry out your skin and irritate it along with other issues, such as:

• Hives
• Dermatitis

• Synthetic Colors

• Parabens

• Toluene

This ingredient is a core part of many beauty products so be sure to carefully read your labels. Red or blue dyes in your beauty products aren’t necessary. They’re merely there for marketing purposes. Because they’re associated with petroleum products, synthetic colors are bad for your health. Cancer, ADHD and other diseases may be linked to these dyes. Another bad ingredient linked to cancer is parabens. They influence your estrogen levels, which can lead to breast-cancer diagnoses. This ingredient has an alternative name because of the negative connotations associated with coal tar and petroleum. It’s a fact that this substance comes from fossil fuels, and toluene is technically a solvent. Avoid this ingredient as much as possible. If you’re more than ready to update your beauty routine, you may wonder how to go about “greening” it in the first place. Learn all about a transition into natural, skin-care regimens because it will be worth it in the end.

Learning How To Convert Your Beauty Regimen Into A Natural Process

With one, quick glance at your bathroom counter, you may have a half-dozen or more bottles that pertain to skin care. It’s time to revamp your beauty routine so clear out the old products. Filling your bathroom with natural, skin-care products will make a stark difference in your overall appearance.

Unscented, Fragrance-Free and Natural Products Rule All

The term “fragrance” is common on most beauty-product labels, which makes it an overlooked ingredient at times. In fact, fragrance can encompass many different chemicals that aren’t spelled out in plain English. Read your labels, and choose only the products that are unscented or fragrance-free types. You’ll still need to be on the lookout for other ingredients that are natural and free from excessive processing. It’s possible to find a product that you believe is natural, but there’s still questions regarding its mixture. Go online so that you can search for the complete, ingredient list. Although some manufacturers claim that listing the ingredients will damage their brand, trusted makers want their customers to know that the product is healthy for everyday use.

Pare Down the Number of Products

Go “green” by simply paring down the amount of product put on your skin at any given time. The beauty industry may argue that you require a dozen products, but you only need these items, including:

• Cleanser
• Toner
• Moisturizer
• Sunscreen

With only a few items in your bathroom, you can be more selective about your purchases. Each one can be carefully vetted by you.

Go For Nontoxic Packaging

Did you know that the type of packaging that holds your skin-care products can also influence the “green” factor in your bathroom? Avoid these indicators on your beauty products, including:

• The letter “V”
• Number “3” under recycling codes
• Polycarbonate or number “7” plastics

Ideally, look for beauty products in glass containers. Glass cannot leach harmful substances into your creams, cleansers and toners. If you must have plastic bottles, look for recycling codes “1” and “2.” These indicators stand for PET and HDPE, respectively. They don’t break down and influence your beauty products at the molecular level.

Avoid Fossil-Fuel Ingredients

Don’t be surprised to find petroleum products in many skin-care mixtures. These particular ingredients shouldn’t be part of your world, such as:

• Petrolatum
• Paraffin
• Mineral oil

There are other ingredients that can take the place of petroleum products. By choosing alternative creams and cleansers, you’re improving your health and the planet’s environment. Fewer, fossil-fuel based products means that less oil production is required. Several ingredients throughout the beauty industry come from petrochemicals. If you’re unsure about a particular substance, research it before buying it. Clever marketing may mask the real origin of those ingredients. Don’t forget to improve your skin by eating and drinking healthy selections. Fill your plate with fruits and vegetables, and avoid fatty foods for the most part. Your skin will appear smooth with a combination of external and internal solutions being implemented each day. Are you ready to switch all of your beauty products out now? Once you understand natural skin care, you’ll want to remain true to these products. In fact, you’ve learned a great deal about natural options by understanding the benefits, comparisons with similar products, ingredient choices and conversion strategies. It’s possible to look and feel younger with a dedication to natural skin care. By avoiding harmful chemicals, the skin can concentrate on regenerating cells with a supple appearance. Mature women everywhere will notice the natural difference after only the first, beauty routine.

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