Guest Post By: Brigitte Evans
With so many new products on the market, sometimes we just don’t know where to turn. They all promise results, they all sound great, but which one of them can actually deliver? Luckily, the straightforward natural ingredients seem to be the most promising ones, which is really no surprise to anyone who knows even a little bit about old-fashioned botanical extracts. Are you eager to find out which of these nature’s gifts can benefit your skin the most? Well, we’re here to teach you. Check out some of the best ingredients to look for in your next skincare purchase!
Salicylic acid
Anyone who was ever plagued by blemishes has probably heard of salicylic acid. Found in willow bark, this oil soluble extract can penetrate deeply into your skin and rid it of excess sebum. It unclogs your pores and soothes away irritations, so if you’re looking for a clear, fresh complexion this is what you want to find on the label.
Tea tree oil
Another great soldier in the never-ending war on acne, tea tree is the one thing most people swear by when it comes to dealing with breakouts. It’s a face oil that, surprisingly enough, won’t make your skin oily at all. It’s quite potent and can be drying if applied in excess, so it’s recommended that you dilute it a bit before use, especially if your skin isn’t used to it. You can do this by mixing it in with a little jojoba oil, and then dabbing tiny amounts of that on areas of your skin where you’re experiencing a breakout.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil is practically Mother Nature’s gift for any sort of skin pigmentation. It’s packed with fatty acids and vitamins C and E, and it’s actually one of the more effective oils when it comes to treating wrinkles. When it comes to skincare, it’s recommended over coconut and olive oil because it’s less likely to clog your pores, and you only need a few drops of it every night to make your skin soft.
Coconut and olive oil
Now, we mentioned these might clog your pores, but we wish to clear it up a bit. When it comes to skincare, this general rule applies: each person is different. Your friend might get a break out from using a certain ingredient, while your own skin responds to it beautifully. Coconut and olive oil are incredibly nourishing and are still pretty great to be used on your body, hair, and nails, but they might work to moisturize your face as well. That’s why trial and error and simple patch tests are the best way to figure out whether an ingredient is good for you or not.
Hyaluronic acid
Hands down one of the best ingredients for pretty much any skin type. It can be found in your own skin and connective tissues, so it’s highly unlikely you’d ever get an allergic reaction to it or find it irritating. It’s supremely good at hydration, and if you find a good natural anti ageing skincare with hyaluronic acid to apply in the evening, your complexion will be plump, soft, and radiant. Look for light, gentle formulas because they’ll be able to penetrate your skin better, and don’t worry about using it even if your skin is oily – it’s non-comedogenic.
Green tea
You already know that drinking it is really good for your health, but did you know that green tea extract is really great in skincare as well? One of the fitness and beauty gurus’ favorite superfoods, it’s full of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and strengthen skin barrier, and it’s a welcome addition to anyone’s routine.
Acai berries
Another superfood on our list! This anti-aging powerhouse is full of nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids that are great at keeping wrinkles away. Find a good eye cream with acai berries to smooth your complexion and you’ll be surprised at the results.
Clay
If you need a deep, thorough cleanse, clay is the ingredient to turn to. One applied, it can pull out dirt and sebum from your pores and get rid of all the nasty stuff, leaving your skin clean, fresh, and ready to soak up other products. Bentonite clay is the most commonly used one if beauty products, but you can also benefit from rhassoul clay, kaolin clay, and French green clay.
It’s not a bad idea to do a skin detox at least occasionally. With the use of natural ingredients, you won’t have to use a ton of heavy products, and you can let these extracts simply rejuvenate you without weighing down your skin.
