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Natural Skin Care Ingredients

There is a mind-boggling list of natural skin care ingredients out there that can make anyone feel confused and overwhelmed. The good news is, we’ve compiled an easy to understand comprehensive list and why each ingredient is so valuable.

Keep in mind that not all natural ingredients are created equal. There are many things that grow on the earth that are actually not good for you. So the term “natural” requires a little more investigation on your part, as a consumer.

Natural skin care ingredients are a hot topic for people all over the world. Many individuals have gone to great lengths to learn about organic ingredients and organic living. Rest assured, we have the most reputable and proven information to help you guide your decisions.

Many years ago people really didn’t pay attention to the ingredients list in their skin care products, but since then we are so much more aware of the things to avoid and how they can affect us.

The demand for safe, quality, natural skin care ingredients has inspired us all to take better care of our skin, hair and bodies in ways that not only make us look better but also feel better. Our focus here will be to define those amazing organic ingredients that we are so grateful for.

What's the Difference Between Organic and Natural?

First though, let’s define the difference between “organic” and “natural”.

An organic ingredient has been produced without the use of synthetics, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage, ionizing radiation, antibiotics or growth hormones.

Natural means something that originally grown in or living in nature. Natural is a great goal to strive for, but avoiding most chemicals and synthetics can help bring our daily health and function to the next level, where we'll feel and look better.

While there are so many ingredients out there we’re told to avoid, let’s focus on the ingredients that we can greatly benefit when including in our skin care plan:

Top 33 Recommended Natural Skin Care Ingredients

ALGAE: Whole plant algae (like the kind we use) Has good antioxidant properties, moisturizes skin, and nourishes the skin and hair with vitamins, nutrients, and minerals.

ALMOND OIL (Oleum Amygdalae): Almond Oil is an effective emollient for softening and conditioning the skin and hair. It is well suited for problem, dry and itchy skin.

ALOE VERA (Aloe Barbadensis Miller): Aloe Vera is known for its ability to soothe, moisturize and protect the skin and hair. It is obtained from the inner fillets of fresh cut aloe vera leaves and then processed to remove the pulp and fiber.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (Acetic Acid): Very effective in treating acne and cleansing skin due to it’s natural exfoliating properties. It can help balance sebum and has anti-fungal properties.

ARGAN OIL (Argania Spinose): Organic Virgin Argan Oil possesses a remarkable ability to nourish, moisturize and protect the skin and hair. It also helps support skin elasticity. The oil is rich in Omega-6 Linoleic Acid and Omega-9 Oleic Acid and can be effective in soothing dry and problem skin types. It helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles and is recommended for inclusion in formulations intended to support maturing skin.

AVOCADO OIL (Persea Gratissima): Organic Virgin Avocado Oil is a stable, emollient, highly penetrating oil. It helps to improve the tone, texture and appearance of the skin. It is ideal for products intended to support and protect mature skin, and it is wonderfully suited for dry skin. Organic Virgin Avocado Oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and is a natural choice for hydrating skin and hair care formulations.

CEDARWOOD OIL (Cedrus Atlantica): Within skin care applications, Cedarwood Essential Oil can be helpful in blends intended to help combat oily skin. It is also helpful in supporting a healthy respiratory system. Emotionally, Virginian Cedarwood Essential Oil is a very grounding oil. It is a good choice for inclusion within blends intended to support relaxation and a sense of calm.

CHAMOMILE (Matricaria chamomilla): Well known for its soothing and calming properties, it is a go to anti-inflammatory and often used to soothe irritated skin.

CHARCOAL: Charcoal is fine and porous and able to adsorb impurities, but also oil on the skin and hair.
Has skin purifying and balancing properties especially on sensitive skin. Absorbs odors, captures moisture and absorb impurities and oils from skin and hair.

COCOA BUTTER: Cocoa Butter has been used within skin and hair care for centuries, originally by those that live within the tropical regions abundant with cacao trees. Traditionally, the butter has been used to soothe, protect and moisturize skin that has been exposed to harsh elements.

COCONUT OIL (Cocos Nucifera): The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties that can help protect against harmful microorganisms. This is especially important for skin health, as many types of skin infections, including acne, cellulitis, folliculitis and athlete's foot, are caused by bacteria or fungi. Applying coconut oil directly to the skin may prevent the growth of these microorganisms. This is due to its lauric acid content, which makes up nearly 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil and can fight harmful microorganisms. One study tested the antibacterial properties of 30 types of fatty acids against 20 different strains of bacteria. Lauric acid was found to be the most effective at blocking the growth of bacteria. Another study showed that lauric acid can kill off Propionibacterium acnes, a type of bacteria that leads to the development of inflammatory acne.

FRANKINCENSE (Boswellia Carterii): In cosmetic and skin care applications, Frankincense can help provide support to problematic, wounded or mature skin. For emotional wellness, Frankincense Essential Oil is a very grounding and balancing oil. It helps center the mind and calm the spirit.

GLYCERIN: Glycerin is an excellent emollient, lubricant and humectant, for skin, hair, nail and lip care. It helps support normal skin elasticity and is non-irritating, soothing and is heralded for its ability to moisturize dry and cracked skin. Vegetable Glycerin (the kind we use) is noncomedogenic and is also ideally suited for oily and acne-prone skin. It is a remarkable humectant for use in hair care products intended to restore health to dry, brittle and lifeless hair.

GOTU KOLA (aka Centella asiatica): Traditionally gotu kola is used to support faster healing of small wounds, scratches and superficial burns, as well as an anti-inflammatory for eczema, minor itching and insect bites. As for general skin improvements and anti aging, gotu kola can stimulate the synthesis of collagen, and it also improves tensile strength of the skin.

GREEN TEA (Camellia Sinensis): Green tea extract made from evergreen leaves of a small Asian tree that is cultivated in different regions. Undeveloped leaves are harvested manually, steamed to prevent fermentation, and then pressed and dried. Potent antioxidant agent due to polyphenols & methylxanthines. Useful against irritated skin.

HEMP SEED OIL (Cannabis Sativa): Hemp Seed Oil is a versatile, penetrating, emollient polyunsaturated oil that helps support skin elasticity and leaves the skin feeling nourished and hydrated. In hair care, Hemp Seed Oil conditions and helps restore the health of damaged hair. It is rich in a-Linolenic Acid, an Omega-3 essential fatty acid, making it especially helpful in moisturizing dry skin and soothing an array of skin conditions. Hemp Seed Oil is well suited for all skin types. It helps to balance skin moisture, does not clog pores and is a good choice for oily and problem skin.

HIMALAYAN SALT / SEA SALT (Sodium Chloride): Himalayan Pink Salt is a crystal rock salt harvested by hand from the ancient rock salt beds that lie under the Himalayan mountain range. Spanning six countries, the Himalayas encompass the tallest peaks in the world. In addition to its sodium chloride (salt) content, Himalayan Pink Salt is remarkably rich in over 80 essential and trace minerals including Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron and Copper. Himalayan Pink Salt is a highly nourishing.

JOJOBA OIL (Simmondsia Chinensis): Jojoba Oil is highly emollient, penetrating and closely resembles the natural sebum within our skin. It does not clog the pores and provides excellent non-occlusive, non-greasy moisture control. Jojoba is a shrub native to Mexico and regions of the U.S. including California and Arizona. It is a perennial evergreen with a life span of up to 200 years and grows 1-5 meters in height. Jojoba has broad, thick waxy glaucous gray leaves and yellow-green flowers.

LICORICE ROOT EXTRACT (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Licorice Root has a long history of use as an anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory. Recent research indicates Licorice Root Extract can be used as a soothing ingredient for the relief of eczema. Studies have shown it is of benefit in skin lightening by dispersing melanin pigment and enhancing more even pigment distribution.

L-ASCORBIC ACID (Vitamin C): Vitamin C, a potent, naturally occurring antioxidant is an important constituent of skin. It plays a pivotal role in the prevention of dry skin and wrinkles, collagen synthesis and skin regeneration. Potent antioxidant (shown to be able to protect skin from oxidative damages). Can improve appearance of aged and fragile skin.

LAVENDER OIL (Lavandula): Lavender oil works to kill bacteria, and this can prevent and heal acne breakouts. It unclogs pores and reduces inflammation when you put it on your skin. It is well known for its ability to help ease stress and provide a sense of calm.

MARIGOLD (Calendula Officinalis): Calendula is well known for it’s effective soothing and moisturizing properties. Especially suitable for sensitive and irritated skin. It has long been used topically to treat skin ulcers, infected wounds, diaper rash, eczema, and irritated skin.

OLIVE OIL (Olea Europaea): Olive Oil is derived from the pressing of olives, and is rich in phytosterols and glycolipids. It is beneficial to replenishing lipids lost from the skin, restoring suppleness and flexibility.

POMEGRANATE EXTRACT (Punica Granatum): Pomegranate Seed Oil has excellent moisturizing, protective and nourishing properties. It is wonderful oil for mature and aging skin, and is soothing to dry, irritated or sunburned skin. It contains a high amount of conjugated fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties.

PRIMROSE OIL (Oenothera Biennis): Primrose oil has very high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid also known as "omega-6". The oil can contain up to 15% gamma-linolenic acid and 70% linolenic acid.

ROSE HIP OIL (Rosa Canina): Rosehip Oil helps to brighten the skin and reduce skin discoloration. The oil is acclaimed for its ability to reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles, and contains Vitamin A as well as Vitamin E and is rich in linoleic and linolenic acids.

ROSEMARY EXTRACT (Rosmarinus Officinalis): Rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and vitamin B1, vitamin B3 and vitamin C. Has purifying and anti-irritant properties.

SEA BUCKTHORN OIL (Hippophae Rhamnoides): Sea Buckthorn Oil has antioxidant, moisturizing and skin-lightening properties. Supplies skin and hair with natural minerals and vitamins. Especially suitable for the sensitive and irritated skin.

SHEA BUTTER (Butyrospermum Parkii): Shea Butter contains allantoin, vitamin A and E, and various cinnamic and unsaponifiable lipids (e.g. stearic and oleic acids). Potent moisturizer and emollient providing effective skin protection against environmental stress factors. Has anti-irritant and soothing properties and improves the appearance of aging skin.

SUNFLOWER SEED OIL (Helianthus Annus): Sunflower Seed Oil helps to moisturize, soothe and condition the skin. It contains 75-90% oleic acid, and it is a very effective humectant, nutrient and emollient for the skin, as it will nourish and soften skin and hair.

TEA TREE OIL (Melaleuca Alternifolia): Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) made from the leaves and twigs of the native Australian tree. It has a very pleasant, characteristic herbal scent, and has slight anti-bacterial and anti-irritant properties.

TURMERIC (Curcuma Longa): Turmeric has traditionally been used for all sorts of skin issues for both face and body. It is even said to help with relieving bruising, swelling, and related pain.

UBIQUINONE (Coenzyme Q10): Ubiquinone / Coenzyme Q10 is a very powerful antioxidant or free radical scavenger. It can significantly reduce the appearance of aged skin and wrinkles. Has been found to improve appearance of aged skin. It is a potent moisturizer as liposomes can penetrate into skin while minimizing water-loss.

One of our most beloved products with a long list of natural skin care ingredients carefully formulated to turn your skin around:

Conclusion

All of these organic skin care ingredients can significantly improve your skin and are definitely worth incorporating into your skin care plan.

If you’re not familiar with our product line, we make the promise that our skin care products are:

• vegan
• cruelty free
• organic and natural
• mineral oil and petroleum free
• paraben and sulfate free
• have ethical ingredient sourcing policies
• eco-friendly packaging