Skin products can tremendously impact the look, feel, and overall health of the skin. When choosing a skin product, it is important to evaluate the quality of the ingredients in skin care products. In addition to this, it is vital to find the right product for your skin type. Possessing skin that looks healthy and feels clean can improve self-confidence and lead to a natural, more manageable maintenance routine. 

Best Natural Ingredients for Skin

When picking the right brand of skin products, it is important to analyze the ingredient list and make sure that the product is comprised of natural ingredients known to improve skin. Unfortunately, this is not the case with many skin products available today. A glance at the ingredient list on many skin products shows a list of difficult to pronounce ingredients and chemicals that can actually harm the skin. Store-bought skin care products can contain toxic ingredients and chemicals that can have many potential adverse side effects. One of the main side effects is hormone imbalances. Some skin products contain ingredients that act as hormone disruptors and can negatively affect the endocrine system. For these reasons, it is crucial select natural ingredients for skin care products that will improve skin health.

Choosing a skin care product is much like selecting the right foods to eat in a healthy diet. Conduct initial research to find the most natural skin care products and then read their ingredient list. Similar to a healthy diet, it is important to find unprocessed ingredients without any harsh chemicals or artificial ingredients added. Some of the best natural ingredients to look for in skin care products are:

• Rose Hips extract
• Green Tea extract
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B5
• Giant Sea Kelp Extract
• Spirulina Extract
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Plant Stem Cells
• Peptide Complex
• Glycolic Acid
• Algae Extract
• Coconut Oil
• Blueberry Extract
• Shea Butter
• Goji Berry
• Mango Butter
• Avocado Oil
• Kukui Nut Oil
• Aloe Vera
• Jojoba Oil
• Retinol
• Astaxanthin
• Coffee Seed Extract
• Carrot Root Extract

All these ingredients possess their own unique characteristics that aid in improving skin health, appearance, texture, and overall well-being. In order to make an informed decision about which ingredients will most benefit your skin type, it is necessary to understand the properties and benefits offered by some of these popular natural ingredients. Below are some of our favorite ingredients with links to products that contain them.

Rose Hips Extract

Rose hip oil comes from the Rosa Aff species of rose. Rose hip oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the rose and has been known to have remarkable effects on the skin. Many natural skin care products contain Rose hips extract because of its ability to penetrate into deep layers of the skin and nourish cells with an influx of antioxidants. These antioxidants facilitate collagen production, thereby reducing the appearance and severity of wrinkles while simultaneously moisturizing the skin. Rose hip extract can also protect the skin from the harmful effects of photo-aging from the sun’s UV rays.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea extract is a concentrated form of green tea that helps combat the effects of sun damage, aging, and toxins by infusing the skin with polyphenols. Green tea has a higher proportion of polyphenols than both white and black tea, which is why it is the tea extract most often used in natural products. Green tea extract has been shown to reduce skin inflammation, protect the skin from sun damage, and slow the development of signs of aging. Green tea extract accomplishes this by protecting the skin against the effects of free radicals, toxins, and harmful chemicals, as well as increasing positive enzyme production.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is proven to be an incredible natural ingredient shown to improve skin health and appearance. Shea butter contains Vitamin A, which improves a number of skin conditions. These conditions include eczema, dermatitis, wrinkles, and blemishes. Shea butter contains several natural moisturizers that improve the production of collagen in the skin and give the skin a healthy glow. These moisturizers are the same that the sebaceous glands in the human body produce, so their presence in shea butter increases the body’s capacity to heal and moisturize skin. Shea butter also contains Vitamin E, which has been shown to increase circulation in the skin, thereby improving the skin’s appearance. Vitamin E also reduces the number of free radicals and slows the effects of aging.

Giant Sea Kelp Extract

Giant sea kelp extract, also referred to as Macrocystis Pyrifera extract, derives from brown sea algae found in the Antarctic Ocean. Giant sea kelp extract has recently become a popular natural ingredient to use in skin products because of the numerous benefits it offers. Giant sea kelp extract is rich in iodine, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties known to improve skin health and appearance. Giant sea kelp extract moisturizes skin, removes toxins, hydrates cells, and helps to prevent wrinkles. Because of its silicone content, giant sea kelp extract can also tighten the skin while simultaneously softening its surface.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an extremely popular natural ingredient because of its proven ability to improve the appearance of hair, skin, and overall health. Coconut oil is high in Vitamin E, which makes it an ideal ingredient for skin care products. Because of its high fat content, coconut oil deeply moisturizes skin, thereby repairing the effects of aging, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, smoothing the surface of the skin, and protecting against skin cracking from dryness. Coconut oil nourishes skin in part because of its protein-rich composition. Coconut oil has been known to leave skin feeling moisturized and rejuvenated, and long-term use can slow the effects of aging and improve overall skin health.

Algae Extract

Algae extract typically stems from four major seaweed classes, which are the Rhodophyceae (red algae), the Phaeophyceae (brown algae), the Cyanophyceae (blue-green algae), and the Chlorophyceae (green algae). Algae extract possesses rejuvenating properties that can significantly improve the appearance and health of the skin. Algae extract has been known to act as an anti-inflammatory that can reduce the effects of Atopic Dermatitis. In addition to this, algae extract’s antioxidant properties can nourish the skin on a cellular level and improve the rate of collagen production.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil derives from the avocado fruit and is packed with beneficial vitamins and minerals. Avocado oil possesses proteins, fats, sterolin, antioxidants, lecithin, and potassium, which are all known to improve skin health and appearance. Because of these components, avocado oil can retain water in the skin, making it appear soft and well moisturized. Avocado oil increases the rate of collagen production in the skin, thereby protecting the skin from the onset of wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging. Avocado oil also acts as a powerful moisturizer and has been shown to reduce the effects of some skin diseases, including eczema and psoriasis. By using avocado oil topically, the itching and rashes associated with these skin diseases are reduced.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a type of cactus that is a part of the Liliaceae family. When a piece of Aloe is broken off of the rest of the plant, it leaves behind a clear gel that possesses numerous healing benefits. Aloe Vera has been proven to be effective in treating a number of skin conditions, as well as in ameliorating the effects of minor burns. One of the most common uses of aloe Vera is a topical application to reduce the effects of sunburns and speed the healing process. Aloe Vera is capable of treating sunburns because of its structure. Aloe Vera forms a protective layer on the skin and continually moisturizes it, leading to a faster healing process.  Aloe Vera makes an excellent moisturizer and has been known to reduce the symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema. Aloe Vera also contains two hormones, Auxin and Gibberellins, which can aid in healing wounds and impart anti-inflammatory properties onto the skin.  Aloe Vera has proven to be an effective topical tool in treating acne. The Gibberellin present in Aloe Vera is a growth hormone that stimulates the production of new cells. These new cells aid the skin in healing quickly and with minimal scarring. Aloe Vera also improves the elasticity of the skin because of the antioxidants it contains; including, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The improved elasticity Aloe Vera imparts reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is a liquid wax extracted from the nut of the Simmondsia Chinensis shrub. Jojoba oil is an effective skin moisturizer that seals moisture into the skin and protects the skin from external irritants. Jojoba oil can also be used to control oily skin, which is counterintuitive given its waxy nature. However, despite this seeming contradiction, jojoba oil reduces oily skin by regulating the production of sebum. Jojoba oil also possesses a number of anti-inflammatory properties that can be used to counteract the effects of dermatitis. Jojoba oil has also been effective in treating acne. Jojoba oil can dissolve the sebum deposits that block pores and acts as an antibacterial to control the bacterial growth in the skin’s hair follicles. Jojoba oil possesses vitamin A and E, which contributes to the positive effects it has on skin health and appearance.

Blueberry Extract

Blueberry extract harnesses the tremendous antioxidant benefits of blueberries to improve skin appearance. Blueberries contain high levels of vitamin A and C, which increase moisture retention in skin cells. Blueberries can also help counteract hormonal imbalances that cause acne and normalize the levels of oil in the skin. The vitamin C present in blueberries strengthens blood vessels below the surface of the skin, which reduces the appearance of “spider veins.”

Goji Berry

Goji berry is a fruit that grows in China and is proven to possess numerous health benefits. Goji berries have anti-aging properties because of their high levels of antioxidants and amino acids. The antioxidants in goji berries reduce the amount of free radicals in the skin, thereby protecting the skin. In addition to this, the amino acids in goji berries increase growth hormones, which replenish the moisture in the skin and promote increased cell growth. Increases in growth hormones improve the skin and foster a youthful appearance. The antioxidants and vitamins in goji berries reduce wrinkles and naturally produce firmer skin. Goji berries have also been shown to reduce the appearance of scars by increasing blood flow to scar tissue. The increases in blood flow that goji berries promote also help to heal sun-damaged skin by promoting new cell growth.

Spirulina Extract

Spirulina is blue-green algae that promotes increased skin health. Spirulina possesses gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is a fatty acid that helps the body reduce inflammation. Inflammation causes many skin conditions, such as eczema. Antioxidants make up Spirulina, which increases the skin’s metabolism and rids the skin of harmful free radicals and toxins. Spirulina contains vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and vitamin E, which can help impart a more youthful, bright, moisturized complexion. In addition to this, spirulina extract helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles by improving the skin’s elasticity. Spirulina has also been proven to help reduce the appearance of dark circles by improving the body’s immune system and detoxifying the body, thereby reducing the appearance of shadows.

Conclusion

When picking the right skin product, it is vital to analyze the ingredient list of store-bought products to ensure that they possess natural ingredients known to be beneficial to the skin. Some ingredients known to improve skin health and appearance is rose hips extract, green tea extract, giant sea kelp extract, coconut oil, algae extract, avocado oil, Shea butter, Aloe Vera, jojoba oil, blueberry extract, goji berries, and spirulina extract. In addition to these natural ingredients, there any many other natural remedies for skin inflammation and irritation. If you’re looking to buy skin care ingredients for DIY purposes or looking to find existing products with these ingredients, it’s important to do your research. Some companies have made it their mission to provide consumers with natural skin products packed with ingredients known to foster healthy, beautiful skin. OZNaturals is a leader in natural skin care and possesses an entire line of skin care products comprised of natural ingredients. OZNaturals also is committed to helping consumers have healthy, confidence boosting skin.