More and more women are choosing natural over synthetic skin care products. This is partly a result of choosing to go with more green products, as well as concerns over applying so many chemicals to your face. That being said, going natural with skin care is not as easy as it sounds. Natural is a label that can be deceiving, similar to free-range chickens or low-fat mayonnaise. To help you navigate your way through choosing the best natural skin care products, try some of the tips below.
Let your skin type guide you. You should still choose products that are right for your skin type. No natural skin care product is going to be one size fits all, just as no Estee Lauder or Lancome product is for everyone. Look for products for dry, oily, combination or normal skin, just as you always would.
Read the ingredient list. The first few ingredients should be natural products that you can pronounce “ honey, water, milk, etc. Ingredients are listed in the order of their highest concentration, so if the list ends with a few chemicals or fragrances, don’t be dismayed (unless you are looking for 100% natural skin care products.) Some natural products may have a slightly unpleasant smell that is masked by the addition of a small amount of fragrance, or a color that needs to be made a little more appealing.
Look for reviews of the product. These shouldn’t guide your decisions completely, as there will always be people who are dissatisfied with any product, but if a skin care product consistently gets rave (or very poor) reviews, take that into consideration before choosing it.
Look for samples. Many natural skin care products, especially if they are created by smaller or local companies, will sell smaller jars of their products for sampling, or even offer free samples. This is a terrific way to see how a skin care product works for you without making a huge investment.
Don’t be surprised by higher prices. Because many natural ingredients don’t have the shelf life or can’t be mass produced the way their synthetic partners can, they may cost the manufacturers more. This will make the price of the products higher for you. And of course, products from higher-end cosmetic and skin care lines will be more expensive.
Make your own. Discouraged in your search for natural products that work for you? Try making your own! Blend milk and honey for a soothing cleanser for dry skin, use rose water for a mild toner, and brewer’s yeast blended with water into a paste is an awesome mask for very oily skin. Experiment with different ingredients to create your own natural products; just remember that many will have a very short shelf life, so make small batches and discard after a few days.
Say no to chemicals, people!
Say no to chemicals, people!