Over the last 27 years I have read extensively about natural skincare products in an attempt to further help treat my skin conditions. As like most teenagers growing up I suffered from acne but also had dry skin due to severe sun exposure. Thirty five years ago sunscreen was not on the market and being concerned about my skin was the least important thing on my mind. Fortunately, I never developed skin cancer and to this day I never leave home without applying sunscreen. Also, I try to avoid being in the sun for prolonged periods. I visited several doctors and was prescribed various creams to help treat my acne and dry skin conditions. They helped to clear my acne symptoms along with a natural diet of cold water fish high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, fresh green leafy vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Some herbs that have been used to treat acne are burdock, chamomile and dandelion. I figured that since some of the ingredients found in these products have been used throughout the ages, maybe they could also help me. Of all the ingredients in natural skin care products, the most familiar ones you will recognize are aloe, green tea, witch hazel, lavender, alpha hydroxyl acids and chamomile.

Through research I have discovered that diet plays an important role in the health of our skin.

Some people will tend to their skincare needs by using only natural skincare products. Individuals who adopt a healthy, balanced diet will have a better chance of improving their complexion. If we consume fried foods, this will cause an overproduction of oil in our skin causing breakouts of acne. On the other hand if we added omega 3 oils to our diet in the form of fish oils or flax seed oil, they have been shown to improve acne and help dry skin. Avoid hydrogenated oils by not frying your food and substitute it with raw unprocessed oils. We should not only use natural skincare products, but also treat our skin from within by improving the quality of our diet.

Other factors that contribute to aging of the skin are smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Drinking of alcohol causes the skin to lose water (dehydrate). You may have noticed in people who drink alcohol regularly that their skin appears to be red and blotchy. The reason for this is that alcohol consumption damages our blood vessels, particularly our capillaries. Smoking is another factor that ages the skin because it increases free radicals in the body. A tell tale sign of a smoker is the noticing of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. In our skin we have a protein known as collagen and smoking tends to breakdown this protein. When that break down occurs, our skin will sag and wrinkle. An important part of our skin care regimen is that if we smoke, we should try to quit. Natural skincare products that contain L-ascorbic acid should be used by people who smoke and drink since this vitamin is depleted in the body by the free radicals associated with these bad habits.

All of us experience daily stress in our lives.

Effectively controlling stress is not only important for our health but also for the health of our skin. When our body is under stress, it causes our sebaceous glands to be overworked. As a result, it may cause our skin to break out, age prematurely, and cause wrinkles since our facial muscles are continuously contracted. You may have noticed that there are a number of subliminal tapes and relaxation CD’s on the market since they help produce a state of inner calm. Sales have skyrocketed with these products since people more than ever are under a greater than normal amount of stress. Other products that have been helpful in dealing with stress are natural supplements which contain such herbs such as valerian root, combined with chamomile, wood betony and the B complex vitamins. Additionally, there are some natural skincare products that contain oil of lavender, and this essential oil has a calmative effect and eases nervous tension.

Natural skincare products are different than the conventional ones that you may see at a department store or your local pharmacy. Natural products are derived from various sources such as essential oils, herbal extracts, natural oils such as avocado and jojoba oils, alpha hydroxyl acids (derived from fruit acids), tripeptides (combinations of amino acids), coenzyme Q10, and Vitamin C. Chemical-free natural skincare products will properly cleanse and moisturize your skin since they do not contain harsh chemicals and alcohol, they will not dry your skin. When purchasing natural skin formulas, you should always read the label before purchasing because some products contain chemicals. Don’t think that just because a skin care product is labeled natural that it is free of chemicals. Some "so-called" natural skincare products contain mineral oil, synthetic colors and synthetic fragrances, alcohol, and aluminum acetate. These products are misrepresented, and are merely conventional skincare formulas with the addition of some botanical extracts.

True natural skincare products do not contain mineral oil, instead they use either safflower, avocado, or coconut oils.

Mineral oil can cause allergic reactions, and in some people can cause skin irritation. Any individual that has any skin condition such as acne or psoriasis should not use any skin care products containing mineral oil. On the other hand, you should consider using natural skincare products that contain jojoba oil. This natural oil is derived from the jojoba plant and is used in moisturizing creams and is beneficial since it doesn’t clog skin pores. Conventional skin products also add synthetic fragrance to their products but don’t list the chemical name of the fragrance used. These chemical fragrances have been shown to produce skin irritation and rashes. Always read the labels of natural skincare products since some of them also contain chemical fragrances.

Natural skincare products offer an alternative to chemical fragrances called essential oils.

These oils are extracted from plants by steam distillation and have been added to skin care formulas and perfumes since they possess aromatic qualities. Some examples of essential oils used in natural skin care products are oil of lavender, oil of orange, ylang ylang, tangerine, spearmint and sandalwood. Essential oils possess different properties; oil of rosemary being an astringent while oil of lavender being a calmative. Try to use natural skincare products that contain essential oils, since they not only have a fragrant aroma but also help to nourish the skin.

The content presented here on this website is for informational purposes only. These products have not been approved by the FDA and are not intended to treat or cure any disease. This information should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.