Top 10 Natural Skin Care Ingredients You Need to Know About This Summer!

The skin care aisle can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Difficult to spell and harder to pronounce ingredients making claims of skin brightening, tightening, and rehydrating miracles. No wonder it’s hard to figure out what will really work for you! The natural skin care world is no different, but I’m here to help you swap out the garbage for the real stuff. Here’s 10 ingredients to look out for this summer to keep your skin healthy and happy.

10. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is found in many products targeting wrinkles and aging skin because of it’s ability to retain moisture and improve elasticity in your skin cells. But what is it? Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring fluid in your skin, eyes, joints and connective tissue. It draws and holds moisture into your cells, helping to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dry skin. HA also depletes as you age, making it an important nutrient for maintaining supple, elastic skin. You can find HA in many anti-aging lotions, serums and moisturizers.

9. Aloe Vera

We all know aloe is good for sunburns, but did you know it’s also great for improving elasticity and skin firmness, fighting acne and improving the absorption of vitamins and minerals, including those in your facial care products? Aloe is high in antioxidants and enzymes, making it great for skin reparation. Aloe can also help maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier, keeping harmful things out while soothing irritated skin. I’ve personally used aloe alone as a moisturizer and the benefits were immediately noticeable. If you can’t get past the astringent smell, look for beauty product with aloe as the first ingredient- these will have all of the same benefits of aloe alone.

8. Bentonite Clay

Bentonite clay is an old staple of any DIY beauty queen. You can make an easy mask with apple cider vinegar to help detoxify and calm your skin. Bentonite clay is incredibly high in minerals, which are good for the skin, but can also help bind and remove toxins and heavy metals, making it great for internal use as well. Bentonite can be very drying if used too frequently or incorrectly, so make sure to monitor your usage and properly hydrate your body to prevent dehydration. It can also be beneficial for healing scrapes and bug bites, and soothing irritated skin.

7. Algae

Algae are organisms from the sea which are naturally high in vitamins and antioxidants. Macroalgae (seaweed and kelp) and microalgae (single-celled algae) can increase the skin's vitality by helping to fight free radical damage, increase moisture in the skin and condition dry, damaged skin. The term algae can encompass a variety of species and can be sourced all over the world. Seaweed can be particularly helpful for people with extreme skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Look for products with algae in creams, cleansing milks, bath soaks and body washes.

6. Fruit Stem Cells

Want to revitalize your current skin cells? Fruit Stem Cells are the way to go. They have a unique ability to repair and protect your current skin cells, making it even easier to improve your skin without the use of harsh chemicals. Also known as fruit enzymes or peptides, these stem cells have different results based on which plant they are derived from. Apple Stem Cells are the most popular, but many skin care brands are marketed with the use of fruit stem cells and utilize a wide variety of fruits and plants like edelweiss and grape in their products.

5. Tea Tree

Tea tree essential oil is fantastic for acne prone skin, bug bites, skin abrasions, dandruff, psoriasis, and can be used as a natural antiseptic due to it’s incredible anti-microbial powers. Tea tree needs to be used in a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, almond or argan oil because it can be so abrasive in its pure form, so take care not to overdo it. Tea tree is commonly found in acne blemish sticks, cleansing pads and cleansers but can also be found in many natural household cleaners, bug sprays, toothpastes and deodorants.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C Serum is one of the most popular skin care items requested. Vitamin C is great for your skin because of it’s ability to lighten dark spots by increasing collagen production and reduce the damage caused by harmful UV rays. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, so liposomal Vitamin C can be more effective because of it’s increased absorption rate. Food based Vitamin C from Amla, or Rose Hips, and Vitamin C complemented with natural teas like Green Tea can also increase the performance of these serums.

3. Micellar Water

The newest trend in natural skin care is honestly not that new. Micellar water has been used in France for decades and works because of it’s unique ability to mimic both the water and oil components of the face, making it ideal for cleansing when you don’t have a sink. Micellar water is basically small oil cells suspended in purified water. When you wipe your face, the water hydrates the skin while the oil cells act like a magnet, easily sweeping out dirt and excess oils on the face. These products are great for teens, busy adults and anyone who wants a great all-in-one product and can be found in bottles like a toner or facial wipes for convenience.

2. Argan Oil

Argan oil has grown in popularity due to it’s amazing benefits to hair, but did you know it can help your skin too? Naturally high in Vitamins A and E, argan oil is great for blemishes, stretch marks and is great for moisturizing. It is also high in Omega-6 oils, making it helpful in reducing inflammation like razor bumps, pimples and chapped lips.

1. Charcoal

Activated charcoal is all the rage these days because of it’s ability to bind itself to impurities in the skin, like toxins, dirt and other chemicals and remove them from your pores. Charcoal masks are especially helpful for acne prone skin, as well as spider and other insect bites. You can make deodorant and toothpaste with charcoal as well to remove unwanted body odor and whiten teeth. Not all charcoal products are created equal, so look for activated charcoal products from coconut or wood and avoid those highly abrasive masks that dry like plastic as they can be harmful to the skin.

You can learn more about how to improve your skin naturally by signing up for the ROSH Nutrition Foundational 5. The Foundational 5 will not only give you 5 weeks of online nutrition classes, but offer group support, tips and tricks for making healthy living easier, and one-on-one feedback on your health every Saturday morning in July. Make the commitment to your health and sign up today.