Could your moisturizer be the main cause of dry, irritated skin? These 10 natural skin care moisturizers are just the thing you need to reduce the amount of chemicals in your life, and improve the way your skin looks and feels!
Many moisturizers on the market contain harmful chemicals that get absorbed into the skin and enter the bloodstream. About one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals which include carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. When you think that your skin is the largest organ in your body, and you spread these products on your skin day by day, you can start to imagine the harm that you are putting your body through, as well as the environment. Some products may also include plasticizers, degreasers and surfactants, things that are found in concrete, auto shops and paint tubs.
Ingredients to Steer Clear of in Beauty Products
What I want you to do right now is grab any one of your moisturizers and read through the ingredients. If it contains any of the following, I would suggest you throw it out immediately:
1. BHA & BHT: Used in makeup and moisturizers as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptor and may cause cancer.
2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number: May also be listed as FD&C Blue No. 1 or Blue 1. Potential to cause cancer and heavy metal toxicity to the brain.
3. DEA-related ingredients: Used in moisturizers and shampoo. Can react to form nitrosamines which cause cancer.
4. Dibutyl phthalate: Suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant.
5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Slowly releases small amounts of formaldehyde which cause cancer.
6. Parabens: Suspected endocrine disruptors and interferes with male reproductive functions.
7. Parfum (a.k.a fragrance): Can trigger allergies and asthma. Some are linked to cancer and neurotoxicity.
8. PEG compounds: Used in many cream bases. Can cause cancer.
9. Petrolatum: Petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
10. Siloxanes: Suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant.
11. Sodium laureth sulfate: May cause cancer. Also called SLS. Related chemicals called sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients ending with letters “eth”.
12. Triclosan: Suspected endocrine disruptor and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Instead, opt for nature-made oils that will help repair your skin, and make it glow! Below is a list of 10 natural oils that are wonderful for all types of skin care such as moisturizing, helping get rid of wrinkles and fine lines, clearing up acne and blemishes, treating dry and/or oily skin. I personally love to use jojoba oil mixed with some rose hip seed oil on my face, as well as hemp oil on my face. For my body I typically use jojoba and grapeseed oil.
10 Natural Skin Care Oils:
1. Coconut Oil
Has high moisture retaining capacity so it acts as an excellent moisturizer for your skin. It melts into your skin and increases the levels of skin surface lipids which helps soften it. Small wounds (caused by acne or pimples) also soften and heal quickly. Also has added benefits of protecting your skin from microbes, and treating various skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and many other skin infections. Do you suffer from acne? Coconut oil has the ability to cure acne by killing the bacteria that cause the problem (acne vulgaris).
2. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is technically not an oil but a wax ester. In fact, the jojoba wax ester is most similar to human skin oil (sebum). Applying jojoba oil to the skin will actually make the skin think it is producing enough oil and thus balances oil production. Jojoba oil helps to moisturize the skin all day long – it does not evaporate like commercial moisturizers (which are water based), and can be used for the face and body (only need a couple drops – it spreads well!). This oil is also a good make-up remover (doesn’t irritate the eyes), and can act as a wonderful lip balm and hair conditioner (add a few drops to your hair after shampooing – helps combat dandruff).
3. Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil contains linoleic acid which helps strengthen cell membranes and improve skin health. There are also many antioxidants in this oil type, which can help prevent pores from clogging (clogged pores normally trigger acne breakouts, so regular application of this oil can help prevent problems associated with acne). Grapeseed oil is medically useful for reducing swelling because of its wonderful anti-inflammatory properties and can help tighten and tone the skin. This oil is very light, and thus it is easily absorbed by the skin and will not leave any oil residue. It also helps stimulate skin tissue regeneration, and can quicken the healing process of wounds.
4. Macadamia Nut Oil
This oil contains the highest amount of palmitoleic acid (omega 7 fatty acid) of any plant. Palmitoleic acid is plentiful in our skin when we are young, but decreases with aging. This acid helps mature skin retain suppleness and replaces naturally occurring skin on the lips, allowing the skin to remain looking younger. This oil reduces wrinkles and dryness and is light and non-greasy. It also contains proteins and plenty of vitamin E which contributes to healthy, supple looking skin.
5. Hempseed Oil
Contains agents (linoleic and linolenic acids) that give it anti-inflammatory properties, as well as natural antioxidant properties. It helps to clean and detoxify your skin and to even out skin tone. This oil does not stick to your skin and clog your pores, so it is a wonderful way to moisturize without feeling overly greasy. Hempseed oil is also beneficial for healing skin lesions and balancing dry skin and fighting skin inflammations. It has antioxidants in the form of vitamin E and carotene, as well as phytosterols, phospholipids, as well as a variety of skin beneficial minerals like calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and phosphorous.
6. Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil provides strong antioxidants like vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that have been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution and other modern-day environmental hazards. These antioxidants naturally keep the skin firm, smooth and healthy. Olive oil deeply penetrates the skin and provides a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple.
7. Argan Oil
Argan oil has been claimed as “liquid gold” for the skin. It is credited with helping repair damaged hair, reducing wrinkles and acne, diminishing the appearance of age spots and healing dry scalp and diaper rash. Argan oil is naturally rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, carotenoids, ferulic acid, sterols, polyphenols, vitamin E and squalene, which help heal the skin, reduce inflammation and fight off free radicals.
8. Almond Oil
Almonds oil is more of an emollient because it softens skin rather than hydrates it. However, it acts as a humectant to help prevent the loss of moisture. Almond oil is great for relieving dry, flaking, and itchy skin due to eczema, psoriasis, and rashes. It can also be applied to the scalp to relieve dryness and to condition hair roots. It is readily absorbed into the skin without leaving behind any greasy residue. Apply one to two drops of almond oil on each side of your skin and with clean warm hands, massage the oil on your face in upward strokes. Be sure to include the area around your eyes, gently patting. This oil also has anti-aging properties, like reducing fine lines and crow’s feet, as well as reducing dark circles and puffy eyes.
9. Avocado Oil
This oil is very rich in nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, D and E, as well as healthy amino acids and lecithin. It has strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties and mono-unsaturated fatty acids which help revitalize dry and dull skin. It is one of the most effective natural skin care remedies around and penetrates the skin much more deeply than oils like jojoba. It is great for people suffering from dark circles, crow’s feet and sagging skin, and can help firm up the skin, leaving it youthful and toned. The sugars found in avocado also boost collagen production in the skin, making the skin wrinkle free, and helping to fade any scars or other skin blemishes.
10. Rosehip Oil
Contains vitamin C to help boost tissue repair, as well as vitamin A (otherwise known as Retinol) which is a staple in most skin products. Rosehip oil helps to rehydrate the skin because of the high content of essential fatty acids, and can help the skin hold moisture and reduce dryness. It can also be used to bring a shine to the skin which resembles a lively glow. This oil is very well known for helping reduce the appearance of scars from stretch marks or acne. Over time, this oil can help shrink, and in some cases even eliminate stretch marks completely. Scars caused from chicken pox are also excellent candidates for pure rosehip oil treatment. Rosehip oil is a wonderful toner too! It can help with problems of premature aging.
I found that REAL mayo or salad dressing (using real eggs and oils and such) used in the bath, hair and all or applied directly on the skin, even on the scalp, leaves my skin soft and glowing after showering with little or no soap (of course the hair needs a good shampooing to remove the oils)
I used a few oils but when I had used avocado oil on my face for a week or so a friend commented that my skin was looking better and what was I doing differently……I consider it the very best oil to use and I also use a moisturizer after it…I have dry skin..