Over the years, the skincare industry has evolved to become one of the biggest in the world. Almost everyone has a particular product they use to care for their skin, even if it's just sunscreen or daily moisturiser. With this rise in popularity has come an increasing awareness of the ingredients in certain types of skincare.
Many companies fill their products with preservatives or fragrances to make them broadly appealing, but these ingredients are more damaging to the skin than helpful. As people become more conscious about what they're putting on their skin, natural skincare has become the go-to. Natural, vegan, and organic skincare products focus on creating cosmetics for daily use that nourish and help the skin.
If you're considering overhauling your skincare routine for something more natural, you're in the right place. Today, we're covering what you should look for in your natural skincare products, as well as some common skincare ingredients you should avoid. Let's get started.
Inactive vs. Active Skincare Ingredients
The first thing to know about building a skincare routine is that your products will have two sets of ingredients: active ingredients and inactive ingredients.
Active ingredients are the powerhouses, the workhorses, and the ones doing most of the work. Often, they're either botanical extracts or chemical compounds designed to target specific skincare issues. These 'active' ingredients are why there is such a broad array of skincare products, as they can tailor which skin concerns a particular product addresses. Some common 'active' ingredients include ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C.
On the other hand, inactive skincare ingredients are designed to help boost or prolong the product's active effects. They can be catalysts for the active ingredients to work better or simply an emollient to help the active ingredients feel better on the skin. Some examples might include squalene, glycerine, shea butter, and even petrolatum (a derivative of petroleum).
In the 'inactive' portion of your skincare products, you'll often find ingredients that you should avoid. This is where harsh fragrances, preservatives, and colours are often included to create a better sensory experience. Unfortunately, these additions can do more harm than good to your skincare routine.
The Dos: Natural Skincare Ingredients to Look for
Natural skincare ingredients are usually derived from botanical or earthen sources, meaning they're extracted from plants or nature in some way. There are many examples out there, and this is not an exhaustive list by any means. If you're unsure, a good rule of thumb is to select skincare products that use botanical or earthen products as their active ingredient.
We've included just a few of our favourite natural skincare ingredients below, along with their applications, to give you a head start on building your routine.
Clays and Muds
Carefully harvested and naturally refined, clay or mud masks from reputable sources are bastions of natural skincare. If sourced from the right place, clay or mud can nourish your skin with an array of necessary minerals to keep it shining and healthy. They are also excellent at combatting bacterial infections, breakouts, and dullness. Thanks to the abundance of glacial and geothermal clay in Aotearoa, clay or mud even forms the basis of some of the best hair treatment products NZ has to offer.
Make sure to research the origin of any clay or mud mask before purchasing. Many widely distributed commercial varieties are packed with harmful scents and harsh preservatives to ensure they last a long time on store shelves.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is usually an emollient. In other words, while it's wonderfully hydrating, it's often the suspension medium for other active ingredients to fold into. That said, shea butter is a fantastic ingredient to use sparingly on its own and is commonly used in vegan and organic skincare routines.
This moisturising ingredient is applicable to both the face and body and should be used as the second-to-last step in your skincare routine (prior to SPF).
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is an active botanical extract that's perfect for deep skin hydration. If you struggle with acne, psoriasis, or dry skin patches, choosing products with jojoba in them might be the perfect basis for your routine. It's safe for daily use, especially when paired with ceramides, to help protect a damaged skin barrier.
Tea-Based Ingredients (Green Tea or Chamomile)
Tea extracts like chamomile and green tea are some of the best botanical active ingredients on the market today. They're amazing for calming inflammation, reducing hyperpigmentation, and restoring a natural glow to your skin without harming the skin barrier. Green tea, in particular, is fantastic for calming the skin and reducing irritation or redness.
You'll often find these ingredients included in serums or cleansers as a way to double down on their effects. Experiment with what your skin responds to best, always do a patch test, and build a routine around the botanical ingredient that benefits you most.
The Don'ts: Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare
Now that we've covered what to look for, let's run through a quick list of ingredients we generally recommend avoiding when building a vegan and organic skincare routine.
Parabens
Parabens are among the most popular preservatives in the skincare industry, helping keep products stable enough to sit on shelves for a long time. Unfortunately, they can cause skin irritation in individuals with sensitive skin, so we generally recommend avoiding them where possible.
Sulphates
Sulphates are often found in anything that foams, from hand soaps to foaming facial cleansers. While they are efficient at stripping away grease, ingredients like sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) are often so efficient that they strip your skin of natural oils. Over time, this can cause dryness and irritation and even damage the skin barrier enough to produce breakouts.
Synthetic Fragrances
Fragrances are often included in commercial skincare products to make the experience of using them more appealing. But more often than not, these chemicals can cause irritation, damage the skin barrier, and even cause breakouts in those with sensitive skin. Many products contain natural fragrances derived from their botanical active ingredients. We recommend sticking to those where possible.
Going beyond the word 'natural' on the label is vital when building a routine of your own. Always do your research, carefully read the list of ingredients on any skincare product, and prioritise natural ingredients where you can. If you're still unsure where to begin, consider our range of natural, vegan, and organic skincare products. They're the perfect foundation for healthy, glowing skin.
Build the Natural Skincare Routine of Your Dreams with Ae Botanicals.
At Ae Botanicals, we take natural skincare seriously. We offer a spectrum of naturally sourced ingredients with no harsh fragrances or preservatives, designed to let you build your own products and routine from the ground up. Explore our skincare range today!