Can you go natural and get a great looking, healthy glowing skin? You can follow these five simple tips for a gentle and straightforward beauty regimen.
Avoid Heavy-Duty Cleansers
Unlike your pots and pans, “your skin needn’t be scrubbed or squeaky to be clean,” says Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. So please don’t overdo it. Mild, non-detergent cleansers—milk, gels, foams, or cloths—are your best bet. Scan the ingredient labels to see if they contain gentle, plant-derived surfactants (the prefix coco- equals coconut, for example; glucose- equals fruit sugars). “The natural source is often hint at in the name,” says Jim Hammer, a cosmetic chemist.
Ditch The Toner
These were initially invented to restore the skin’s natural pH after washing with an alkaline-detergent soap. “If you’re using a pH-balanced cleanser, there’s no need for toner,” Graf says. “It’ll only dry your skin.”
Make Sure Acid-Laced Products Are Ph-Balanced
This title means their pH is in sync with healthy glowing skin, so “they gently remove sebum (an oily substance secreted by the skin) and makeup without stripping natural oils,” Graf says. Look for the words “pH-balanced” on cleansers that contain glycolic or lactic acids and on exfoliators, she adds, because some have a low pH, which can cause dryness.
Opt For Fragrance-Free
The fragrance is the most common cause of skin-care-related allergic reactions. If you’re sensitive, be sure to choose products that are labelled “fragrance-free.” The ones marked “unscented” typically contain small amounts of fragrance to help mask the odours of active ingredients.
Choose Multitasking Moisturizers
A good day cream juggles two jobs—hydration and protection. Pick one with plant-based moisturizers (natural oils, butter, and essential fatty acids penetrate the skin better than artificial emollients like petroleum, Graf explains) and antioxidants. Those from natural sources may also contain bioflavonoids and other beneficial compounds not found in synthetic versions. Hammer says, plus nonirritating physical sunblocks, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
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