I have been going on and on in my recent posts about the advantages of using natural cosmetics and how they are so good for you and whatnot. Today I thought I would focus on some of the ingredients that make natural products so great. My intention is two-fold.
One, I want to make my readers aware of some of the natural cosmetics ingredients there are so that when they read a foreign-sounding name on the bottle or jar of a genuinely natural product they do not put it back on the shelf just because they are unsure if those particular ingredients are safe. And two, if you ever decide to start your own cosmetic line from home or simply want to make your own natural makeup and beauty products, you will have an idea of some of the stuff you need.
Of course, I won’t go into explicit detail and provide an over-long list. This isn’t a botany class. But I will list some ingredients that are used in the basic formula for natural cosmetics.
Natural Cosmetics Ingredients in Skin Care Products
- Vegetarian glycerin – used in natural soaps. Locks moisture into the skin.
- Cornmeal and oats – gentle exfoliates.
- Essential oils – rosemary, jojoba, lavender and hundreds of other s added to skin cosmetics for healing properties and fragrance.
- Tomato – balances the ph of the skin.
- Cocoa butter – An exceptional moisturizer, it also helps to soothe damaged skin.
- Baking soda – technically known as soda bicarbonate. Cleanses skin and hair.
- Sage – a herb with antioxidant properties.
- Zinc oxide – usually found in natural sunscreen. Acts as a highly effective barrier against the sun
- Camphor – coolant with healing properties. Used in products for problem skin.
- Aloe Vera – heals and soothes. Again a popular ingredient in products for acne-prone skin.
- Turmeric – aids in getting rid of dark spots. Keeps skin smooth.
- Vinegar – closes pores. Keeps skin soft.
- Purified water – a large part of many natural products.
- Lemon – cleans skin. Especially good for oily skin.
- Extracts of fruit and flowers – oils and extracts from plants, barks of trees, leaves, fruits and their seeds will benefit your skin in hundreds of ways. Far too many to list here. There are extensive encyclopedias online dedicated to this topic.
Natural Ingredients in Hair Care Products
- Coconut oil – works great for dry and damaged hair. It is also a highly effective hair cleanser. Does not feel heavy when massaged into hair and scalp.
- Avocado – a common ingredient in hair products that claim to stimulate growth of hair. Is a very good conditioner. Also works great for dandruff.
- Rosemary – another stimulant for hair growth. Works wonders if you have oily hair.
- Panthenol – An essential vitamin that doubles as a conditioner.
- Nettles – an unexpected entry in the natural cosmetics ingredients list. Makes hair soft and shiny.
- Lanolin – has long been used to treat hair that breaks easily.
As I said earlier, this list is not comprehensive. But perhaps I have stoked your curiosity enough that you will research more ingredients yourself and you can definitely share them with us.
