In this article:
Types of natural skin care ingredients
The best natural ingredients for skin
Is there such a thing as natural sunscreen?
Natural skin care ingredient pros
Natural skin care ingredient cons
Information about skin care ingredients can be straightforward but often confusing, especially for natural and organic skin care.
With the desire to use natural ingredients continuing to rise, thorough investigation skills are required to sift through the hype and get to the bottom of natural and organic skin care to find out what’s best for skin (and what’s not).
We’ve done the work for you with our research-backed guide to natural ingredients so you can make the best natural ingredient choices for your skin’s needs without needing to put on your detective hat.
Types of natural skin care ingredients
First things first: what do we mean when we say skin care ingredients are natural? From the most technical of standpoints, natural indicates that an ingredient is found in nature –a rather broad definition.
That means natural ingredients can entail anything sourced from a plant or animal – and can even include compounds found inside the human body. There is also no set definition of what natural means, so skin care companies are free to define it however they choose (1, 2).
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the term “organic” means that an ingredient was produced without the inclusion of antibiotics, certain pesticides and without artificial growth hormones, among other qualifications. It should be noted that while organic is federally defined, the use of this term is part of the of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and is not a safety program (3). Seeing “organic” on a product label does not automatically mean “safe”.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman adds, “These terms are not carefully regulated and don’t have strict definitions. So, when they’re used in marketing skin care products, there is no generally agreed upon standard that they must meet. The terms are just words that appeal to consumers.”
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at some of the best natural ingredients for skin.
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Natural antioxidants and vitamins
Antioxidants are compounds that fight oxidative stress that causes multiple signs of ageing, while vitamins are micronutrients that help the body perform basic functions (4). Most vitamins are also antioxidants, like vitamin C, which makes them extraordinary when it comes to their benefits for skin.
Antioxidants and vitamins are abundant in nature, with too many to list here. But among the top ones to seek out are:
- Epigallocatechin gallate (also known as EGCG), the chief antioxidant in green tea
- Resveratrol, present in blueberries, raspberries, red grapes and by extension red wine
- Astaxanthin, found in marine animals and the freshwater algae Haematococcus pluvialis (5)
- Vitamin C, a key nutrient in many berries, citrus fruits and tomatoes
What might also surprise you is that two of skin care’s most potent anti-ageing superstars – niacinamide and retinol – are also vitamins (vitamins B3 and A, respectively). Niacinamide is found naturally in brown rice and peanut butter, but natural retinol can only be sourced from animals—it doesn’t occur in plants, which is why most skin care companies use synthetic forms of this vitamin.
Speaking of synthetic, although many skin care companies extract antioxidants and vitamins from natural sources, they also use lab-created antioxidants and vitamins, too. There’s nothing wrong with synthetic, lab-created versions of the same ingredient. In fact, companies synthesise these ingredients in a lab environment primarily to improve stability, ensure batch-to-batch efficacy, and in some cases, aid sustainability of the natural source.
Natural skin care oils
Non-fragrant plant oils are a great way to deeply nourish skin, especially if it’s suffering from a lack of lasting moisture. Natural oils can also help strengthen skin’s barrier. Some of our favourite, research-backed naturally occurring oils include:
- Jojoba oil - sourced from a perennial shrub, this oil has a light, non-greasy feel and its composition closely resembles our skin’s natural oil (sebum)
- Meadowfoam seed oil - derived from a flowering plant, it has components that make it less prone to rancidity than other natural oils and provides a luxe feel on skin
- Grape seed oil - as the name states, it’s oil pressed from grapes and loaded with antioxidants, plus it’s among the lightest-feeling plant oils
- Sunflower seed oil - this oil from the seeds of sunflowers is a rich source of skin-replenishing fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, required for skin to make its own ceramides
- Rosehip oil - not be confused with rose flower oil, this oil from the seed pods of the rose plant has potent antioxidant properties
An added bonus to these non-fragrant, plant-based oils? “Even those with oily, blemish-prone skin can use them with confidence that they won’t clog pores,” says Dr. Corey L. Hartman.
Natural skin care acids
While the word “acid” might not seem good when it comes to skin care, there are many beneficial acids for skin found in nature. These ingredients can help improve everything from skin tone to texture, signs of ageing and hydration. Among them:
- Fatty acids, which can be found in a variety of plant-based foods and help shore up skin’s barrier
- Azelaic acid, derived from grains such as rye and barley and effective on bumps, redness and uneven tone
- Glycolic acid, which occurs naturally in sugar cane and is one of the most researched-backed alpha hydroxy acids, able to exfoliate skin and fight signs of ageing including dark spots and wrinkles
Note: Although azelaic acid and glycolic acid are both found in nature, skin care companies prefer using their synthetic forms due to their increased effectiveness.
The best natural ingredients for skin
Without a doubt, the best natural ingredients for skin are those that impart benefits without causing any irritation, which makes most skin concerns worse. Dr. Corey L. Hartman adds, “Remember, some of the most natural ingredients can also be the most irritating. Did anyone say poison ivy?”
Since natural ingredients are particularly vulnerable to breaking down when in the presence of light and air, it’s crucial that any natural skin care product you buy doesn't come in jar packaging and is instead packaged in opaque, air-restrictive containers to make sure you get the most bang for your buck over time.
Natural ingredients for dry skin
When it comes to natural ingredients for dry skin, there are several to choose from, including all the oils mentioned above in our “natural skin oils” section. All are rich in the components dry skin needs to restore hydration and have a plumper, more supple appearance.
Natural butters are also a great source of nourishing hydration for parched skin. These types of plant lipids lock in moisture long-term while restoring smoothness. Among the best are cocoa butter and shea butter, both of which have long histories of helping dry skin.
Squalane, which can be sourced from olive, wheat bran, rice bran and amaranth oils, is also well-known for its ability to hydrate, bolster skin’s barrier and provide antioxidant support – what's not to love?
Natural ingredients for oily, blemish-prone skin
Are there natural ingredients that work for oily, blemish-prone skin? The answer is an unequivocal yes, but we’re not talking witch hazel or tea tree oil here (more on those in a little bit).
There are many natural clays – including bentonite and kaolin – that gently yet effectively reduce the amount of surface oil on skin, helping control shine. Niacinamide helps regulate oil production within pores and minimise their appearance (6).
Azelaic acid is a good option for tackling the hyperpigmentation that can come after a breakout (post-blemish marks). And salicylic acid (also known as BHA), which can be sourced from the white willow tree, is one of the gold standards when it comes to exfoliating deep within pores to help clear blemishes and prevent future breakouts. Its well-known soothing properties also alleviate blemish-related redness.
Of note, though: salicylic acid in skin care is almost always synthetic since this form is easier to use and its efficacy is more consistent.
Natural anti-ageing ingredients
As it turns out, anti-ageing ingredients are abundant in nature. One of the most potent natural anti-ageing ingredients is retinol. With more than 70 years of research showing its effectiveness in tackling everything from dark spots to uneven texture to wrinkles, it’s a powerhouse worth adding to your arsenal. Bio-identical synthetic retinol is used by most skin care brands since, as mentioned above, this vitamin cannot be derived from plants, it occurs in animals.
Peptides, which occur naturally in many plants and animals, help “teach” skin how to act in a more youthful manner, putting the brakes on many of the processes that lead to external signs of ageing.
The natural antioxidants mentioned above go a long way to prevent signs of ageing. Anything you can do to prevent or fight oxidative stress – one of the leading causes of the development of wrinkles, uneven tone and rough texture – helps keep skin looking younger, longer.
Is there such a thing as natural sunscreen?
Not really, but it can come down to how you define natural. The two mineral sunscreens active ingredients used in skin care formulations – titanium dioxide and zinc oxide - can be found in nature, but the process that turns these minerals into effective UV filters is synthetic. This is desirable since the synthetic processing ensures greater efficacy, better aesthetics and prevents the minerals from cross-reacting with other cosmetic ingredients. It’s a win-win all around.
There is also a growing area of study on additional ingredients – including sunflower oil, among a host of others – that can have photoprotective properties (7). Some botanicals are showing promise when it comes to helping deflect UVA and UVB rays, bolstering sun protection and doing some defending on their own. However, it must be stated: the United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved these as OTC sunscreen active ingredients. This means that while adding these ingredients to your routine is a good idea, relying solely on them for sun protection isn’t. Until they have passed the rigorous testing that allows an ingredient to be labeled as a sunscreen active ingredient, it’s best to stick to those ingredients authorised by the US FDA and other regulatory bodies around the world.
Natural skin care ingredient pros
There are many pros to using natural skin care ingredients. Among them are the fact that in some cases, natural ingredients come from the by-products of some other industries (barley components can be sourced from brewing, coffee phenols from coffee production, etc.) (8). When this is the case – a natural ingredient coming as the result of another process – it's often a more environmentally sustainable practice as it reduces waste.
Natural ingredients can also help provide alternative sources of income for farmers and food producers, particularly in developing nations. And finally, many of these natural ingredients have a wealth of evidence proving their benefits for skin.
Natural skin care ingredient cons
Unfortunately, there can be some drawbacks to using natural ingredients. Ingredients sourced directly from nature, without synthesising or stabilisation in a lab environment, are more likely to go bad faster. In general, natural ingredients are much more susceptible to breaking down when exposed to light and air, so when purchasing all-natural products, it’s important that they come in proper packaging (as mentioned above) and that you use them quickly.
There are also some natural ingredients that can have a negative impact on the environment. While palm oil, for instance, is natural, its commercial production has come under scrutiny in recent years because it has led to deforestation and a decrease in biodiversity in some areas of the world (9).
Some natural ingredients can also do more harm than good to skin, which leads us to...
Natural skin care ingredients to avoid
Unfortunately, not everything that’s natural is necessarily good for skin. As Dr. Hartman says, “Like poison ivy. All natural and also all bad!”
Among the natural ingredients to steer clear of are essential oils and anything mint-related. These can trigger irritation, which causes a cascade of negative skin reactions, including more blemishes, a damaged skin barrier and an increased risk of developing dark spots due to chronic inflammation triggered within skin, particularly in those with darker skin tones.
Witch hazel and tea tree oil, as mentioned above, are also not the best options when treating oily or blemish-prone skin. While there are some benefits to using each, the risk of irritation and excessive dryness they pose outweighs the good stuff.
Not sure if a natural ingredient or a skin care product is right for you? We’ve made the detective work easy with our Ingredient Dictionary and our Beautypedia Skin Care Ingredient Checker. Use these any time you’re in doubt to make sure you’re choosing the best ingredients for your skin!
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References for this information:
- Environmental Sciences Europe, March 2016, ePublication
- Molecules, June 2021, pages 1–28
- United States Department of Agriculture, Website, Accessed May 2024
- Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Website, Accessed May 2024
- Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, March 2019, pages 1–14
- Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, March 2006, pages 96-101
- Pharmaceuticals, March 2022, pages 1–29
- Frontiers in Sustainability, October 2021,pages 1–22
- Journal of Cleaner Production, August 2015, pages 140-149