Natural skincare has an undeniable allure. In a world of cosmetic ingredients whose names we can’t pronounce, natural ingredients feel more wholesome. And while we don’t actually believe that natural is always better, we do love some natural skincare ingredients. Learn about our top 3 for naturally beautiful skin!
Sea kelp/seaweed/algae extracts
According to beauty industry lore, NASA aerospace scientist Max Huber discovered the incredible healing properties of seaweed all the way back in the 1970s. He developed a cream that he used to heal severe chemical burns on his face and began selling it as Crème de la Mer. Estee Lauder acquired his company in 1991. Now we all know Crème de la Mer as an icon of luxury beauty.
Seaweed extracts make incredible natural skincare ingredients. Their humectant and emollient properties help to plump skin up with hydration and smooth surface texture. They ward off free radical damage with antioxidants. Some seaweed extracts may help minimize dark spots and hyperpigmentation by downregulating melanin production. Seaweed is anti-inflammatory. And, of course, seaweed may have wound healing properties as well.
One of our favorite skincare products to feature seaweed extracts is Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. This plush, silky hydrating cream instantly quenches dehydrated skin and leaves it looking and feeling smooth, firm, and vibrant. Crème de la Mer may be the original luxury seaweed cream, but the buttery Elemis cream is much more cosmetically elegant.
Image: Elemis
Goat milk
Milk has been a staple in the beauty routines of royalty since ancient times. Nefertiti and Cleopatra were known to use it in beauty treatments in ancient Egypt. Ancient Greek and medieval European royalty and nobility carried on the tradition. Today, a number of skincare products capitalize on this ancient beauty secret.
Milk is rich in moisturizing fatty lipids as well as natural alpha hydroxy acids. In the simplest terms, it’s both moisturizing and clarifying. In the right formulation, goat milk, donkey milk, or camel milk can leave skin both brighter and softer. You’ll often find milk in natural skincare products marketed for dry skin, sensitive skin, and barrier repair.
We love Beekman 1802 Bloom Cream Daily Moisturizer. Beekman 1802 included goat milk for its restorative properties in their velvety, rich-but-not-greasy facial cream. Niacinamide adds extra barrier function support. Ferments provide an extra skin strengthening boost. As a bonus for those who prefer to avoid parabens and other preservatives, Beekman 1802 packages the cream in an airless pump container instead of using chemical preservatives.
Image: Beekman 1802
Honey
Speaking of ancient beauty secrets, honey rounds out our list of best natural skincare ingredients. Made by bees from the nectar of their local plants, this sweet golden substance nourishes bee colonies—and our skin.
Since it’s made primarily of sugar, honey has wonderful humectant properties. It traps and binds water to skin for a long-lasting moisturizing effect. But other compounds in honey add additional benefits. In Ayurvedic, ancient Egyptian, and ancient Greek medicine, honey was used for its wound healing properties. Honey’s healing and antimicrobial effects may still be helpful for minor skin issues like breakouts. Honey is also naturally anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
We adore Korean brand I’m From’s honey mask. Most skincare products use honey extracts, meaning the constituent compounds of the honey are extracted into a solvent such as water or alcohol. The I’m From Honey Mask contains 38.7% of pure honey from the Mt Jiri region of South Korea. It’s an incomparably soothing, nourishing wash-off mask that leaves skin supple and glowing.
Image: I’m From
