Many people assume that buying a product from a well-known company or directly from a local store means that the product is safe. But when it comes to common personal care and beauty products, this may not be the case.

Research shows that makeup, shampoo, nail polish, skin lotion, and other skincare products may contain chemical ingredients that haven’t been properly tested. These ingredients could be causing a variety of negative impacts on your health without you even realising it.

But how do you choose safe, high-quality skincare? One of the best ways is to learn which skincare ingredients to avoid and which are a better choice. Keep reading as we explore some of the worst and best skincare ingredients that you should be using.

Common Harmful Ingredients in Skincare

Harmful ingredients in skincare are more common than you might think. There are a variety of skincare ingredients to avoid, not only because they are unnatural, but also because they can wind up causing more harm than good.

Parabens

One of the worst ingredients often found in skincare is parabens. This term refers to a family of chemicals that have been around since at least the 1950s. They are often used to make products shelf stable because they can prevent the growth of bacteria and mould. 

However, parabens have been linked to causing hormone disruption and even cancer. They are commonly found in body washes, moisturisers, shampoos, and conditioners.

Chemical Fragrances 

To give products their artificial fruity or fresh scent, many manufacturers use chemical fragrances. Many of these contain carcinogens that can cause cancer, or irritants and allergens that can cause a reaction or rash.

Plastic Microbeads

Exfoliation can help to remove dead and dry flakes from your skin’s surface. But many commercial products use plastic microbeads to provide that exfoliation.

Not only can these microbeads cause tiny tears on your skin’s surface and other irritation, but they are also very dangerous for the environment. They often make it through water filtration systems and wind up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans, where fish and other wildlife may feed on them, ultimately winding up in the food supply and entering your body through your mouth.

The Best Skincare Ingredients

It’s important to make sure that you are choosing skin care products that lack the harmful ingredients that we’ve listed above. But it’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with some of the best skincare ingredients, as well as what they can do for your skin.

All Natural Oils

Some of the best skincare ingredients are natural oils. There are a variety of oils that provide unique benefits to our skin, such as adding hydration or promoting healing.

One oil that’s great not only for adding moisture but also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory is cold-pressed Australian Hemp Seed Oil. Also known as “majik” oil, Hemp Seed Oil can help your skin stand up to harsh climates while destroying bacteria on the skin’s surface that can lead to breakouts. It’s non-greasy, so you can use products that contain it, such as lotions, before applying your makeup.

Another oil that’s a great addition to safe skincare options is Tamanu oil. This oil is renowned for its ability to help heal damaged skin. It’s especially effective at helping to heal tissue damage caused by frequent acne breakouts during the teenage years.

Essential oils are another type of natural oil often found in natural skincare. Some of these have anti-inflammatory benefits but are also great for adding a safe and natural scent to products. They are a great alternative to harsh chemical fragrances.

Fruit Extracts

You likely won’t find fruit extracts listed as ingredients in common commercial skincare products. However, several extracts offer incredible healing and firming benefits.

Kigelia extract comes from the Kigelia Africana tree. This tree produces bright red flowers that bloom only at night. Oil can be extracted from those flowers and is known for being great for helping your skin heal itself naturally.

Another fruit extract that you’re likely to find in natural skincare is cucumber. Much like placing cucumber slices can help reduce redness and swelling, this fruit can be added to skincare to offer the same healing and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Silk Amino Acids

Some of the best skincare products for hydration contain silk amino acids. This amino acid helps to lock in the moisture that you’re getting from the skincare, allowing your skin to stay healthy and hydrated all day long.

Natural Clays

When you think of natural skincare, you might think mainly of lotions and cleansers. But if you’re someone who loves to do a face mask to show your skin a little extra love, you’ll want to think twice about the ingredients in most masks that you’ll find at the store.

Just like other skin care products, many face masks contain harsh, harmful ingredients. Instead, you’ll want to choose masks that contain natural clays, such as Australian White Kaolin clay. 

This white clay, for example, has an incredible natural ability to absorb toxins found on the skin. It’s mild enough that it won’t irritate sensitive skin, yet still provides gentle exfoliation. Plus, it’s rich in calcium, zinc, silica, and magnesium, which work together to help your skin look and feel healthy and hydrated.

Choosing the Best Products for Your Face

Choosing the best skincare ingredients and avoiding harsh, harmful chemicals is a great way to make sure that you’re choosing natural skincare that’s actually good for your skin. From natural oils to fruit extracts and amino acids, these are some of the best ingredients that you could be putting on your skin.

If you’re ready to see the difference that clean, natural skincare can have on your skin, shop our selection of natural, high-quality skincare products today! Need to figure out your skin type first? Be sure to check out our skin type quiz here!