Contrary to popular belief, not everything that is natural is actually healthy for your skin and has positive effects.
Let’s separate the good from the bad and see what are the best natural ingredients to introduce in your skincare routine.
What are the best ingredients for healthy skin?
Most of us think that “all natural” is equivalent to healthy when it comes to the products that we use on our face and body, but the truth is that just as there are good and bad synthetic ingredients, there are good and bad natural ones.
SO let’s see what skincare experts say about the natural ingredients that have been proven to be the most effective. These natural wonders can help battle breakouts, soothe irritation, treat uneven pigmentation, and even prevent sun damage, in some cases.
Next time you go shopping, scan the labels for the following ingredients:
- Betacarotene
- Licorice
- Vitamins C
- Green tea extract
Beta Carotene Helps Protects Against Sun Damage
Red, orange, and yellow fruits and veggies, like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins, are packed with beta carotene, a nutrient with many benefits for your skin. Your body converts most of this beta carotene into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for healing wounds, protecting against sun damage, and encouraging cell turnover.
Topical beta carotene has antioxidant benefits on the skin, and research has reported that it improves discoloration due to melasma.
Licorice Extract acts as a treatment for rosacea and redness
The anti-inflammatory properties of licorice extract make this one of the best natural ingredients to treat redness and rosacea.
Some other good news is that the plant has been shown to reduce uneven pigmentation by blocking the production of melanin. Doctors suggest that we look for licorice extract in eye treatments because one study found that a cream containing the ingredient helped lighten dark under eye circles.
Vitamin C supports your battle with aging skin
Even if we’re used to consider vitamin C exclusively as a defence compound against the common cold, the nutrient also battles the common signs of aging skin like dullness and sagginess.
This means that it will help you in your battle with wrinkly and sagging skin, giving you a radiant and youthful complexion.
Vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, which is essential for firmness and smoothness, Wu explains. Plus, it has antioxidant benefits to help fight free-radical damage, and lightens dark spots. As if this little vitamin didn’t already work hard enough, C can also regulate sebum production to prevent acne and decrease inflammation.
Not only should you eat plenty of foods containing is( kiwi, bell pepper, citrus fruits) to ensure your skin benefits from vitamin C, look for it in serums that contain it to maximize the antioxidant powers on the surface of your skin.
Green Tea Extract has some great antiinflammatory effects on the skin
This healthy drink contains high levels of antioxidant chemicals – including catechins, such as epigallocatechin gallate, and flavonoids, such as kaempferol and theaflavin — to help prevent and reverse UV damage to the skin. These same chemicals make green tea an excellent natural anti-inflammatory and skin soothing ingredient in skin care.
