Here is a handy list on natural skin care products to keep with you when you are shopping for good skin care products. It is a good reference!
What Ingredients you should look for and what they do:
- Cynergy TK: an all-natural ingredient found in some of the best instant wrinkle removers. This is rich in keratin (a protein that promotes elasticity and firmness in the skin). When used in skin creams it increases skin radiance and decreases wrinkles and fine lines. It actually stimulates your own collagen to grow again. It has been shown that it not only stimulates the regrowth of collagen but also elastin, promoting firmness and elasticity. (fewer wrinkles and a more youthful, healthier looking skin.) It may also help to improve your skin's ability to retain its needed natural moisture.
- Retinal: another great natural ingredient. It's a vitamin A compound that neutralizes free radials (free radicals are responsible for skin cell damage and aging).
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): A vitamin like substance that's found in all of our body's cells and is very important for healthy skin. It nourishes the skin cells, reduces wrinkles and protects the skin from the sun. The best version of CoQ10 is called Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10.
- Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10: Reduces wrinkles, fights free radicals, rejuvenates the skin and protects against the dangerous effects of the sun. This version of CoQ10 is a special 'nano-emulsion' form of CoQ10, which penetrates far down into the skin, providing much greater benefits for skin health. It can penetrate as far down as 7 layers into the skin, being extremely effective at 'gobbling up' free radicals in your skin.
- Vitamin E: This is also packed with antioxidants to fight free radicals. It also works as a natural preservative to keep the product fresh.
- Phytessence wakame: (an extract from Japanese sea kelp) works to improve skin elasticity and tone by blocking a harmful enzyme in your body called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid in your skin (without hyaluronic acid the elastin and collagen fibers lose their "glue," losing our youthful appearance and causing dark circles under the eyes to appear).
- Honey, essential oils and vitamins: are also great ingredients if you are concerned about healing wrinkles. Vitamin B5, manuka honey, D-panthenol, grapeseed oil and jojoba oil are also good and found in some of the best instant wrinkle removers.
- However, stay away from Mineral Oil (aka liquid paraffin, paraffin wax,petrolatum)! It prevents the skin from "breathing", clogging your pores and interfering with your skin's natural ability to eliminate toxins. It can also lead to acne flare-ups and over time, your skin can become dependent on it causing chapping and dryness. It can also lead to premature aging of the skin
Other product that have been mentioned are:
- Functional Keratin: A patented compound create in Europe and available for use in lotions and creams. It's an active protein peptide that increases collagen production and reduces wrinkles. It has been shown to be beneficial in treating dermatitis. (symptoms include inflammation, itching, cracking, loss of elasticity and excessive dryness).
- Wakame Kelp: A variety of seaweed or brown algae. (See Phytessence Wakame)
- Olive Oil: Because it's composition is very close to the skin's own oils, it is a natural moisturizer.
Harmful chemicals to Stay away from
- Dioxane (a synthetic derivative of coconut): This substance contains high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane that is readily absorbed through the skin. California has labeled this chemical as "known...to cause cancer".
- Fragrances (who doesn't want to smell good!) Remember, your skin is the largest organ of the body. Anything you put on it can easily be absorbed through the pores.
- Alcohols Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol): These are commonly found in skin care products. They are very drying and irritating to the skin. They strip away the skin's natural acid mantle making you more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses.
Some ingredients support the body's ability to produce new collagen and elastin fibers, some prevent the depletion of proteins needed to create new skin cells, others are antioxidants that undo the damage done by free radicals and stop the chemical process that causes additional damage. Other ingredient support the body's ability to tan, protecting the deepest of the skin's layers from damaging UV radiation, Still others that prevent and reduce the appearance of age spots, stretch marks and scarring.
