Natural skin care products are health and beauty products that use only botantical ingredients. No synthetic materials or chemicals, including perfume, dyes or artificial colourings are used to create these products. Most often, natural skin care products are not tested on animals and are non-sensitizing to the skin. They are easily available nowadays in many shops set up in response to rising demand and consumer affluence.

Many skin care chemists use skin nourishing oils in their formula but blend them with them with various synthetics. Some of these chemicals unfortunately limit the effect of the natural ingredients. They also prevent the natural evaporation of moisture from the skin and their prolonged use removes sebum from the skin. The skin becomes dry and can become irritated. For people who are prone to skin irritations, such products may not be suitable.

So what ingredients are you likely to find in natural skin care products? Here are a couple of examples:

* Aloe vera - This is a common base used in lotions and gels in products applied to all parts of the body. Gentle and healing, it has a softening and smoothening affect on dry skin.

* Baking soda - This adds smooth texture to lotions for the face and the body. It is also a pH stabilizer.

* Beeswax - This is a great base with a pleasant smell for body butters, face masks, salves, hair masks, and more.

* Coconut oil, almond oil - These are bases as well for various shampoos and added to body lotions and bath beads.

* Citric acid - This is a naturally occurring preservative and used as a base for bath fizzes and ’scrubs.’

* Emulsifying wax - This comes from fats and esters and helps keep natural skin care products from separating.

* Lecithin powder and liquid - The powder form is a thickener for lotions and is a mild preservative. The liquid form is more easily blended in certain oils than its powdered cousin and also acts as a mild preservative.

* Sea salt - This is a great base for scrubs and also used to add texture to face washes.

* Stearic acid - Found in animal and vegetable fats, this is an emulsifying agent that lends a cooling effect and a waxy feel to lotions and deodorants.

Are natural skin care products better than mainstream products? Many times, natural skin care products work better than synthetic. But they are likely to cost more in most cases; not unless you make them yourselves from home made recipes. However, natural skin care products made from home made recipes usually cannot be kept beyond 3 days. So, you may need to continually update your supplies.

If you have dry or acne skin, then it is more important to choose wisely, despite the costs. Take your time trying out different natural skin care products until you find the one that is right for you and your skin.

Kathelene Capelle is a writer for beauty tips and advice. Her blog includes useful information on acne remedy, natural skin care, natural remedies for skin care and anti-aging. She also provides step-by-step recipes for skin care that you can easily prepare from ingredients right out from your kitchen. Get updated on tips and resources at http://www.acne-and-skin-care.com

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