5 Best Natural Ingredients to Nourish Your Skin

Skincare doesn’t have to consist of an elaborate 10-step process with over a dozen products. When it comes to radiant skin, going au naturel with your routine is often more effective! What’s more, the most nourishing ingredients also tend to be the simplest and most affordable ones. Here are five unprocessed ingredients that will do wonders for your skin and help you feel naturally beautiful:

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has long been regarded as a health product, but it has also more recently gained recognition as a beauty staple. In fact, our Glowing Skin with a Natural Facial Scrub post had coconut oil as the star ingredient, as it is well-known for its moisturizing properties. Much like its main source, coconuts, the extract is great for keeping the skin hydrated and preventing dryness and flakiness. But there’s more to it than that! Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids, a mild antimicrobial agent that can kill bacteria on the surface of the skin. If you’re struggling with acne, bacteria may be what’s clogging your pores, and coconut oil can be an effective solution. 
Honey

Honey is a staple ingredient for cooking and apparently, for skincare, too. Byrdie points out that raw honey can be used several ways — as a natural face mask, spot reducer, and gentle exfoliator! When mixed with water and lathered onto the skin, honey can actually clear your pores. You can also try dabbing raw honey directly to your pimples or scars to speed up their healing process. The delicious sweetener can even brighten dark spots and slough off dead skin cells.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera reigns supreme among pretty succulents, for it also has a ton of medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Aside from fighting inflammatory acne, the gel-like substance inside its leaves is full of nutrients that can treat a variety of skin conditions. Pretty Me states that aloe vera is particularly good for sunburns, as it works to moisturize and repair skin cells. This hydrating property is also what makes it a good treatment for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even minor burns and wounds. So if you’re headed to the beach or are prone to getting scrapes and cuts, it’s best to keep aloe vera around!

Avocado

Avocado is known as “nature’s butter,” and for good reason. Columnist Justina Elumeze explains that it contains over 20 essential vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. You can eat avocado and experience its benefits from the inside out, but the fruit can also be applied topically. For example, avocado can be mashed with other ingredients to create a natural face mask that can leave the skin moisturized all day. When mixed with brown sugar and strawberries, it also acts as a face scrub that prevents dull-looking skin by removing dead skin cells. 

Tea Tree oil

Essential oils are not just known for their soothing scent. Some, like tea tree oil, have benefits on the skin, too! Tea tree oil is particularly known for its antibacterial properties, which are more powerful than the effect of coconut oil. This means that it can also be used as acne treatment, if there are no other causes behind the breakouts. A study on the International Journal of Dermatology also notes that tea tree oil can treat and prevent dandruff when infused into shampoos and used two to three times a week. However, it’s important to note that tea tree oil is highly concentrated, which might result in allergic reactions in some people. So it’s best to use it with caution!

Beauty Tips written by Joni James for carolynsonline.com