How to Switch to a Natural Skincare Routine

What you put in your body plays a large role in your overall health -- the same is true for what you put on your body. Your skin shows off everything it takes in, which is why we believe that taking proper care of your skin should always be a top priority. As supported by Northwestern Medicine, understanding and keeping up with a daily skincare routine is essential for your daily health.

However, we’re talking about doing more than just washing your face and following up with moisturizer every day. A proper skincare routine is more complex than that. Taking care of your skin includes being mindful of what products and ingredients you choose to use to address different skin issues. If you truly want to invest in your skin’s health, opt for a natural skincare routine. A natural skincare routine can do all the things your current skincare routine promises it will do, but does so by using clean, good-for-you ingredients right from the garden.

But how do you know if a product is actually “natural”? You’ll need to take a look at the ingredient label. Stay away from any products that contain harmful chemicals, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetics, or toxins, which can all cause irritation, breakouts, or long-term damage to your overall health. For additional help on knowing which ingredients to avoid, The Dirty List by Credo Beauty outlines the various ingredients linked to health or environmental issues.

What Natural Ingredients Should I Look For?

Despite being plant-based, a natural skincare routine can still deliver powerful results and give your skin the healthy glow you’ve always wanted. But you’ll first need to know what ingredients to look for based on your skin. No matter your skin type, Mother Nature has you covered.

Acne-Prone/Oily Skin

Those with oily skin will benefit from ingredients like tea tree and honey, which both have antibacterial and antiseptic properties to help control oil, decongest pores, and fight off blemishes. Witch hazel and kaolin clay also help refine and tighten pores without stripping the skin of its natural oils. If you have trouble with hyperpigmentation left behind from acne breakouts, add licorice root or turmeric to your natural skincare routine.

Dry Skin

For dry skin, look for ingredients that help improve skin hydration. Olive oil and coconut oil in particular help repair and moisturize by increasing the amount of lipids on the skin’s surface. Aloe vera also absorbs quickly into the skin to help soothe dryness and flakiness.

Normal Skin

Normal skin isn’t too oily or dry, so the main focus should be on anti-aging and maintaining your healthy complexion. Restorative natural ingredients like citrus, grape seed, green tea, are rich in powerful antioxidants and essential nutrients to help protect your skin’s radiance and glow.

Combination Skin

Finding products with the right ingredients for combination skin can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Natural oils like jojoba oil and argan oil help balance oil production and control shine, while also moisturizing and taming dry patches.

Sensitive Skin

Unless you already know what ingredients aggravate your skin, building the right natural skincare routine will likely require trial-and-error. A good starting point would be to avoid anything containing alcohol, irritating ingredients, or synthetic fragrances. Calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients may be best and include chamomile, cucumber, calendula, and oatmeal.

What Products Go Into A Natural Skincare Routine?

From moisturizers and serums to eye creams and toners, there are plenty of better, cleaner options for you. With that in mind, here’s what you should be looking for when creating your natural skincare routine, broken down by product type.

Cleanser

Keeping your skin clean is an essential part of keeping it healthy. Think about all the oil that accumulates on your skin along with the bacteria, dirt, and environmental pollutants you’re exposed to throughout the day -- there’s no way you want all that gunk sitting on your face 24/7. Upgrade to a cleanser made with naturally-derived ingredients such as Cleanse, our cruelty-free facial cleanser. Cleanse effectively washes away any oil and grime while calming and hydrating the skin to leave it fresh and soft.

Toner

After cleansing, apply a toner to help smooth the skin and remove any impurities that were left behind. Look for naturally-derived, alcohol-free option such as Dewy Dew, which contains witch hazel, rose hips, and citrus. These plant-based ingredients work together to balance skin, refine pores, and even skin tone and texture. Dewy Dew can also be used to set makeup and refresh the skin for a mid-day pick-me-up.

Face Mask

For a facial at home, add a face mask to your natural skincare routine. Clay masks in particular help detoxify the skin and absorb excess oil, which is why they’re especially useful for acne-prone or oily skin. Our pore-purifying Clarifying Masque contains tea tree, micro-silver, and aloe, making while our Hydrating Masque helps brighten and hydrate dull, dry areas of the face using coconut, bergamot, and sandalwood.

Treatment

Treatment products are frequently associated with harsh chemicals, but they can be formulated with naturally-derived ingredients, too. For acne-prone skin, our vegan acne treatment gel, Treat, contains salicylic acid and soothing oat kernel to help battle blemishes without the burn.

For those having trouble with skin tone, our Restore gel is rich in our signature ingredient, Floralux from chlorophyll, which is designed to help reduce redness and hyperpigmentation and boost production of collagen and elastin. Both Treat and Restore are included in our plant-based Clear Skin Routine.

Serum

The power of plants can also be packed into an antioxidant serum. Zen, our naturally-derived and vegan face serum is loaded with licorice root, lentil, chamomile, apple, and Floralux to calm and keep skin from feeling flushed. Just a few drops and you’ll be saying buh-bye to redness!

Eye Cream/Gel

The undereye area is the most delicate part of the face so it needs to be treated with extra care. Using an eye cream or gel replenishes and restores nutrients to your undereyes. Suitable for all skin types, our Eye Will Chill gel helps reduce the appearance of eye puffiness, dark circles, and fine lines. What’s inside? A wholesome blend of vitamins, antioxidant-rich Floralux from chlorophyll, fennel, apple, aloe, green tea, and spirulina.

Moisturizer

A staple in any natural skincare routine, a moisturizer is responsible for locking in moisture and keeping skin hydrated. Look for a naturally derived option such as our Hydrate Skin Smoothie, a breathable and lightweight moisturizer perfect for oily to normal skin. This moisturizer is non-comedogenic and is made with Floralux from chlorophyll, argan oil, and olive oil to soften and hydrate skin.

Ready to Try It?

Your skin knows what nature can do. Give your skin some well-deserved TLC by replacing the products in your current skincare routine with clean, natural alternatives. Our skincare products are vegan, cruelty-free, and contain no gluten, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, harsh chemicals, and fragrances. With the help of plant power and a few natural beauty tips, you can get that glow!

Abby Vinas

Abby Vinas has long been an active member of the holistic health community, advocating in favor of its benefits to both our physical and emotional well-being. Her commitment to leading a healthy lifestyle has made her an authority on self-care practices. Abby is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and proper skincare, and is also an avid lover of avocado toast and dog-petting.