Natural Glow: A Guide To All-Natural Face Moisturizer
Contents
- One Ingredient
- Blends
- Organic
- Container Types
- Brands
- Radha Beauty Retinol Moisturizer by Radha Beauty
- Organic Facial Moisturizer by Christina Moss Naturals
- Timeless Skin Facial Moisturizer by St. Ives
- Unrefined Raw Shea Butter by Perfect Body Harmony
- Natural Face Moisturizer Creamby Era Organics
- Other Natural Face Moisturizer Products
- Amara Organics Vitamin C Cream
- Honeyskin Organics Organic Moisturizer Cream for Face and Body
- Anti Aging Face Cream Moisturizer
- The Bottom Line
- Sources
We’re all on the hunt for the one product that actually does what it says on the tin, right?
Taking care of your skin is both a beauty and a health concern. When we shave to remove hair, often using a razor or facial epilator, we can leave skin dry or irritated, so moisturizing afterward helps. There are plenty of options out there to treat our skin, but having so many options can easily become overwhelming.
The first (and possibly most important) step towards any great beauty routine is great looking skin, and so your search should begin with a great all natural face moisturizer. This is one that avoids harsh chemical, fragrances, and nourishes your skin so that it looks and feels its absolute best. Stop spinning in circles!
One caution: "natural" and "organic" aren't guarantees of safety. FDA notes that an ingredient's source doesn't determine its safety, and some plant ingredients can irritate skin or trigger allergies.
Patch-test any new moisturizer on a small area first.
We’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best natural face moisturizers on the market today to make things easy for you. Read on for your first step to a fabulous new you!
There are a number of “natural” moisturizer products on the market, but even these come in a wide range of types. There are one ingredient moisturizers or some that come as a blend of numerous ingredients.
Some come in a wide mouthed jar so that you can easily scoop it out to apply, and others come in pump form. If you’re looking for something organic you’re sure to find it, and if you’re not dedicated to a particular brand then maybe you’ve tried some lesser known names and found them appealing.
Since we each have such vastly different skin needs, there’s no one product fits all. Some of the varieties are listed below.
One Ingredient
One ingredient moisturizers contain exactly that; one simple ingredient proven to moisturize your face all on its own. Typically these types are an all-natural product like jojoba oil or cocoa butter. The benefit of this type of moisturizer is that you know exactly what you’re getting at a glance; usually, the title completely gives it away.
Oils will come in a convenient glass jar, and did you know that the jars are usually tinted to protect the quality of the oil from damage by UV rays?
Other types of one ingredient moisturizers for your face would be avocado oil (although this one is best applied at bedtime and left to soak in overnight as it’s fairly heavy), coconut oil, Shea butter, and olive oil.
Blends
Blends can contain a whole list of ingredients; not all of which you’ll immediately recognize. If you don’t recognize the name, a quick look into it on your home computer should satisfy your curiosity.
Typically, if an all-natural moisturizer contains ingredients that you don’t recognize, they’re likely to contain the preservatives that give the cream its longevity on the shelf.
Sometimes they’re simply an alternative name for a very simple and natural product. The vast majority of even all natural moisturizers are this type; with a blend of ingredients to give your skin the best of all its components.
Because they contain a blend of products, they can do a variety of tasks all at once; giving your face the moisture it needs. Some also add ingredients aimed at fine lines or uneven tone, though results vary.
Organic
More and more products on the market contain organic ingredients, and I’ll say it’s a trend that I hope continues. It makes me feel that the company has taken on the responsibility to source better ingredients to put on the market instead of going only with what’s cheap, highly processed and possibly even more readily available.
Some companies take this a few steps further and list their moisturizer as being GMO-free, or fair trade, so that the ingredients in their rawest form are paid for at a fair rate to the farmers that grow and harvest them for commercial processing. In the U.S., "organic" on cosmetics is defined by the USDA's National Organic Program, not by FDA.
Container Types
Even the container in which the moisturizer comes packaged varies from brand to brand. Some prefer a pump type, which typically means the moisturizer is thinner in order to accommodate being pressed out in this way.
Thicker moisturizers are generally found in a wide mouth container so that you can easily scoop them out and apply. One isn’t better over the other, although some claim that a pump allows less bacteria to get into the product.
I’ve found that as long as you’re using a clean sponge or clean hands to apply your moisturizer, it really doesn’t make a big difference. Feel free to choose the moisturizer that you like best, whether thin or thick, and in the vessel that you feel is most convenient.
Brands
We’re bombarded with commercials and advertisements, and brands try hard to come out on top as the most recognized. Sometimes we feel an emotional connection to a particular brand due to memories that we have. If your grandmother or mother used a certain product for decades, you’ll likely remember her using it and still know the smell.
Certain brands are household names and at times we make our decisions based on what is the most familiar to us. We know that certain brands are big for a reason; they’ve established a quality product.
Other times we take a chance on a less familiar brand and find something that we love by accident. If you’re not entirely happy with your moisturizer, test out a few different products. There’s something for everyone and with some time, you’re sure to find your winner.
Once you’ve determined what’s important for you in a moisturizer, you can look for the ones that fit the bill. Even after you weed out the undesirables, there are still numerous products that fit your parameters! Don’t get discouraged; I’ve listed 5 favorites below, highlighting the best features of each!
Radha Beauty Retinol Moisturizer by Radha Beauty
Radha Beauty is a well-known name in natural skin care.
Radha says much of the formula is organic, including aloe, green tea, jojoba oil and Shea butter.
There are no fillers, dyes, parabens or harmful fragrances for you to worry about, and they’ve given this one a shot of retinol, which can help reduce signs of aging over time.
Retinol can irritate dry or sensitive skin and makes skin more sensitive to the sun, so start slowly and wear sunscreen. Ask your doctor before using retinoids if you're pregnant.
Customers like the non-greasy feel of this product, which is why it comes first on our list.
Organic Facial Moisturizer by Christina Moss Naturals
One thing is for sure, if you haven’t heard of or come across Christina Moss products, you’ve been living under a rock! Number two on our all natural face moisturizer list is the Organic Facial Moisturizer.
This product contains star anise seed oil (which you’ll notice in the scent as you apply – I happen to love anise – the scent is comparable to mild licorice) and is also free from fillers and contains no toxic petrochemicals.
Christina Moss markets it for aging skin and pores. You won’t need to apply a thick layer of this cream daily to benefit from its effects; a little will go a long way so be conservative with this concentrated cream, but apply to face neck and décolleté.
Take special care to rub gently around the eyes or other sensitive areas of your skin. Christina Moss also advertises its cream to be cruelty-free and faithful customers love knowing their moisturizer wasn’t tested on animals.
Timeless Skin Facial Moisturizer by St. Ives
You’ve certainly heard of St. Ives and probably have used a few of their beauty and bath products over the years.
Have you tried their natural face moisturizer?
It’s infused with collagen and elastin proteins. These mainly act as moisturizers; applied to the skin, they don't rebuild your own collagen.
St. Ives markets it to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles with twice-daily use on the face and neck.
If you're acne-prone, look for "noncomedogenic" on the label of any moisturizer you choose.
Happy customers maintain that this cream is a beautiful consistency and absorbs quickly into the skin with no greasy feel, just healthy, smooth skin. They’re also impressed by how much moisturizer you get in the jar.
Unrefined Raw Shea Butter by Perfect Body Harmony
Third on our list is the Unrefined Raw Shea butter moisturizer by Perfect Body Harmony. This Shea butter is organic and naturally contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists shea butter among helpful moisturizer ingredients for dry skin. Claims that it fades scars or stretch marks lack good evidence, and very rich butters can feel heavy on oily or acne-prone skin.
The double walled container will help to protect the contents from UV light damage. Because this Shea butter is certified organic, it was produced under USDA organic rules, which limit synthetic pesticides.
Customers love not only the beautiful scent but also the antioxidant qualities of this butter, and the ability to either use as is or mix with an oil such as coconut or jojoba oil.
Natural Face Moisturizer Creamby Era Organics
Wow! Last but certainly not least is the Natural Face Moisturizer Cream by Era Organics, which comes packed with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to nourish and moisturize your skin.
That’s right; this natural face moisturizer includes aloe, honey, coconut oil, Shea butter, blue-green algae, olive oil, cocoa butter and hemp seed oil! It’s high in vitamins A, B, C and E.
The maker says the hydration lasts up to 12 hours, leaving your skin feeling smooth. It’s non-greasy and will absorb quickly; use a little twice a day to get the maximum benefit.
It's a rich, multi-ingredient cream that's worth a try if you like plant oils and butters.
Other Natural Face Moisturizer Products
There were so many honorable mentions for best natural facial moisturizer on this list that I’m going to add the next top 6 below
Amara Organics Vitamin C Cream
This cream is made to be used in the morning rather than as part of your nighttime routine. Once you put it on in the morning, your skin will stay moisturized all day long without the need for any reapplications.
Vitamin C is a common antioxidant ingredient in brightening creams, though results vary. Pair it with sunscreen in the morning.
It's marketed as organic and cruelty-free.
Honeyskin Organics Organic Moisturizer Cream for Face and Body
This next product is special because it’s made to keep all of your skin healthy rather than just your face.
Its formula includes plumeria, Manuka honey, blue-green algae and aloe vera, chosen for their soothing feel.
Anything that includes honey in the ingredients list deserves my attention!
A moisturizer can ease dryness and mild redness, but it doesn't treat eczema, psoriasis, rosacea or shingles. See a clinician for those.
As a bonus, this product is also cruelty-free, so you don’t have to worry about any animal testing!
Anti Aging Face Cream Moisturizer
The Bottom Line
The best all natural face moisturizer is one your skin tolerates and you'll use every day. Choose fragrance-free if your skin is sensitive, and apply it while your skin is still damp.
If dryness, redness or breakouts don't improve, see a dermatologist.
Sources
- Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin, American Academy of Dermatology
- "Organic" Cosmetics, FDA
