Healthy, natural ingredients that benefit the skin are generally used to prevent breakouts, ease irritation, help with pigmentation issues and prevent sun damage. However, the word “natural” is often presumed to be better for us yet unfortunately, as there are good and bad components to synthetic ingredients, the same goes for natural ingredients. So how do you know which ones are really the best to use? What natural ingredients are good for skin? We have developed a studied list of the top five, most beneficial & effective natural ingredients for your skin in efforts to save you both time and money!
Beta Carotene
Beta Carotene, a nutrient with incredible benefits for the skin, can be found in a variety of healthy vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkins.
Your body transforms beta carotene into vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for protection against sun damage, encouraging cell turnover, and the healing of wounds. Beta Carotene has been found in studies to help boost your skin’s health due to its antioxidant effects. In a 2012 Review it was found that getting plenty of antioxidant micronutrients like beta carotene not only protects the skin from UV radiation but also helps maintain the skin health as well as appearance.
Jessica Wu, MD, an author and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles says, “Topical beta carotene has antioxidant benefits on the skin, and research has reported that it improves discoloration due to melasma.”
Green Tea Extract
Many of us drink Green Tea because we know it contains high levels of antioxidants. Those same chemicals make green tea an excellent natural anti-inflammatory and skin soothing ingredient in skin care. Neal Schultz, MD, a dermatologist in New York city and founder of BeautyRx Skincare talks specifically about these chemicals and how they can prevent or even reduce sun damage to the skin. Among these chemicals are catechins like epigallocatechin gallate along with flavonoids like kaempferol and theaflavin.
Back in 2003, a study was done showing that the polyphenols in green tea could actually be used as pharmacological agent for the prevent of solar UVB light-induces skin disorders in animals and humas, including:
- Melanoma skin cancer
- Nonmelanoma skin cancers
- Photoaging
In a 2016 Review, it was found that the same chemicals found in green tea work as an anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial sunscreen of sorts and when used topically and have also been known to show improvements in cases of acne and other oil-producing skin maladies.
Soy
Soy also comes with antioxidant compounds in the form of isoflavones which carries a beneficial role in the reduction of visibly aging skin by reducing signs of fine lines and dull complexions giving your skin a more youthful and smoother texture. Some even say that soy could also increase collagen levels in the skin.
In addition to improving the softness and texture of the skin, it has been shows that soy promotes bright, radiant skin; firms and plumps, fights hyperpigmentation, reduces redness and improves prior damage from the sun.
Dermatologist, Michael God, MD, the medical director of Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, Tennessee says that “soy-based products are a particularly good option for those looking for an alternative to prescription-strength ingredients, like retinoids and hydroquinone.”
Vitamin C
Many of us have lived most of our lives knowing the benefits of Vitamin C when combatting colds but did you know that Vitamin C also fights the signs of aging, sagging skin while also providing some brightening benefits. “Vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, which is essential for firmness and smoothness”, Dr. Wu explains.
In addition, an article done by CNN, in late 2019 noted that while Vitamin C protects skin cells from detrimental “free radicals”, it also interferes with the production of melanin in the skin, evening out the skin tone and providing a desirable brightness.
Baobab Oil
Not unlike all of the ingredients found in the above four nutrients, Baobab Oil contains many similar nutrient components: Fatty Acids like Omega 3, 6, and 9, Vitamin E, Calcium, Alfa and Beta Carotenes, Uronic Aced, Tannins and Phytosterols…all proven to be beneficial to the hair, skin, and nails.
In general, Baobab Oil is well known for its ability to “regenerate” the skin by promoting a softer texture, and healing imperfections. At Organically Africa, our Baobab Oil is organic and cold pressed from the seeds of the Baobab fruit. This newly pressed oil is immediately filtered to help clarify the oil. Our oil does not undergo any further refinement or processing and has absolutely no additives. We are proud to say that our oil is 100% pure.
Aside from providing a wide range of cosmetically beneficial benefits, organic Baobab Oil is an effective treatment for stretch marks helping to reduce their appearance and also helps with a wider range of skin disorders including eczema, sunspots and psoriasis.
Baobab Oil For Skin Care Products
If you are interested in adding Baobab Oil to your skin care product lineup, contact the natural ingredients team at Organically Africa and let us help discover the benefits of Baobab Oil.