7 Natural Skincare Alternatives

Now more than ever people are looking for natural alternatives to some of the most common products used every day. From soap and shampoo to laundry detergent and bathroom cleaner, going au natural is on the rise. Luckily, natural alternatives aren’t hard to find when it comes to skincare. Here are 7 natural skincare alternatives:

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· Bakuchiol

· Squalane

· Pineapple extract

· Strawberry fruit extract

· Turmeric

· Tea tree oil

Self-love is all about embracing the changes we go through at each stage of life. But even the most confident among us want to preserve our youth just a *teeny* bit. If you’ve ever googled anti-aging skincare then you most certainly have come across the holy grail that is retinol. When it comes to reducing fine lines, reversing signs of aging, and clearing the skin, retinol certainly fits the bill 1. But according to Cleveland Clinic 2, retinol might not be so great for those with sensitive skin.

It has been known to cause peeling and burning and increased sensitivity to sun exposure. Also, your skin may start to become used to retinol which means you’ll need to increase your dosage over time. By doing so, you may increase the chances to experience side effects.

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If all that sounded like a bummer, I agree. However, nature seems to do us a favor and gifted us with bakuchiol (by the way it’s pronounced bah-cue-chee-uhl *wink*). What the heck is bakuchiol you ask?

You may have seen this going viral on TikTok and for good reason. Bakuchiol comes from the babchi 3 plant and is a natural less harsh alternative to retinol. Used as a serum or cream, it has the same anti-aging benefits (reducing fine lines, redness, fewer wrinkles) but without any of the harsh side effects. Definitely give it a try if you’ve got sensitive skin or as an introduction to using retinol.

Winter time= dry skin for many and it’s usually when we start to look for thicker creams, heavier moisturizers, or integrate some hyaluronic acid into our routine. What you also find in some products for dry skin is an oil called Squalane. Derived from animals and plants 4, it’s typically added to moisturizers as an added boost to moisten the skin, alleviate dry patches, and reduce fine lines 5 (lack of hydration= fine lines and wrinkles).

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There’s nothing quite like fresh fruit, especially when it’s in season. Not only does fruit contain lots of vitamins, water, and fiber, but it can also do wonders for our skin. Take pineapple for example. Pineapple extract naturally contains alpha hydroxi acid (also known as AHA’s) which helps break apart dead skin cells and acts as a chemical exfoliant.6 It also has antioxidant properties so it protects the skin from pollution and damage from free radicals 7. If this sounds like something your skin would love, look for pineapple extract in scrubs or serums.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

Another fruit that provides skin benefits is strawberries. You may see strawberry extract in serums or cleansers aimed at clearing acne. This is because it naturally contains salicylic acid, a compound known for its acne clearing, skin smoothing results 8. Strawberry extract also contains a high concentration of vitamin C and makes for a great addition to any anti-aging routine 9.

Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash

Is your skin on the dull side lately? Not as glowy as it used to be? Turmeric has entered the chat. Turmeric has been used for generations in many Asian cultures as a spice added to foods and beverages. The benefits are possibly the most impressive out of this entire list: Anti-inflammatory, improved digestion, boosts the immune system, can help with PMS…. I could go on all day, but you get it! As for skincare, Turmeric helps with brightening and evening out the skin tone10. You can use it in masks, serums, or by consuming it as tea or milk. Google golden milk and thank me later!

We can’t talk about natural skincare without mentioning tea tree oil. Not to be outdone by turmeric, tea tree oil also offers amazing benefits overall. Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, just anti-anything bad 😊. Seriously though, tea tree is an amazing essential oil (check out my article on 5 ways to use tea tree oil for even more benefits!). Since its anti-bacterial, tea tree oil is used for cleaning the skin and many dermatologists love it for clearing acne and keeping it a bay. Studies have shown that using tea tree oil cleared mild to moderate acne without any side effects 11. If you decide to try it make sure to use a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba to mix with it as tea tree oil on its own can irritate the skin (it’s potent!).

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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/what-is-squalane

https://cipherskincare.com/ingredient-glossary/pineapple-extract/

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/antioxidants-fact-sheet#:~:text=1%2C%202).-,What%20are%20antioxidants%3F,uses%20to%20neutralize%20free%20radicals.

https://www.naturalorganicskincare.com/collections/strawberry.

https://www.naturalorganicskincare.com/collections/strawberry.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27000386/