Natural cleanser ingredients to look for

Jun 01, 2011 7:16 AM by Laura Williams, M.S.Ed.

Posted in Beauty & Style / Makeup & Skin Care / Skincare

Clean, Fresh
And Natural

If you’re like most of America, you’ve probably started to consider the impact of the chemicals your body is exposed to every day. To cut down your exposure, now’s the time to switch from a chemically-laced cleanser to an all-natural option. When shopping for your new natural cleanser, keep an eye out for the following six ingredients.

Woman putting on green face mask

Sweet as sugar

Eating a lot of sugar probably won't do wonders for your skin, but the rough texture and glycolic acid in the sweet stuff makes it a perfect body and face exfoliate. Give yourself a healthy glow by rubbing a granulated sugar product on your skin while you take a shower.

Check out these natural scrubs for your skin >>

Citrus-y smooth

Citric acid, a derivative of lemons and oranges, functions as a naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acid, or AHA. The benefit of AHAs is that they help loosen the "cement" that holds dead skin cells together, enabling your skin to slough off more frequently and evenly. While the process may sound a little gross, the result is smoother, brighter and healthier looking skin.

Clear as clay

While you probably don't want to slather clay from your backyard onto your face, properly purified clay products can contribute to healthier, more vibrant skin. Clay comes in a variety of colors and textures based on the mineral makeup of the land where it is excavated. The natural minerals in clay help absorb dirt, oil and toxins from your skin while simultaneously exfoliating the skin's surface. A few of the common clays used in skin masks and cleansers include:

French green clay
Fuller's Earth clay
Rhassoul clay
White clay

A lean, mean green tea machine

Green tea works as a natural antioxidant to reduce the skin damage caused by free radicals. This tea's antioxidant properties work to fight inflammation while delivering key nutrients to the skin's surface. By using a green tea product regularly you can tone your skin, reduce redness and fight wrinkles and breakouts.

More skin benefits of green tea >>

Rollin' in oats

Oats are one of nature's most gentle exfoliates, and if you regularly suffer from dry and itchy skin, cleansers with oats can help slough off dead skin cells without causing inflammation or irritation. In fact, if you have a rash or sunburn, oats are well known as a skin calmer, reducing itching and burning, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.

Be a honey

Sometimes the oldest home remedies are the best home remedies. People have been using honey as a skin cleanser and softener for thousands of years, long before research studies confirmed the benefits of this sweet substance. Honey works as a natural humectant, enabling your skin to hold onto its moisture, leaving your skin's surface softer and more supple.