What Is The Best Natural Skincare Routine?

A lot of articles about creating the best natural skincare routine bombard you with information about how to make your own skincare products from natural ingredients. But if we’re being honest, most of us don’t have the time to make all of these products from scratch.

So, what do you need to look for in products if you want to create a completely natural skincare routine? And what steps do you actually need to include to ensure you have glowing skin all year round? 

We’re going back to basics to explore not only the steps of a skincare routine, but to share some of our favourite products which deliver time and again for our complexion. 

How many steps is too many?

With so many products available today, it can be easy to get swept up in all the marketing and end up with a cupboard full of products and a routine that involves multiple steps morning and night. 

As one dermatologist told Harper’s Bazaar, the number of products is less important than the ingredients they contain. Dr Hiba Injibar told the publication that before you start stripping products out of your routine, you need to look at their active ingredients. 

This will help you work out what each of the products is doing for your skin, and you can also check that you’re not using products that are incompatible. A good place to look for clues is in your skin itself. 

If you notice that you’re experiencing breakouts or flare ups, this is a good indication that you need to go back to basics. 

What steps do you need in a skincare routine?

The bare minimum are cleansing, moisturising and SPF as part of a daily routine, although many experts also recommend adding a toner into the mix too. Depending on your skin type, facial serums can also be helpful. 

This keeps your skincare routine in check and ensures that you’re not overusing products, or layering products together that aren’t complementary. 

One Vogue beauty writer explained how she simplified her skincare routine to just six steps and we agree that these are a good base to start from:

1. Cleanser

2. Toner

3. Day serum

4. Night serum

5. Moisturiser

6. SPF

But knowing the steps is just the first part of the process – then you have to find the right products! We advocate for all natural products that don’t include harsh ingredients that can strip your skin of its natural oils or damage the skin barrier. Let’s explore some options for each step and why they’re so useful.

Cleansing

Cleansing your skin in the morning is gentler than washing it with soap. If you choose the right product, you can also use a cleanser to help remove your makeup at the end of the day. 

Our award-winning natural plum and avocado face cleanser is a great option that will leave your skin feeling clean and moisturised. This product contains a host of natural ingredients that will do wonders for your skin, including antioxidants and vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E. 

As with all our products, it’s cruelty free, so this is a good choice if you’re looking for vegan face cleansers to add to your routine. 

Toning

Toners serve two purposes in your skincare routine. The first is to help balance your skin’s pH levels – this is important because it helps maintain your skin barrier. What’s interesting is that your skin has different pH levels on different parts of the body. 

The skin on your face tends to be slightly more alkaline than the parts of your body that are less exposed, which are often more acidic, for example. A good toner can help to maintain the correct pH balance on your face. 

Its second purpose is to improve the absorption of the products you apply next – like a serum or moisturiser. All of our toners are alcohol and paraben free, which make them kinder and healthier for your skin. 

Day and night serums

As a general rule of thumb, you want a day serum in the morning that is designed to brighten your skin and help protect it while you’re out and about. That means you’re looking for ingredients like antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin B3. 

Our skin revitalising antioxidant face and neck serum with rosehip, raspberry, rose and geranium fits the bill perfectly.

When it comes to the end of the day, you’re after a serum that repairs any damage your skin has suffered and that’s deeply hydrating. Our rejuvenating antioxidant face and neck serum with organic argan, kahai, baobab and frankincense is ideal. 

The kahai oil is particularly important in this formula, as it is proven to be very hydrating and is naturally high in vitamins E, F and A (vitamin A is also known as retinol). 

Moisturiser

Your moisturiser is the product that seals in the goodness that you’ve added through your toner and serum, so it’s important you choose one that works with your other natural skincare products and one that’s the right match for your skin.

There are various face creams on offer, so take the time to do a little research to work out which is most appropriate. Choose a formulation for sensitive skin, for example, if you know that this is what your body needs. 

In general terms, skin is classified as “normal”, “dry”, “oily” or “combination” (which means it’s a mix of dry and oily). This can give you a general steer towards products as many will be marketed for each of these skin types. 

Use your moisturiser morning and evening after you’ve applied your serum as this will help to ensure your skin gets the benefit of the various products that are part of your routine.

SPF

We all know the importance of protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, so don’t skimp on this in your skincare routine. Take the time to find a natural SPF that you can apply separately, or seek out a moisturiser that includes SPF.

Generally you want a minimum of SPF30 for your face to ensure it’s protected properly. It’s also advisable to choose a sunscreen that’s designed for your face rather than one that can be applied to your whole body, as this will often include additional natural ingredients to support your skin while protecting it from sun damage.