This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at USFSP chapter.

I’ve been straying away from liquid foundation more and more recently. I realized that I actually prefer the way my face looks completely bare (above) or with just a little bit of loose powder foundation. It’s not good to put on your skin anyway, even though I still sometimes like the flawless, “airbrushed” look. I still like to wear liquid foundation on the rare occasion when I want to do full makeup, but now I remind myself I’m about to pay a price before I apply it.

Pores suffocate all day under those viscous, synthetic chemicals. When I take liquid foundation off at the end of the day, my skin looks like it’s mad at me. It gets red and inflamed because I have to scrub really harshly to get it all off. What’s worse is if I don’t scrub it off thoroughly enough and there’s still residue on my face somewhere, because acne is guaranteed to flare up the next morning. Then I create a new problem for myself: fighting that acne. My skin looks better, feels better, and is truly healthier without liquid foundation.

It’s so incredibly important to remember that your layer of makeup isn’t who you really are! Underneath it, you have gorgeous, real skin that constitutes the real you. Even if you don’t like the way your skin looks right now, I researched some really cool ingredients found in many skin care products that can help your natural face be the best it can be. Don’t cover up skin issues with makeup; get to the root of them and fix them! Liquid foundation is made in labs, and these skin care ingredients are made in nature.

Charcoal

Mainly Helps With: Cleansing, fighting acne.

When I was very little, my parents found a spilled, almost-empty bottle of prescription pills and they suspected that I ate them. They quickly took me to the emergency room to have a doctor check me out. I was hooked up to all kinds of machines to monitor my body, and I drank chocolate milk with charcoal mixed in. I really didn’t want to drink it, because it was super gross, but was told I had to.

Charcoal is used in drug overdoses in which the drugs were ingested because it absorbs toxins. (P.S. It turns out I didn’t actually eat any of the medication at all, let alone a fatal amount. Yay!) Charcoal also, as a skin care ingredient, absorbs toxins. It deep-cleans your pores by binding to dirt and oil like a magnet. It also removes dead skin due to its slight abrasiveness. In my personal experience, my face is always baby-soft and dry of oil after washing with my charcoal scrub.

You can find charcoal in face washes, scrubs, masks, and more. Don’t get too carried away, though. It’s recommended that you don’t use charcoal every day. Space out your uses by a few days, or else you’re skin will get really dried out. It’s pretty powerful stuff.

Green Tea Extract

Mainly Helps With: Calming redness/inflammation, moisturizing.

When I did the Proactiv regimen many years ago, my kit came with a free green tea gel, meant for spot treatment. At the time, I didn’t have an interest in it, so my mom took it because she loved it. I think about that green tea gel all the time now and wish I had it back!

Drinking green tea is really good for you and has its own slew of benefits, but it’s a wonderful skin care ingredient, also. Green tea extract feels cooling and soothing, so it’s ideal for calming redness and inflammation. It’s moisturizing and can even help reduce eye puffiness. Many believe it also has anti-aging properties and helps improve the appearance of skin affected by sun damage.

You can find green tea extract in face washes, scrubs, lotions, oils, and even lip products. It smells really good, too!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Mainly Helps With: Cleansing, fighting acne.

I’m not a fan of vinegar in general for anything because of the smell, but apple cider vinegar seems to make the smell worth it! Apple cider vinegar is different than plain “white” vinegar because apple cider vinegar hasn’t been distilled and processed; it is raw and full of its natural nutrients. Many people swear by apple cider vinegar as a skin care ingredient. It is antibacterial, which is how it can fight acne, as well as antifungal. It’s also believed to regulate oil production and have anti-aging properties.

They’re harder to find, but it is possible to find skin care products with apple cider vinegar in them, like face washes and toners. However, you’ll definitely find it in a bottle by itself and that’s what most users choose to purchase. Pure apple cider vinegar is extremely cheap! It’s not best to apply it directly to your face because it may be too drying; mix up a solution of 50% water and 50% apple cider vinegar or look up a recipe for a homemade cleanser or mask that includes it as an ingredient.

Tea Tree Oil

Mainly Helps With: Calming redness/inflammation, fighting acne.

I used to have a tea tree oil toner, which I loved, from The Body Shop. I would always gently pat some on after washing my face. It made my face feel so fresh and dry of oil, and as a bonus, also smelled amazing. I miss that stuff. Proactiv green tea gel and Body Shop tea tree toner, I miss you guys.

The word “oil” seen in skin care products makes those of us with oily skin cringe. But don’t fear tea tree oil; it’s actually non-comedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog pores. Tea tree oil is antibacterial, making it an excellent ingredient for fighting acne. It’ll dry your pimples right up; I can personally testify! It’s even antiviral, too, so some people use it to get rid of warts. It’s a very soothing substance, so it’s also great for calming redness and inflammation from all kinds of issues. Tea tree oil is even known to help minimize scars.

Tea tree oil can be found in face washes, toners, masks, and as the oil itself. Again, I think it smells really good, but some people may not like the scent, as it is quite strong.

Grape Seed Oil

Mainly Helps With: Moisturizing, preventing the effects of aging.

I haven’t yet tried any skin care products with grape seed oil, but I’d love to in the near future. I love to eat grapes, so why shouldn’t the seeds be good for my skin, too? Makes sense.

Grape seed oil is high in Vitamins C, D, and E and is easily absorbed by the skin, so it’s almost like a natural, nutrient-rich lotion. Grape seed oil is great for individuals with dry skin because it is moisturizing and also non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog up your pores. It can help minimize scars and fight dark eye circles, too. Grape seed oil is even believed to promote collagen production, making skin firmer. Some people also use it around their eyes to reduce dark eye circles.

You can find grape seed oil as an ingredient in lotions, creams, and as the oil itself. There are also all kinds of homemade skin care product recipes involving grape seed oil online!

Love, Annie

Research and Pictures:

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/08/beauty-product-ingredients_n_2645767.html

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-looks/beauty/detox-and-beautify-your-skin-and-hair-with-activated-charcoal/

https://www.paulaschoice.com/ingredient-dictionary/skin-soothing/green-tea.html

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/green-tea-on-face/

https://www.livestrong.com/article/255779-what-are-the-benefits-of-using-grape-seed-oil-on-the-face/

https://draxe.com/natural-skin-care/

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/5-reasons-to-wash-your-face-with-apple-cider-vinegar/

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/tea-tree-oil-for-skin/

http://www.byrdie.com/grape-seed-oil-beauty

http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-grape-seed-oil-for-skin-hair-health/#gref