What are the benefits?

Using natural products can be reassuring for sensitive-skinned beauty buffs who often experience irritation at the hands of skincare. But even if you don’t have temperamental skin, making the switch to natural skincare has a number of benefits.

#1 More active ingredients + less fillers = better results

Because natural skincare products don't use chemicals as fillers, they have more room for highly concentrated, potent ingredients. And, some of the best ingredients in the skincare realm are found in nature. For example, Chamomile and Aloe are tried-and-true redness relievers while Eucalyptus Plant stem cells (as found in our Hyaluronic Acid + Collagen Serum) help stimulate skin cell turnover for more youthful-looking skin. Not to mention, natural skincare products are super efficacious, this means that a little bit of product goes a long way—you won’t have to use as much product, which will save you money in the long-run.

#2 It’s gentler on sensitive, acne-prone skin

Natural skincare products don’t contain any of the nasties—synthetic fragrances, dyes, or hidden toxins—which are often responsible for triggering an allergic reaction or an irritating side effect. Making the swap to natural products means cutting these ingredients out of your routine and instead opting for products and formulas that are much more gentle on the skin. If you have an inflammatory skin condition (like psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema), are sensitive, or you’re prone to acne, switching to a natural skincare regimen may not only curb flare-ups and keep irritation and inflammation at bay, but it can offer soothing benefits for these concerns too.

#3 It’s more likely to be environmentally-friendly

By definition, because natural products use ingredients sourced from nature, they don’t require a manufacturing process that can negatively affect the environment. A company that is dedicated to eliminating toxic ingredients and opting for naturally-sourced ones instead is more likely to be friendlier to the environment (and animals). At Terrakai Skin, we’re proud to use post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic and it is our mission to continue to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

How to Switch to a Natural Skincare Routine

Ready to invite natural skincare products to the party? Making the switch doesn’t have to be a daunting task, and you certainly don’t need to go cold turkey and throw away all of the existing skincare products in your lineup. Instead, be methodical.

#1. Start small

Begin swapping products that sit on your skin the longest (serum, moisturizer, eye cream) or ones that cover a significant surface area (like body oils, creams, and lotions). Though rinse-off products like cleansers and masks still penetrate the skin, focus on one or two products to reap the most benefits of the natural ingredients.

#2. Get to know ingredient labels

Just like you turn a box of chocolates over to read up on its nutritional value, get into the habit of flipping over a skincare product and reading through the ingredients list. Warning lights should go off when you spot the term Fragrance, Parfum, PEG, Triclosan and its cousin Triclocarban, as well as ingredients that end in the suffix -Paraben or -Phthalate.

The Think Dirty App is a great and easy initiative to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. It’s an independent source that allows you to compare products as you shop. Just scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, track dirty ingredients and shop for cleaner options.

#3. Know your skin type…

Whether you have a natural skincare routine or not, knowing your skin type is key to developing an effective regimen. Skin types fall into a few general categories: dry, oily, combination, and normal. Though these are the main skincare types, there are a few common skincare concerns that can be crossed over across skin type (for example, blemish-prone skin, sensitive, aging skin, and so on). Here are the common characteristics across each skin type.

• Dry skin: Your skin lacks oil and is therefore rough in texture, flaky in appearance, and tight in feeling. You may also notice more apparent fine lines.

• Oily skin: Your skin creates excess sebum, which means you often feel the need to reach for blotting sheets or a mattifying powder. You may also have enlarged pores and experience frequent breakouts.

• Combination skin: Some areas of your skin are oily and others are dry. Those with combination skin types usually experience an oily T-Zone (which refers to the center part of your face that includes the forehead, down the nose, and chin) and dryness on the cheeks.

• Normal skin: Your skin is balanced and doesn’t feel particularly dry or oily. You don’t feel tightness or experience flakiness, and your skin also likely has a smooth texture.

#4.... and use ingredients that target your skincare concerns

That new habit you just adopted of reading your product’s ingredient label? Not only should you be looking out for toxic or harmful ingredients (and steering clear of them), you should also be actively seeking out ingredients that’ll be the most effective for your specific skin type and concerns—be it an oily T-zone, a lackluster complexion, fine lines around your eyes, or pesky breakouts. At Terrakai Skin, we’ve separated our ranges by skin type/needs to take the guesswork out of finding the right products for you. 

• Dry skin: Opt for hydrating, skin-brightening ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Kakadu Plum, Peptides, and Emu Apple, all of which are part of our Hydrate + Radiance Range.

• Mature skin: Our Restore + Replenish Range is ideal for those looking to target fine lines and wrinkles, using superfoods like Blueberry, Goji berry, Guava, Passion fruit, Watermelon, and Mountain Pepper Berry to restore youthfulness.

• Oily skin: Combat excess oil production by using gel cleansers (versus creamier options), toners, and balancing serums and moisturizers. Our Replenish + Balance Range includes oily skin-friendly ingredients like Witch Hazel, White Willow Bark, Snowflower, and Turmeric.

• Well-balanced skin: For normal skin types, it’s all about maintaining the balance you already have. Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Co-Enzyme Q10, and Sea Buckthorn berry—all of which are part of our Revitalize + Glow Range—do just that.

• Young skin: We have developed our Prevent + Protect Range specifically to help keep teen skin happy, dewy, and balanced. 

Considering what we put on our skin is important, since the skin is the largest organ of the body. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to create clean, plant-powered, and performance-driven skincare formulations that not only honor skin health but also tread lightly on the Earth. Terrakai Skin’s ingredient philosophy is simple. Everything that ends up in a Terrakai Skin formulation needs to be three things: 100% vegan, high-performance, and sustainable. It's non-negotiable for us. We want to invite you to keep learning about the ingredients in your skincare and to question the efficacy and origin of them. We’re here to help and provide you with resources and information that will help you better understand our ingredients and why we chose them.