The problem with most skin care creams is that they consist mainly of water. This makes them easily absorbed into the skin, and will give an almost instant plumping effect as the water engorges the skin cells, making it look and feel smoother and healthier. However, once the water evaporates, this effect is lost and your skin returns to it’s original state, which is why most creams recommend you apply them at least twice a day. Even when products contain some form of oil, it is normally a refined oil which will have lost nearly all of it’s protective anti-oxidants which are so beneficial to skin. We all know that when you are looking for a skin cream, you want something that is going to not only moisturise your skin but also protect it and promote younger, healthier skin, and coconut oil ticks all of these boxes. Pure virgin coconut oil inhibits the formation of free-radicals and offers protection against them. It can also help prevent the development of liver spots and other age and sun damage related blemishes. As an added bonus, coconut oil soaks into the skin and the connective tissues helping to keep them supple and strong, and by nourishing the deep tissue layers of the skin, wrinkles are less likely to develop.

While many people think that oil will be too heavy for their skin, coconut oil soaks into the skin quickly and easily and does not leave a greasy feel or look behind like some skin oils do. It can be used on the most delicate, sensitive skin and can ease inflamed and irritated skin in a matter of days, making it perfect to use on skin that is suffering from over-exposure of any kind, whether to sun, snow or wind. It is also safe to use on broken skin, and can help heal wounds and rashes, and can also soothe the itching and discomfort cause by eczema. As an alternative to skin care cream, coconut oil is an excellent choice, and can be used by all the family for almost any skin complaint, safely and effectively every time.

One of the problems with many creams and lotions is that they consist mainly of water. This means that they are readily soaked in by dry skin, and as the water is absorbed, the skin plumps up. When the water evaporates though, the skin then looses it’s plumpness. This is a kind of vicious circle when it comes to skin creams, which is why once you start using them there really seems to be no going back. However, there is another form of skin care that you can use that will actually improve the structure of your skin long term, as opposed to just improving the appearance in the short term and this is oil. Many people are too scared to use oil on their skin for fear of clogging pores and ending up with outbreaks of spots, which if you use the wrong kind of oil is a possible outcome. If you decide to use oil on your skin you have to choose carefully, and a good rule to follow is that if you wouldn’t put it in your body then you shouldn’t put it on your body.

Coconut oil is one of the best oils you can use on your skin, but you have to be sure it is unrefined so that it retains all it’s natural goodness. Refining oil strips the antioxidants from it, which means the oil is more likely to generate free-radicals and these are exactly what you need to fight to keep your skin young and healthy looking. Coconut oil is known to have powerful anti-bacterial components, along with excellent healing and soothing abilities making it perfect for all skin types.

If you don’t like the idea of using coconut oil, then you may prefer some of the specially made skin oils such as Bio-Oil or Rescue Oil, both of which are blends of carefully selected oils that combine to create an excellent skin nourishing treatment. Both oils are effective at not only moisturising even the driest of skins, but also have the ability to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. If you are looking for a new skin care cream, but would like to try something a little different, then trying out a skin oil could be the perfect solution.

We all realise the importance of choosing organic food where we can, as reducing the amount of chemicals and pesticides we put into our bodies can only help to keep us healthier in the long run, and while many people pay very close attention to what they put in their bodies, they don’t pay as much attention to what they are putting on the bodies. Our skin is absorbent, and therefore whatever we rub into it is absorbed into the skin and into our bodies, which is why it makes so much more sense to use high quality, organic face creams where you can. While it used to be the case that organic toiletries were incredibly expensive, as their popularity has increased, more and more companies have realised how important it is to offer excellent products at affordable prices. It is not just skin care products that can be found in these ranges either, there are some fantastic shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and much, much more to be found.

A few great organic skin care creams to be found at the moment are:

Avalon Organics Lavender Daily Moisturiser

With some lovely ingredients such as organic Lavender, White Tea, Licorice root, Tumeric and Calendula to name just a few, this moisturiser is lovely and rich and while it nourishes your skin it also helps calm and soothe it, reducing redness and also giving anti-oxidant protection. Because of it’s unique blend of ingredients it is suitable for all skin types, even very sensitive.

MSM Organic Beauty Cream by Raw Gaia

Raw Gaia have an amazing range of products, and it is quite difficult to pick out one as a favourite, however this cream works wonders, and should find it’s way into every skin care regime. MSM is short for Methyl-sulphonyl-methane, which is a form of sulphur, an essential component in the formation of collagen, elastin, cartilage and keratin.

MSM is such a powerful ingredient, studies have shown that it can help with eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne and dermatitis. It is incredibly important to make sure the MSM you are using is pure, and with Raw Gaia this is guaranteed.

JASON Aloe Vera 84% Ultra-Comforting Moisturizing Crème

This is a lovely daily moisturiser, and with 84% pure Aloe Vera Gel it really packs a moisturising punch for your skin. Aloe Vera is renowned for it’s soothing and healing properties and it is combined with Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin A, E & C to produce a light but effective moisturiser, making it suitable for combination skin, along with being ideal for sensitive skin.

If you are conscientious about what you eat and drink, and like to choose organic wherever you can, then it makes perfect sense to ensure that your skin care cream is organic as well.

You may find you have an uneven skin tone as a result of having sensitive skin, in which case you will have to be very careful when choosing a complexion smoothing cream. Some creams can contain ingredients that are too harsh for very sensitive skin, so be sure to choose one that is made with sensitive skin in mind. These kinds of creams may well be unperfumed, as it is often the fragrance in many cosmetics that can irritate skin.

There are many different active ingredients that are claimed to give fantastic results used in these kinds of skin care creams, but as everyone’s skin is different, something that works wonders on one persons skin may not have the same effect on anothers. As with all skin care creams, it is a case of trial and error to find the cream that works best on your skin. This takes time, and you have to allow a new cream at least three weeks to start showing any kind of results, ideally you will give it six weeks, as this is how long it takes your skin to regenerate completely.

If you would like to try a slightly more natural approach to evening your complexion then look for products containing ingredients such as green tea, white tea, rose extract and chamomile extract as all of these have a wonderfully calming effect on the skin. Creams such as Dr Haushka’s Regenerating Day Cream or Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Creme are excellent examples of creams that use natural ingredients to help soothe your skin and even your skin tone. Complexion enhancing skin care cream can really make a difference if used regularly, and can help boost you confidence while giving you a fresher, healthier looking complexion.

If you are just looking for a simple moisturiser then it is worth looking for something that is either very low or completely free of chemicals. Using blended oils can be wonderful for your skin, for instance sweet almond oil with tea tree oil for skin prone to spots. You could also use a specialist oil such as Bio-Oil which is designed to hydrate and nourish skin while improving the appearance of blemishes, mixing this with a little tea tree oil for problem skin or a little lavender oil for sensitive skin will give you a lovely natural moisturiser. It is important not to use neat aromatherapy oils on your skin as they can be too harsh, so always blend them with a carrier oil, even olive oil can be used.

It is also worth considering making your own face scrubs and masks, these can easily be rustled up using some basic ingredients from your kitchen such as honey & milk for a moisturising mask, or mixing some ground almonds with a little milk and honey for a gentle face scrub. The possibilities are endless, and using such natural products gives your skin a break from artificial cleansers and moisturisers. It is also a really good way to save some money!

Many companies are cottoning on to the fact that people are shying away from chemically loaded products and more and more products are appearing on the shelves that are advertising the fact they are free from things such as parabens, and use organic ingredients as far as is possible. It is always worth looking at baby care ranges for products that contain minimal amounts of chemicals as they are designed for much more sensitive skin, there are some wonderful creams that are made things such as olive oil, lavender oil and chamomile, designed for soothing babies bottoms that also work wonders on faces!