Green Skin Care Products

Green products are environmentally safe, renewable, natural and leave a small carbon footprint during manufacture and distribution. Green products are typically made from ingredients grown nearby, or in your own country, avoiding wasted fossil fuels in their preparation and transport. When choosing products, avoid those with synthetic preservatives that may be linked to breast tumors. In addition, choose products that use renewable oils such as olive oil or sunflower oil as their base, rather than mineral oil, which is a nonrenewable fossil fuel.

For Moist, Soft Skin

Some green products are natural moisturizers. Select products that contain green tea, rose oil, radish root, sea algae or sunflower oil to keep your face hydrated and protect it from pollutants and drying agents. Green tea may help protect your skin from sun damage. Choose renewable radish root over synthetic preservatives for a natural ingredient that helps maintain skin balance. For moisturizing dry or sensitive skin, look for products with a milk or beeswax base, creamed with chamomile, soy oil or rosewater. Avocado oil and nettle are among the natural moisturizers to look for when choosing green products for oily skin.

To Clean and Purify

Natural sugar scrubs or alpha hydroxy products made from fruits and sugar cane, can help exfoliate your skin and clear away ground-in dirt and grime. Cucumber and fennel are both natural cleansers that lift and wash away impurities that can build up on oily skin. Some natural products, such as echinacea extract, have antibiotic properties that work to calm areas where pimples may erupt. As an antiseptic, lemon deep cleans skin and may help smooth wrinkles.

For Common Skin Problems

Products containing licorice may help treat the redness and rough skin that characterizes rosacea. A treatment with an olive oil rub can smooth and soften rough cuticles, dry feet and elbows and the skin on your knees. Beeswax products penetrate your dry skin to restore softness and suppleness after windburn or sun exposure. Products containing bioactive milk peptides may help your skin produce collagen, smoothing wrinkles away naturally. Herbalists sometimes suggest the fatty acids in evening primrose essential oil to soothe the itchiness of eczema.