The Best Natural Skincare Regimen For Scars, Acne, & Anti-Aging

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When trying to live a healthier lifestyle, choosing more natural ingredients when it comes to skincare is something worth considering. Whether it's due to skin irritation or simply not wanting a laundry list of chemicals on your body, opting for solutions found in nature can provide peace of mind that you're doing the best that you can to take care of yourself. Yet in practice, unfortunately many natural skincare products are so gentle that they aren't all that effective. Thankfully, that isn't going to be the case here. Everything featured below is found in nature, safe for the body, and will show measurable results with continued use. As an added bonus they're also all noncomedogenic so they won't cause breakouts.

Witch Hazel is a gentle natural toner with astringent qualities and is a great alternative to salicylic acid. While it has many benefits, such as soothing razor burn, healing wounds, alleviating bug bites, as well as treating hemorrhoids, it's best known for it's ability to exfoliate pores and help to remove blackheads / whiteheads in the process. Speaking of congested skin, Witch Hazel has a synergistic effect when used alongside bentonite clay (more on this later). Skin instantly looks refreshed after applying Witch Hazel and it absorbs fairly quickly which makes it a great first choice in anyone's daily skincare regimen. Witch Hazel is easily tolerated so it can be applied twice daily if desired. You can add some to a cotton pad and dab it on your face, or just apply it directly with your fingers. One of the best aspects of Witch Hazel is that it's very affordable and lasts a long time, making it a no brainer for anyone looking for natural skincare solutions.

Frankincense is a renowned essential oil that comes from the resin of Boswellia trees and has been used since biblical times. It features a delicious earthy scent and has long been considered the king of oils. This is the best overall skincare oil listed here if you can only choose one, and for good reason. Frankincense is truly remarkable in its ability to regenerate the skin by promoting collagen growth and in it's wound healing abilities. It's well documented that it can noticeably improve scars of all types, wrinkles, dark spots, stretch marks, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Frankincense is ideal for wound healing as it can prevent scars from forming by creating a "super scab" or "liquid stitches" that protects the damaged skin for much longer than usual, and consequently the skin heals far more effectively than without it. You need to try it for yourself in order to truly understand how incredible its wound healing benefits really are.

You can apply Frankincense once daily, unless specifically trying to heal a wound and prevent a scar, in which case you might apply it two or three times a day to the affected area. There's no getting around the fact that Frankincense is expensive, but the cost is worth it to have such a formidable rejuvenator in your skincare lineup.

Lavender essential oil has been used since ancient times and is well known not only for it's pleasant and relaxing aroma, but also the amazing benefits that it provides to skin. Like Frankincense, Lavender is noteworthy for its superior wound healing characteristics, promotion of collagen growth, and skin regeneration of wrinkles, stretch marks, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scars of all types. Not only that, but it also quickly calms signs of redness and inflammation. Lavender leaves skin looking radiant immediately upon application, and can be used as a moisturizer that absorbs well while not leaving the skin looking for feeling oily. Lastly, this amazing essential oil is also a surprisingly effective canker sore treatment that not helps to heal the wound but also numb the pain as well.

You can apply Lavender once daily, unless specifically trying to heal a wound and prevent a scar, in which case you might apply it two or three times a day to the affected area. While I recommend using both Lavender and Frankincense, Lavender is the more affordable option but still highly effective if budget is a concern.

Rosehip oil is the ultimate natural noncomedogenic moisturizer that softens, refreshes and gives skin looking youthful glow. This oil is a great topical source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, both of which are highly beneficial to the skin. Rosehip oil hydrates dry skin without leaving a greasy looking appearance. Like the other oils mentioned here, Rosehip is a wonderful anti-aging oil that quickly reduces visible signs of wrinkles while increasing collagen production and skin elasticity with regular longterm use. It's also an effective remedy to soothe burned, irritated, or raw skin. Rosehip oil is a perfect last step moisturizer after applying other skincare products, and can be applied twice daily.

Oregano is part of the mint family and oregano oil is extremely potent for killing infections on the skin, both bacterial and fungal. Oregano oil is nature's answer to benzoyl peroxide in it's ability to stop acne infections in their tracks, but thankfully your skin won't look aged with continued use. While Tea Tree oil smells better and is likely more well known for being a natural acne fighter, Oregano oil is far more effective at not only clearing up severe inflammatory acne breakouts, but also at preventing acne scars from occurring. Additionally, this natural antibiotic can effectively treat stings, bites, and even cold sores in short order. While it does work wonders when used correctly, you must always dilute it in a carrier oil (such as olive oil, rosehip oil, etc) to avoid severe irritation. Be warned, oregano oil applied directly to the skin without a carrier oil will burn the skin.

Bentonite clay is another ancient remedy that has been used for thousands of years and is formed from volcanic ash. When applied to the skin as a face mask, it essentially acts as a vacuum that unclogs pores, removes impurities, and literally pulls even the most deeply embedded whiteheads and blackheads to the surface. Bentonite clay is a powerful natural exfoliant because it absorbs excess sebum and toxins while simultaneously removing dead skin cells for a clearer complexion. Not only is it capable of calming inflammatory acne breakouts, it's also an excellent choice for soothing rashes such as poison ivy or even diaper rash. Bentonite clay is most effective when mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar to form a paste, and the acetic acid in Apple Cider Vinegar can assist in lightening dark spots over time. This natural clay powder is a great value that seemingly lasts forever, and can be applied 1-3 times per week as needed.

Conclusion

As you can see, nature offers plenty of powerful skincare alternatives to conventional chemical based products and are known to improve a wide range of skin concerns. Specifically, the combination of Frankincense, Lavender, and Rosehip are the ultimate beauty oils. When used together, they rival topical retinoids in their anti-aging longterm effectiveness but without the redness, irritation, or potential side effects. Helichrysum is another fantastic essential oil for the skin but prohibitively expensive for most people, and the options listed above when used in tandem will accomplish the same goals for less.