My mom wasn’t an almond mom, but she was an almond butter from the local co-op mom. That is to say, I’ve always found comfort in minimal ingredient lists—for my snacks and my skincare.
As a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND), my mom taught me early on how powerful botanicals are and the importance of avoiding endocrine-disrupting ingredients. Unsurprisingly, she was also all about “natural beauty.” This felt like an issue when I was a middle schooler going deodorant shopping with strict “buy aluminum-free” instructions, but it is something I so value today.
To make one thing very clear: I am not saying that a “natural” or “clean” label should win out over everything, every time. Following the clean beauty boom of the 2010s, so much of what you see slotted into the natural skincare world today is simply marketing. “Clean” is not even a regulated term! Everyone needs to do their own research about ingredients and what’s best for their skin. But I know that my skin likes flower essences and simple formulas. Oftentimes, those can be found in skincare products labeled “natural.”
Ahead, you’ll find the best natural skincare products that I work into my daily routine, many of which my mom also adores. Her skin is amazing, by the way. Some say mine is, too.
Sophia Vilensky and her natural skincare muse, Leslie Vilensky, pose for a selfie.
(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)
Contents
Cleanser First
A natural beauty needs a natural canvas for her skincare, no? My cleanser is one product I’ll rarely swap out for a more chemical-y version. Whether you’re into oils, gel formulas, or simple creams, they’re just so good.
Le Prunier
Plum Cleanse Biome Balancing Cleansing Oil
I have become a double cleanse diehard this winter, and this cleansing oil is such a treat to start the process with. My favorite part? The super-subtle, natural marzipan scent that the brand is known for. Speaking as someone who didn’t eat sugar until she was about five…it’s extremely delicious.
Tata Harper
Superkind Refining Cleanser
The second part of my double-cleanse routine is typically Tata Harper’s gently exfoliating Superkind Refining Cleanser. (It also pairs beautifully with the brand’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser.) Made with reactive skin like mine in mind, it buffs away dead skin cells with rice powder while wild harvested nordic pine does its thing as a natural astringent.
Toner Time
One of the perks of growing up with a natural-skincare-loving mom was that I was ahead of the curve in adding a toner to my routine (compared to my suburban middle school peers, at least). Throwing on some witch hazel or rose water was just what I did after washing my face.
These days, I’m still obsessed with the simple toners you can pick up at Whole Foods, but some elevated versions, like washable cotton pads, have joined the party, too.
Heritage Store
Rosewater Facial Toner With Hyaluronic Acid
I used to feel so cool turning my friends on to Heritage Store’s Rosewater selections. I still do, though most have already heard of the brand from TikTok. This alcohol-free toner is super affordable and boasts a list of just three ingredients: water (that’s “been vortexed and magnetized to raise the energy to a higher vibration,” obviously), glycerin, and rosa damascena flower extract for a touch of that gentle rosy fragrance.
Marie Veronique
Balancing Hypotonic
To be honest, it took me a while to get used to this stuff based on the scent. I’ve sipped a lot of tonics in my day, and this smelled a bit too familiar, vinegar-wise. So worth it though. Founded by chemist Marie Veronique Nadeau, Marie Veronique is a small-batch producer based in Berkeley. This tonic is formulated with AHAs and pre/probiotics to rebalance the skin’s pH and general microbiome.
Hydration Heroes
Your naturopath would almost certainly tell you to drink more water. Your skin is saying the exact same thing! When it comes time to hydrate, I usually look for lightweight formulas packed full of skin-loving, plant-powered ingredients. Does my mushroom moisturizer count as a serving of vegetables?
Verdoie
La Crème Hydratante
Bonjour, Verdoie. In true wellness girl fashion, I use this moisturizer in tandem with its skin supplement sister for a setup the French brand calls Le Shroom Stack (both contain some majorly skin-loving mushrooms). Silky and lightweight, La Crème Hydratante is a biomimetic moisture-maintenance cream that helps your skin retain water.
Botnia Skincare
Replenishing Facial Oil
Botnia! So special to me, forever and ever. The brand makes 100 percent of their products in-house at their own lab in Sausalito, California. I’ve never tried something I didn’t like, but I very much love their Replenishing Facial Oil, a jojoba oil-based formula with the added benefits of lavender, chamomile, calendula, and rose flowers.
Mask Moment
Lovers of Aztec Secret or a simple pure jar of Manuka honey know very well how impressive the mask selection is at the natural foods’ store. Even if you’re not in the mood to DIY, you’ll find something you love.
CLEARSTEM
Hydraberry Moisture Mask
Need some deep hydration? Drink a cup of chamomile, then drift off for a night of beauty sleep with this mask slathered on your face. Its full of ceramides, arnica flower, and magnesium PCA to nourish the skin, support barrier health, and help you visibly glow.
Josh Rosebrook
Active Enzyme Exfoliator Exfoliating Facial Mask
The brilliant Josh Rosebrook’s Active Enzyme Exfoliator is formulated with fruit, honey, and herbal enzymes and acids to gently slough away dead skin cells through chemical exfoliation. At the same time, finely ground walnut shells (!) physically exfoliate. I love how it smells, I love how it feels, I just love it in general.
Taking a Holistic Approach
Behold: the arnica montanas (if you know, you know) of the best natural skincare. These go-tos are affordable, multi-purpose, and altogether lovely. Stock up and don’t use sparingly.
One of Sophia Vilensky’s castor oil bottles and some of her crystals.
(Image credit: Sophia Vilensky)
Kreyòl Essence
Haitian Black Castor Oil
Forever and always, I’ll have a jug of castor oil in my cabinet. I’m a big believer in a castor oil pack, but also sweeping some of this thick goodness over my lashes (so many mascaras use it as an ingredient) and brows to help support hair health and growth.
Weleda
Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Body Cream
You know what I’m talking about, right Hailey Bieber? Skin Food is a true icon for the face, for the body, for everything. It features essential fatty acids and vitamin E for major moisture, organic pansy to calm, and organic calendula flower extract to repair and restore.
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