You've seen them everywhere. The doctors. The naturopaths. The gurus. The podcasters. They're all shouting at you to "live your best life" and "avoid this" or "supplement that". When did skincare advice get so overwhelming?
Building a skincare routine that works for you shouldn't require a PhD in biochemistry, a 12-step morning ritual, or a full moon ceremony with your favourite crystals (though we're not judging if that's your vibe).
If you've been wondering "how do I actually switch to natural skincare without losing my mind?" you're in the right place. We're cutting through the noise to bring you a refreshingly simple beginner's guide to natural skincare that won't cost you your sanity or your entire pay check.
Ready to discover how effortless (and effective) natural skincare can actually be? Let's dive in.
Step 1: Listen to what your skin is telling you
Before you go throwing out your entire bathroom cabinet, we suggest taking a minute to actually check in with your skin. Yes, we're talking about having a proper 1-on-1 with your face.
Is your skin screaming "HELP, I'M DRY" every morning? Are you blotting your oily nose by lunchtime? Maybe it's throwing breakouts your way every time you try something new? Your skin is basically that friend who tells you exactly what's wrong, you just need to listen.
Grab a mirror and do a quick skin audit. Notice the patterns. When does your skin feel its best? When does it act up? This isn't about achieving Instagram filter perfection, it's about understanding what your unique skin actually needs to feel comfortable and healthy.
Pro tip: Keep a quick notes app entry for a week. Write down how your skin feels each morning and evening. You'll start to spot the patterns faster than you think and this insight will be gold when you start building your natural skincare routine.
Step 2: Pick some of your favourite ingredients
Now for the fun part…ingredient shopping! But before you start Googling "best natural skincare ingredients" and falling down a rabbit hole of conflicting advice, let's keep it simple.
Think about ingredients that already make you happy. Love the way Aloe Vera helps to soothe inflammation? Obsessed with how glowy your skin feels after using Hyaluronic Acid? Notice your breakouts seem to reduce when applying Witch Hazel? Start there.
For dry or sensitive skin:
Look for gentle hydrators like Aloe Vera, Sodium PCA or essential fatty acids. A great place to start is with our Vital Cream or Omega Oil, where you can find purposeful ingredients to help rehydrate and quench your skin’s thirst.
For oily or acne-prone skin:
Maclura Cochinchinensis, turmeric, or witch hazel can be your new best friends. They're the reliable trio who help you get your act together without being harsh about it. All of these can be found in our Clarity Serum.
For anti-aging concerns:
Antioxidants, Ceramides and natural retinol alternatives have your back and can hold your hand through the natural ageing process. Check out Gentle Cleansing Milk or Curative Serum to help soften the appearance of fine lines.
The key? Don't try to tackle every skin concern at once. Pick 2-3 ingredients that speak to your skin's biggest needs right now. You can always expand your natural skincare routine later.
Step 3: Start small
Here's where most people mess up their natural skincare journey, they go from zero to hero overnight. It's like deciding to run a marathon when you haven't jogged around the block in years (spoiler alert, it doesn't end well. Shin splints anyone?).
Instead, start with just 1-2 new natural products or ingredients. Give it at least 2-3 weeks to show you what it's got. Your skin needs time to adjust and you need time to see if this new addition is helping your newly identified skin priorities.
Maybe start with swapping your regular cleanser for a gentle, natural skincare option, like our Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Or replace your moisturiser with something plant based, like Vital Cream. Whatever feels like the smallest, least scary step for you.
The best part about starting small? If something doesn't work out, you're not stuck with a bathroom full of expensive products that make your skin angry. You're just tweaking one small thing and moving on to the next experiment.
Here's the real talk:
Your skin didn't develop its current situation overnight, and it's not going to transform overnight either. But give it consistent, gentle care with quality natural ingredients and you'll start noticing those subtle improvements that make you do a double take in the mirror.
Remember, the goal isn't to have the most complicated skincare routine. It's to find what makes YOUR skin happy, healthy, and comfortable in its own... well, skin.
What to Expect When You're Switching
Making the change to natural skincare isn't always sunshine and glass skin from day one. Sometimes your skin needs to have a detox phase and that's completely normal.
You might notice some initial breakouts, especially if you're coming from heavy synthetic products. Think of it like your skin is having a proper clear out conversation with itself. "Oh, we're doing things differently now? Okay, let me just... reorganise everything." This usually settles down within 2-4 weeks, but don't panic if your skin seems a bit confused at first.
Some people also experience a period where their skin feels like it's not doing much of anything, not better, not worse, just... existing. This can also be your skin recalibrating and learning to work with gentler, more natural ingredients. Patience is your best friend here (we know, easier said than done when you just want glowing skin yesterday).
The flip side? When your skin does start responding well to your new routine, the changes often feel more sustainable and genuine than the quick fixes from harsher products. You're building long-term skin health, not just masking problems with aggressive treatments.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Not all natural skincare is created equal, and sadly, some brands love to slap "natural" on their labels like it's a magic word that fixes everything. Here's how to spot the pretenders:
Claims that sound too good to be true. If a product promises to "reverse 20 years of ageing in 3 days" or "eliminate all acne forever," run. Good natural skincare works gradually and realistically.
No ingredient transparency. If a brand won't tell you exactly what's in their products or hides behind "proprietary blends," that's sketchy behaviour regardless of whether they're natural or not.
Building Your Natural Skincare Toolkit
Once you've mastered the art of starting small, you might want to expand your routine. Here's how to build a solid foundation without going overboard:
Morning routine:
Start fresh with Gentle Cleansing Milk, maybe add in a nourishing serum such as Curative Serum, then finish with a light moisturiser, like Vital Cream. That's it. Three steps max. Top it off with some SPF for sun protection and you’re ready to go.
Evening routine:
Remove the day (makeup, sunscreen, city grime) with Marigold Cleansing Balm, rehydrate with Herbal Mist, and if you're feeling fancy, this is when you might add a treatment oil or serum like Clarity Serum or Omega Oil before finishing off with your favourite moisturiser.
Weekly treats:
Camellia Sheet Mask, Bamboo Enzyme Peel, or Plant Peel. Think of these as your skin's equivalent of a spa day!
Nobody Talks About This
The results of your swap are often more subtle but longer lasting than some synthetic products. You're not going to wake up looking like you've had a professional facial every single day, but you will start noticing that your skin just... works better.
Your skin might feel more comfortable throughout the day. Those random flare ups might become less frequent. Your complexion might develop a more even, healthy look and you feel less of the need to cover up with makeup.
Most people start noticing positive changes around the 4-6 week mark, with more significant improvements showing up around 3 months. It's like the difference between a crash diet and actually developing healthy eating habits, one gives quick results that don't last, the other creates sustainable, long term changes.
Progress. Not Perfection.
The truth is, there's no perfect routine that works for absolutely everyone. Your skin is as unique as you are, and what makes your best friend's complexion glow might make yours break out in protest.
But that's actually the beautiful thing about natural skincare, it encourages you to pay attention to your skin, to experiment mindfully and to develop a routine that's truly personalised to what your skin needs right now (not what it needed five years ago or what Instagram says it should need).
Start with those three simple steps: listen to your skin, pick ingredients you actually like, and start small. Give yourself permission to take this slowly and to change course if something isn't working. Your skin will thank you for the gentle, thoughtful approach, even if it takes a little longer to figure out your perfect routine.
Remember, the goal isn't perfection, it's progress. And honestly? Once you find your rhythm, you'll wonder why you ever thought you needed all those complicated products with unpronounceable ingredients in the first place.
