Botanical skin care products are a wonderful choice, but how do you know they're safe? That's a good question because companies avoid disclosing the actual ingredients and instead use proprietary names.

They are also required to list the chemical nomenclature of the botanicals. It's really hard to tell the difference between something naturally occurring and a synthetically created compound. The list of ingredients that you may run into are too numerous to completely cover here. But, I can give you a few hints.

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)

Many botanical skin care products contain this ingredient. It's commonly referred to as Shea butter. It is created by extracting the oil from the Shea nut tree, which grows in Africa. It's an effective moisturizer, reduces scars, blemishes and brown spots.

It is often found in anti-aging products, because it smoothes out wrinkles and fine lines. It reduces inflammation and soothes burns and scrapes.

Undaria Pinnatifida (Kelp/Algae)

This is a variety of kelp or brown algae that grows in the Sea of Japan and other areas of the world. Its common name is wakame. You'll see it on the menu at Japanese restaurants and in health food stores.

Botanical skin care products contain the extract, as it has been shown to increase the level of protein, specifically hyaluronic acid, found in the skin. It stimulates the immune system, reduces inflammation and helps to prevent allergic reactions.

Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel)

The common name is witch hazel. It's an astringent that is extracted from the leaves and bark of the bush that grows wild in North America. It is used for cleaning, healing, soothing and to prevent infections.

Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado Oil)

The common name is avocado oil. It can be found in gourmet food shops and in botanical skin care products. It has many benefits. It's an effective moisturizer. It stimulates collagen production and contains many of the nutrients necessary for the skin's overall good health.

Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba)

The common name is jojoba. It has long been used to heal and soothe cuts and scrapes. As a moisturizer, jojoba is an excellent choice, because it balanced sebum production. It has proven effectiveness in treating acne and psoriasis, even though one condition causes excessive sebum production and the other causes reduced sebum production.

Creams that contain jojoba are perfect for people with combination skin types. They work well under makeup and make a soothing after shave lotion.

Other Botanical Skin Care Considerations

Botanicals provide just about everything that we need to take care of our skin's health. But, try to fully evaluate the ingredients in a product before you buy. There are some organic creams on the market that still contain oxybenzone, even though it's a known carcinogen.

Find A Company That Hides NOTHING

Look for a company that you can trust to provide ingredients that are completely safe and effective. Try to find a manufacturer that "spells it all out" for you. If they seem to be hiding behind proprietary labels, keep looking.

Please remember my adv ice: all botanical skin care products are not created equal. Take this opportunity to shop for the best botanical skin care.