The aging process will take its toll on our whole body and our skin is generally the first place we notice this change. In fact, the aging process not only increases the appearance of wrinkles and ages spots on our face, but it also makes our skin thinner and more brittle.

This is why, when treating mature skin, you should use gentle skin care creams. A good choice for mature skin is the use of natural skin care products, however, you should be very careful when choosing a natural skin cream because some products contain ingredients that aren't always considered gentle or soothing.

Ingredients such as petrolatum and propylene glycol are by-products of petroleum and are, therefore, considered natural. Nevertheless, they can be irritating to mature skin. Here is a list of products that you should avoid if you want to use the most natural products.

Ingredients that should not be found in Face Creams

Alcohol is an ingredient you should always avoid unless it comes in the form of cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. Alcohol is known to dehydrate your skin and cause irritation so if you do purchase a product that contains this ingredient, make sure that it does not appear among the first 5 ingredients.

Parabens are another ingredient that should be banned from natural skin creams. Even though they serve an important purpose (suppressing microbial formation in creams), parabens have been linked to irritation. They have also been linked to more severe problems such as cancer.

Ureas are also an ingredient to watch out for. Both imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea are inexpensive and used in several skin care products, however, they can cause inflammation in some people.

Synthetic colors and fragrances are usually coal-tars that can lead to cancer. Synthetic fragrances can alter hormonal production. Always look for products that are fragrance free and not unscented as unscented products use other components to mask the smell of the product's ingredients.

The Good Ingredients: Look for them in Your Skin Care Cream

There are a couple of key ingredients that are very beneficial to have in your skin care product. If at all possible, you should prefer products that contain these ingredients over products that don't, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Rose hip oil is infamous for treating dry skin and scar tissue. It has a low viscosity, which allows it to absorb quickly into the skin. This makes it possible to apply this ingredient in its oil form or in skin care products.

Rose hip seed oil helps soothe irritated skin and helps moisturize dry skin. In fact, it is a great addition to any skin cream for aging skin.

Licorice root extract is a very soothing ingredient. It may appear as glycyrrhizin on the product labels. If you are concerned about irritation or allergic reactions, make sure that you do a patch test before trying it on your face.