Botanical Skincare
5 Botanical Skincare Staples I Keep Coming Back To
My skincare routine used to have twelve steps and now it has about four, and I like it a lot more this way. These are the botanical basics that survived the great simplification u2014 the ones that do one job well instead of promising to do everything.
#1
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Rosehip oil is the last step in my nighttime routine, and it is the product I have repurchased more than any other on this list. It sinks in faster than I expected from an oil and does not leave that greasy film some face oils do. I have noticed my skin looks a little more even over the months I have used it, though I will not overclaim u2014 it is a slow, gradual thing.
- 100% organic, cold-pressed, single ingredient
- My most-repurchased skincare product
- Gradual, not overnight, results
#2
Cliganic Organic Jojoba Oil, 100% Pure (4oz)
Jojoba is the one I use everywhere else u2014 hands, cuticles, the ends of my hair when it gets dry in winter. It is technically a wax, not an oil, which is supposedly why it feels so close to skin's natural sebum. I keep a small bottle at my desk because dry hands mid-afternoon are a real problem for me.
- Cold-pressed, hexane-free, single ingredient
- My do-everything bottle: hands, hair, cuticles
- Lives on my desk, not just the bathroom shelf
#3
Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel, 12oz
I originally bought this for a sunburn and now use it as a lightweight daytime moisturizer under sunscreen. It is not sticky the way some aloe gels are, which was my main complaint with a cheaper brand I tried first. It also lives in my fridge in summer u2014 cold aloe gel after a hot day is an underrated small pleasure.
- Made from real aloe juice, not powder
- Lightweight, non-sticky texture
- Doubles as a fridge-cold summer treat
#4
Thayers Original Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Aloe Vera
Witch hazel toner was the step I was most skeptical would matter, and it is now the one I would least want to skip. It is alcohol-free, so it does not leave my skin tight or dry the way some older-style toners did. I use it right after cleansing and before the rosehip oil u2014 it feels like the bridge step that makes everything after it work better.
- Alcohol-free, farm-to-bottle witch hazel
- The step I was skeptical of, now essential
- My bridge between cleansing and oil
#5
SheaMoisture 100% Raw Shea Butter, 15oz
This is not a face product for me u2014 it is strictly elbows, heels, and any patch of skin that gets genuinely dry in winter. It is thick, solid at room temperature, and melts the moment it touches skin. A little truly goes a long way, so despite the jar size this has lasted me far longer than I expected.
- 100% raw, certified organic shea butter
- My body-only pick, not for the face
- Lasts far longer than the jar size suggests
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