When your bathroom cabinets are filled with half-used bottles of skin lotions, facial moisturizers, and hydrating serums for everything from dry eyelids to brittle toenails, it might be time to simplify your beauty routine.

Fortunately, there are several different options for simple and all-natural skin moisturizers. Not only do they provide ample hydration from head to toe, they can also double as other personal care products, like makeup remover or shaving lotion.

Plus, when you switch to single-ingredient, plant-derived skin moisturizers, you know exactly what’s being absorbed into your body. Whether your goal is to find simpler, more sustainable personal care products or to ease up on using products with artificial fragrances and dyes, plant-based oils are well worth exploring!

The Benefits of Natural Skin Moisturizers

Research shows that the oils from seeds, fruits, nuts, and other organic ingredients nourish and heal our skin. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences, for example, published an article exploring the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin-repairing effects of using plant oils topically on the skin.

The researchers found that when specific plant oils are applied directly on the skin, the oils promote wound healing (goodbye, shaving nicks!), infuse the skin with antioxidants, and repair the skin’s natural protective barrier. These oils also help nourish and soothe dry, irritated skin. The article also mentions how these oils help improve skin elasticity, which helps keep wrinkles to a minimum.

Switching to natural skin moisturizers is also good for the environment. These oils come from plants, which are renewable resources in the sense that they can grow over and over again, rather than lab-created compounds or finite resources like petroleum.

Choosing a Plant-Based Oil

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to find many of these natural moisturizers right in your pantry! Almond oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, pomegranate seed oil, sesame oil, and soybean oil all offer benefits when applied to the skin, according to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences article.

Experiment with different oils and see which one works best for you. Read on to discover three of our favorite natural skin moisturizers and how they can benefit your skin.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has received a lot of buzz lately as a superfood with lots of health benefits. But beyond its myriad uses in cooking, coconut oil is also an excellent moisturizer that absorbs quickly and quenches thirsty skin.

According to Vogue, coconut oil contains high levels of lauric and caprylic acid. These two ingredients are known for reducing redness and inflammation, evening out the skin tone, increasing glowiness, and helping to soothe breakouts.

You can use coconut oil on your face as a daily moisturizer; apply it to dry hair as a hydrating mask; use it on your legs before and after shaving; or spread it on your lips for an all-natural lip balm. At room temperature, this oil is thick, making it less messy to apply than a liquid oil.

If you decide to use coconut oil as a beauty product, just make sure to use cold-pressed, virgin, organic coconut oil, to avoid applying preservatives directly onto your skin.

2. Jojoba Oil

This oil is derived from the seeds of the jojoba plant. Jojoba oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. The Vitamin E and B-complex vitamins in jojoba oil also help repair chafed or chapped skin.

You can use jojoba oil as a cleanser to gently and thoroughly clean away foundation and facial makeup. All it takes is a few swipes of a cotton pad moistened with a few drops of oil. Jojoba oil is also helpful for moisturizing dry fingernails and toenails.

3. Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter has a wonderful fragrance since it’s derived from the cocoa bean. It’s also high in fatty acids, which is why it’s known for its ability to deeply hydrate and nourish the skin while improving elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter also forms a protective barrier over the skin to hold in moisture.

For an easy application, you can purchase this oil in stick form and glide it over your arms and legs. Your body heat turns the solid into a liquid, so you can easily massage it into your skin!

Ready to simplify your skin care routine and declutter your bathroom vanity? Try a few of these natural moisturizers and discover which ones will become your favorites.

Happy moisturizing!

3 Natural Moisturizers for the Face and Body