Mature skin requires a gentle touch. The older we get the more our skin becomes thinner and weaker. This also means that it becomes increasingly sensitive to the ingredients found in traditional skin care creams.

A good option for mature skin is natural skin care products. It's not always easy choosing the right natural skin cream because not all natural skin care products contain what we consider "natural".

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

You're your Skin Cream Should not Contain

Alcohol is one of the main ingredients you should avoid especially in face creams (cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are ok). Because alcohol is known for dehydrating the skin you should make sure that whichever product you purchase, it does not list this ingredient within the first five ingredients.

Many natural skin creams contain parabens because they are used to suppress microbial proliferation. However, they can lead to irritation and other problems. They have also been linked to more severe issues such as cancer.

Most synthetic colors and fragrances are also known as 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.

Another ingredient to avoid are ureas. Both imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea can cause inflammation. They are widely used in skin products because they are inexpensive.

Ingredients that Should be in Your Natural Cream

Once you've found a product that contains few or none of the previous ingredients, you should make sure that it does contain the following ingredients. Keep in mind that it is not absolutely essential for these ingredients to appear in your skin cream, but it is a good option especially for soothing sensitive skin.

*Licorice Root

The extract from this ingredient can help soothe the skin. Some product labels may have it listed as glycyrrhizin. Do a patch test before you try using it on larger areas of skin.

*Rose Hip Seed Oil

This vegetable oil has been known to help treat dry skin and scar tissues. It is a very gentle ingredient that can be used directly in its oil form or in skin care products. It has a low viscosity, which allows it to absorb quickly.

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