The aging process takes its toll on our whole body. Our skin is, perhaps, the first place we notice it. As a matter of fact, the aging process not only increases the appearance of wrinkles and ages spots, but it also makes our skin more fragile and brittle.

This is why, when treating mature skin, you should use gentle skin care creams. A good option for mature skin is natural skin care products. However, it may difficult to choose the right, natural skin cream because some products contain ingredients that we would not consider gentle or soothing.

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

Avoid the Following Ingredients especially in Face Creams

One of the ingredients you should try to avoid is alcohol in all of its forms except 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 harmful ingredient that you can find in many 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 can cause inflammation, but are widely used in skin products because they are inexpensive.

Synthetic colors and unnatural fragrances are usually 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.

Ingredients you DO want in Your Skin Care Cream

There are a few very special ingredients that you should look for in all skin care products, and if at all possible, prefer them over products that don't contain these ingredients.

Rose hip oil has been known to help treat dry skin and scar tissues. 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 an excellent ingredient in 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.