You can't deny the simple fact that we will all, at one time or another, have to face the common signs of aging, however, this shouldn't be cause for concern. Aging doesn't mean you have to give up on life or feel less attractive in the process. In fact, skin care companies have seen the need for a special type of product catered to aging skin care needs.

When you are looking for skin care creams for aging skin, make sure that they are gentle. 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.

For instance, the skin care industry believes that petroleum based ingredients are natural substances. Whether petroleum based ingredients are or aren't natural is beside the point. The real question is, would you find it natural to treat your delicate aging skin with petrolum? Let's take a look at other ingredients that you may want to avoid in your skin and face creams.

The most important ingredient to avoid is alcohol in all of its forms except cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates skin and is also known to cause irritation. That is why if you do find yourself buying a product that contains this ingredient, make sure that it isn't among the first five ingredients.

Parabens are another ingredient that should not be present in natural skin creams. Although they serve an important purpose such as suppressing microbial formation in creams, parabens have been linked to irritation and cancer.

Other carcinogenic products that you will want to avoid are acryl amide (linked to breast tumors), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dioxine (a synthetic derivative of coconut). You should also try and avoid products made with synthetic colors and fragrances because, not only are some considered to be carcinogenic, but most are known to alter hormone levels.

Phenol carbolic acid is a very common ingredient found in most skin care products. It is an antiseptic and disinfectant. However, continual use can lead to irritation or dermatitis.

An ingredient known as stearalkonium chloride is used in creams for its conditioning properties. This ingredient may cause skin and eye irritation so if a product you have purchased contains this ingredient you should avoid using it for prolonged periods of time.

Vital Ingredients for Face Creams

There are also some ingredients that you should look for in your skin care products. Not all products contain them, but try to use those that do, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Rose hip seed oil is one of the best natural moisturizers around. It has been used for centuries to treat dry skin, eczema, scar tissue and even stretch marks.

Licorice root extract is another natural ingredient that is very soothing on sensitive skin. It may appear listed as glycyrrhizin on the product labels so look closely before purchasing. If you are worried that this ingredient may cause irritation or produce allergic reactions, then you should do a patch test before trying it on your face.