When choosing skincare products, many of us naturally look for words that feel reassuring.
"Natural."
"Organic."
"Clean."
"Plant-based."
These labels often create the impression that a product is automatically gentler, safer or more effective.
You have likely been seeing more and more of these claims on skincare and cosmetic products, but are natural skincare product ingredients better for our skin and are all synthetic ‘man made’ ingredients really that bad?
The answer is more complicated.
While many natural ingredients have incredible benefits and have been used in skincare for centuries, being natural does not automatically mean an ingredient is safer, more effective or suitable for every skin type.
At the same time, synthetic ingredients are not automatically harsh or harmful.
The most important factor in skincare is not whether an ingredient comes from nature or a laboratory—it is the quality of the ingredient, how it is formulated, how it interacts with your skin and whether it supports your skin's needs.
‘It is important to understand that all ingredients serve a purpose,’ says Rita, AMPERNA®’s head chemist. ‘Not all synthetic ingredients are harmful and not all natural ingredients are safe.’
At AMPERNA®, we believe great skincare comes from combining science, innovation and carefully selected ingredients that support healthy-looking skin.
What Does “Natural” Mean in Skincare?
The term "natural" is commonly used in the beauty industry, but it does not always have one universal definition.
A natural ingredient generally refers to an ingredient derived from a natural source such as:
- Plants
- Minerals
- Marine sources
- Naturally occurring compounds
Examples of natural skincare ingredients include:
- Aloe vera
- Green tea extract
- Shea butter
- Botanical extracts
- Plant-derived oils
Natural ingredients can provide valuable benefits for the skin, including hydration, antioxidant support and skin conditioning.
However, natural does not automatically mean gentle.
Are Natural Ingredients Always Better for Sensitive Skin?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in skincare.
Many people with sensitive or reactive skin assume that natural products will always be the safest option.
However, some natural ingredients contain compounds that may be challenging for certain skin types.
For example, some botanical extracts and essential oils contain naturally occurring fragrance compounds that may not suit everyone.
Ingredients such as:
- Citrus oils
- Lavender oil
- Tea tree oil
- Peppermint oil
- Eucalyptus oil
may feel refreshing and aromatic, but some sensitive skin types may prefer simpler, fragrance-free formulations.
When your skin barrier is compromised, fewer potential irritants are often better tolerated.
Natural Does Not Always Mean More Effective
Another common misconception is that natural ingredients are automatically more powerful.
The effectiveness of an ingredient depends on:
- Its concentration
- Its stability
- How it is delivered into the skin
- How it interacts with other ingredients
- The overall formulation
For example, some naturally occurring ingredients can be unstable and difficult to preserve.
Modern cosmetic science allows ingredients to be carefully refined, stabilised and formulated so they can perform consistently.
What About Synthetic Ingredients?
Synthetic ingredients sometimes receive a negative reputation, but synthetic does not mean unsafe.
Many ingredients created through scientific processes are designed to:
- Improve stability
- Increase consistency
- Reduce contamination risk
- Improve texture
- Enhance product performance
Some synthetic ingredients are identical to compounds found naturally in the skin or environment.
The question should not be:
"Is this ingredient natural or synthetic?"
Instead, ask:
"Is this ingredient well-researched, appropriately formulated and suitable for my skin?"
Why Formulation Matters More Than Individual Ingredients
Skincare is not about one "hero" ingredient.
A successful formula depends on how all ingredients work together.
A well-designed skincare product considers:
- Ingredient compatibility
- Concentration
- Stability
- Skin penetration
- Skin tolerance
- The skin barrier
Two products may contain the same ingredient but perform very differently depending on how they are formulated.
The Synthetic Ingredients We Avoid in AMPERNA®
Some synthetic ingredients have received a bad rap after being linked to studies1 exposing certain health concerns (such as skin irritations and hormone disruptions) and environmental risks.
In our recent blog article ‘Four ingredients we avoid and why’, we noted that many of these potentially risky ingredients are used to make product formulations cheaper or easier to create. Manufacturers argue that there is not enough evidence to prove that these low level exposures are significant enough to cause harm. It is true that many people can go through their lives using these products without noticing any obvious issues. For others, using a shampoo or moisturiser with one of these ingredients could be the trigger for painful skin irritations and allergies.
The synthetic ingredients we choose to leave out of AMPERNA® include sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, vinyls and synthetic fragrance and our focus is on using gentle ingredients for the most sensitive skin. Our founder Kiri personally experienced skin flare-ups when using products that contained these ingredients and knows first hand how irritating they can be to some skin types.
Why AMPERNA® Uses a Science-First Approach
At AMPERNA®, we don't believe skincare needs to fit into a simple "natural versus synthetic" category.
Instead, we focus on selecting ingredients based on:
Research and Evidence
Ingredients are chosen based on their known cosmetic benefits and ability to support healthy-looking skin.
Skin Compatibility
Especially for sensitive and reactive skin, formulas need to respect the skin barrier.
Ingredient Synergy
A good formulation is about how ingredients work together - not just individual ingredients.
Microbiome Support
The skin microbiome plays an important role in maintaining balanced, healthy-looking skin.
Synthetics and Shelf Life
While many products contain synthetics that are really not necessary for the product to function effectively, some products need help when it comes to extending shelf life.
Most cosmetics and skincare products are formulated with water as a base, often noted as ‘aqua’ on the ingredients list. Once water is introduced to a formulation, the growth of microbes and potentially harmful bacteria is inevitable, unless preservatives are added.
A preservative is simply an ingredient that helps prevent a product from spoiling. Preservatives can be both natural and synthetic, but it is much harder to create a formulation with a natural preservative, and they are often less effective.
‘The big pro for synthetic preservatives is their broad-spectrum effectiveness at very low concentrations,’ explains Jen Novakovich of The Eco Well. ‘In addition, many synthetic preservatives are actually less allergenic, especially because they are needed at much lower amounts than their natural counterparts.’
Every time you open a product or interact with it by dipping your finger inside or dabbing it on your skin, you are introducing new bacteria and microbes into the product and increasing the opportunity for bad bacteria to grow. If there are no preservatives in the product to halt this growth, you could end up causing skin irritations and infections.
Do All Products Need Preservatives?
Not necessarily. Some water free products including balms or oil-based serums may be safe without preservatives.
Is Natural Always Better?
Just as certain synthetic ingredients can irritate or harm our skin, some people react badly to some natural ingredients.
According to a recent article in Choice, natural ingredients like lavender, tea tree oil, lanolin, cinnamon and some essential oils have been linked to skin reaction and allergies, while some personal care products containing lavender and tea tree oils have been linked with hormone disruption in boys.
In addition to this, there have been reported cases where people who have used natural personal care products such as goats milk soap or moisturiser have later developed allergies to goat milk and cheese.
Many natural ingredients that are marketed as better for our skin need to be more thoroughly studied and investigated in order to conclude whether they are truly more effective. On the flip side, further investigation is also needed to explore any possible negative effects before certain ingredients can be touted as more or equally effective than synthetic ingredients.
‘All skin types are different and reactions with individuals can be caused by many contributing factors or ingredients,’ explains AMPERNA® head chemist Rita. ‘The best advice I can offer is to ensure that each product should be patch tested. Wait 24hrs and if there is no reaction, it’s safe for that skin type…happy days. If a reaction occurs, don’t use it again.’
Final Thoughts
Natural ingredients can be wonderful additions to skincare, but natural does not automatically mean better.
The future of skincare is not about choosing between nature and science.
It is about combining the best of both.
By selecting carefully researched ingredients, supporting the skin barrier and creating formulas designed for skin compatibility, you can build a routine that helps your skin look and feel its best.
Further Learning:
The team at Formula Botanica Organic Cosmetic Science recently released a podcast titled 'What does natural skincare mean'?
Find out more about the difference between organic and natural skincare in this article by The Beauty Crew.
Read up on whether natural and organic ingredients are better for your skin on the Paula’s Choice blog.
If you have enjoyed this blog post, you may like to read Can Makeup Cause Breakouts?
1There are many studies pointing to the harmful effects of some synthetic ingredients; here are three articles you may find of interest:
Chemical exposures: The ugly side of beauty products
The serious health issues linked to chemicals that give products fragrance
Endocrine disrupting chemicals
