Natural Facial Cleansers

Completely natural facial cleansers are still hard to find

Although natural products have become a mainstay in the cosmetics and skin-care industry, reviews of natural facial cleansers are still hard to find. To make matters more confusing, companies often market their products in a way that makes them appear to be natural although they still may contain chemical ingredients of some sort. Aveeno Active Naturals products, for example, only contain a handful of natural ingredients. Although nearly 15 users at Drugstore.com give Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Daily Exfoliating Cleanser (*Est. $10 for 5 oz.) very high ratings, it contains fragrance, polyethylene (plastic beads), methylparaben and other chemical ingredients along with its natural ingredients.

One product that seems to be a good choice is The Body Shop Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser (*Est. $14 for 6.75 oz.). Although it is not 100 percent natural -- few cleansers are -- it doesn't contain any of the "dirty dozen" ingredients that the Green Guide cautions against. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), known for its strict, if not harsh, safety guidelines, gives Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser a low hazard rating, based on the safety of its ingredients. Paula Begoun also lists the cleanser as a Paula's Pick (her highest rating) and calls it a "good, gentle cleansing lotion" that doesn't contain fragrance or detergent cleansing agents. She recommends the cleanser for normal to dry or sensitive skin types.

For those with normal, oily or blemished skin, Begoun recommends The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash (*Est. $11 for 8.4 oz.). Although the cleanser does not earn a Paula's Pick designation, Begoun says that it is a "very good water soluble cleanser." She points out, however, that the tea tree oil doesn't stay in contact with the skin long enough to have much benefit. Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash earns a moderate hazard score from the EWG, mainly for its inclusion of limonene, which they say is a skin irritant that can cause allergic reactions.