More and more cosmetics and skin care products include the words essential, natural, bio, botanical, and herbal in their product name or description connoting that the product is made from herbs or plants. Often times, however, the label is looked at and things like Octisalate, Octinoxate, Lyphazomes, Oxybenzone, are seen and it's hard to believe it is a natural product.

In the health and beauty world the word botanical refers to a part of a plant or a plant extract used in making a skin or hair product. It's possible that the entire product is made using botanicals; however, it's more likely that part of the product is made using botanicals.

For skin and hair care products there are no labeling requirements (unless it is considered a drug) so the contents of the skin care product could be any variation of things. To know if what you're getting is all that "botanical" read the ingredient label and learn the terms. You'll need to do this if what you are going for is an all out vegan-friendly, organic, purely botanical product.

If you're looking for a skin care product with botanicals or not, and just a down and dirty product that will make you look your best, nature will, in most cases, beat out any synthetic or toxic product, rest assured. Learn how nature can make your skin fit with these popular botanicals.

Popular fruit, vegetable, and nut botanicals include:

Orange blossoms control oil production

Grapefruit increases circulation in the skin

Shea butter (a fat derived from nuts) thickens and moisturizes the skin

Lemon has antiseptic purpose

Popular botanicals from herbs include:

Basil increases blood flow

Ginger can warm and stimulate

Ginseng promotes collagen production and is healing

Green tea extract is an antioxidant and is soothing

Popular tree, plant, or floral botanicals include:

Aloe vera gel soothes, softens, and stimulates collagen production

Chamomile has qualities of anti-inflammatory

Rose hips serve as an emollient/moisturizer

Sea algae moisturizes and smoothes

Everything from lipstick to moisturizers should contain many or a few botanical elements proving that nature can make our skin look great and fit.