If you're like most men and women, you don't like to put a bunch of chemicals on your face. However, it's often difficult to know which products are best at promoting healthy skin, as well as those products designed to reduce signs of aging, wrinkles, or to reduce darkness of freckles, melasma and scars. Many people these days are opting to go organic when it comes to their skin care needs, but just what does that mean?

Organic skin care, also known as natural skin care, is becoming more popular as people around the world are growing more aware of environmental and animal issues. However, the use of the words 'natural' or 'organic' basically mean that the ingredients of any specific skin care product is created from natural ingredients. This doesn't mean that the product that you choose can be considered natural by the time it reaches the store shelves, as often, chemicals and manufacturing processing has turned that formerly natural product into a something else entirely.

When you see ingredients listed on labels such as 'derived' from aloe vera or 'derived' from rose oil, or some such, that doesn't mean that no chemicals or additives have been added or created from the manufacturing process. In order to determine if any product, whether it's skin care, shampoo, foods or drinks are truly organic, they should have some sort of guarantee on the label that designates them as such. You should not be able to find any chemical names or terms in the ingredient label.

Always make sure to read the first few listed ingredients for any so-called organic skin care product, which usually make up the bulk of that product, whether it's a cream, lotion, paste or oil. An easy rule of thumb to follow is that if you can't pronounce the names of the listed ingredients, you may want to put that item back on the shelf.

When it comes to skin care, it's important to know what you're offering your skin cells. If you want moisture, or antiaging or anti wrinkle effects, you have to know the basics of skin care products. Retin and Vitamin A as well as Vitamin E are necessary for any beneficial anti wrinkle or line products to work. You don't have to be an expert in biology or chemistry to make a wise choice. Look around, ask around and check basic ingredients on the Internet or get a book on natural vitamins and herbs that are found in common foods, especially those found in fruits and vegetables.

Searching for a natural skin care product is not as easy as walking into the local natural food or health store and grabbing a bottle off the shelf. While this may seem the logical place to start, the consumer must always be aware of false advertising and take the time to read labels, ask questions, and if in doubt, put that item back on the shelf until you learn more about it. After all, it's your skin.