Today there are many excellent firming skin creams on the market. There are even more low quality ones Its all about the ingredients, as you might guess. Unfortunately, reading the label can be more like reading a chemical textbook, so how do you know what’s in a product?Reading the label would be the best place to start. But just looking at that lengthy list of chemical sounding names can make you cringe. Thats why I start with the directions and the warning labels.The vast majority of skin creams and lotions can trigger eye irritation. So, advice about what to do if the product gets in your eyes should not be a discouragement. But if you read “avoid using this product around the mouth or eye area” then that is a red flag!You have to think what would occur if it does get in your mouth somehow?. Is there some kind of poison in it?In many cases, there are. Naturally occurring substances can be harmful. Most likely by triggering skin or eye irritation. Oil essences are examples of semi-natural elements that can lead to sickness if ingested. Even when only applied to the skin, they can cause redness or irritation. Their principal benefits are in the area of aroma therapy.I mention essential oils simply because a large number of skin care creams contain them. It has never been clear to me why they call them what they call them. They are not oils that contain fatty acids. They are not anything like your skins naturally protective oils. In reality, they are just concentrated plant perfumes. They are made of water.The essential fatty acids, found in substances like grape seed oil and olive oil, are beneficial for your skins health. They aid the retention of moisture. They also contain vitamins like vitamin E, too. Vitamin E is one of the most powerful anti-oxidants. Antioxidants are crucial for preventing and fixing free radical damage, a cause of skin aging.When reading the list of ingredients, all-natural vitamin E is typically posted as alpha-tocopherol. Grapeseed oil may be listed as Vitis vinifera seed oil. Olive oil may be posted as olivate.There are numerous other excellent compounds to seek out in natural skin care products. You don’t have to use toxic chemicals on your skin.