Understanding Natural Skincare Ingredients: From Pure to Pragmatic

When it comes to skincare, the word “natural” gets thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean? Does it refer to ingredients freshly picked from your herb garden, or is there more nuance to it?

At Puremess, we believe transparency is everything. So today, we’re breaking down the four shades of natural ingredients—based on the framework from Formula Botanica, a leading natural skincare school—and sharing how we use them to create beautifully balanced skincare that really works.

Shade 1: Purist Natural Ingredients

These are ingredients derived directly from nature and used in their original chemical form. A great example is cold-pressed oils and butters, like cocoa butter or shea butter. While the physical form may be changed during extraction, the chemical structure remains unaltered.

At Puremess, we use a lot of these. Why? Because they’re incredibly effective, nourishing, and gentle on the skin. They’ve stood the test of time for good reason.

Shade 2: Naturally Derived Ingredients

These ingredients come from natural sources like plants, seeds, or nuts, but undergo some form of processing—think fermentation or distillation—to become active and effective in your skincare.

Essential oils fall into this category. Yes, they’ve been through a process, but they remain close to their natural roots. And let’s face it—essential oils are absolutely amazing! Their potency, aromatherapeutic benefits, and antibacterial properties are unmatched.

Shade 3: Nature-Identical Ingredients

These ingredients are lab-created, but their molecular structure is exactly the same as their natural counterparts. Why use them? Sometimes, sustainability or cost makes harvesting the original ingredient problematic.

Citric acid is a great example. It naturally occurs in citrus fruits, but producing enough from oranges alone would be wildly impractical. By creating a nature-identical version in a lab, we get the benefits without harming the planet.

Some essential oils may also fall into this category when the "pure" version is price-prohibitive or overharvested.

Shade 4: Biomimetic Ingredients

These are ingredients inspired by nature, but designed synthetically to mimic the benefits of a natural molecule. They may be created in a lab or derived from natural sources.

Take hyaluronic acid: naturally found in our skin, it’s essential for hydration and tissue repair. The fully natural version comes from animal sources (like rooster combs—not exactly vegan-friendly!). So, we use a lab-created alternative that delivers incredible hydration without harming animals.

Our Philosophy: Safe, Effective, Honest

At Puremess, we use a carefully curated mix of ingredients from all four categories—always choosing what’s safest, most sustainable, and most effective. What you won’t find? Harsh, harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, synthetic dyes, or artificial fragrances.

We believe in empowering our customers with knowledge so you can feel confident in every product you use.

Ready to experience the beauty of balanced skincare?

We blend the best of nature and science to give you products that work in harmony with your skin. Explore our full range of natural skincare and see the Puremess difference for yourself.

Gemma xxx