Skin Moisturizing & Barrier Care
Natural ingredients for skin barrier and dry skin: what FDA's skin-protectant rule recognizes, what a small trial found for olive oil, and what evidence we could and could not read for oils, clays and bee products.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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Skin products sit in different legal and evidence categories, and "natural" tells you none of it. This page lines up what we could source. It is not advice for a skin condition: for eczema, infected, broken or worrying skin, see a clinician.
What FDA's rule recognizes (over-the-counter skin protectants)
FDA's skin-protectant rule lists active ingredients with required concentrations. Of the ingredients covered on this site, it includes colloidal oatmeal (minimum 0.007%), cocoa butter (50 to 100%) and kaolin (4 to 20%), alongside others such as lanolin, petrolatum, glycerin, dimethicone and zinc oxide. [1] Labels may only make the claims the rule allows, such as "temporarily protects minor cuts, scrapes and burns" or "helps relieve chafed, chapped or cracked skin", and carry warnings to stop use and ask a doctor if the condition worsens or lasts more than 7 days. [1]Evidence we could read, by ingredient
| Ingredient | Skin-related evidence we read | Strength | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colloidal oatmeal | FDA-recognized skin protectant for minor irritation and itching from rashes, eczema, poison ivy and insect bites [1] | Regulatory category; no trial read | Colloidal oatmeal |
| Cocoa butter | FDA-recognized skin protectant [1] | Regulatory category; no trial read | Cocoa butter |
| Kaolin | FDA-recognized skin protectant (powder warnings) [1] | Regulatory category | Kaolin clay |
| Olive oil | In a small randomized adult study, olive oil reduced skin barrier integrity and caused mild redness, while sunflower seed oil did not [2] | One small study, against use | Olive oil |
| Coconut oil | Narrative review: limited but consistent evidence for topical use in atopic dermatitis [3] | Limited | Coconut oil |
| Bentonite clay | Review: preliminary evidence; larger trials needed [4] | Preliminary | Bentonite clay |
| Propolis | A documented contact allergen [5] | Allergy risk | Propolis |
What we did not find evidence for
We did not read sources on shea butter, jojoba oil, beeswax or Epsom salt for skin, so we make no claim for them. A cosmetic is not tested to treat disease, and FDA treats claims to treat disease as drug claims. [6]Practical cautions
- Food oil on skin is not proven to be harmless: the olive oil study is a reason to avoid assuming it. [2]
- Colloidal oatmeal baths: use a mat to avoid slipping, and do not soak too long, as the label warnings say. [1]
- Do not swallow skin products.
- Do not put household ingredients on serious, infected or worrying wounds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best natural moisturizer?
We found no source ranking them. FDA recognizes colloidal oatmeal, cocoa butter and kaolin as skin protectants, and a small trial found olive oil reduced barrier integrity. [1][2]
References
- U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 347: Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use, sections 347.10 (active ingredients) and 347.50 (labeling). Retrieved from the electronic CFR 2026-10-22.
- Danby SG, et al. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30(1):42-50. PubMed 22995032. Nineteen adult volunteers.
- Wallace TC. Health Effects of Coconut Oil: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence. J Am Coll Nutr. 2019;38(2):97-107. PubMed 30395784.
- Zafar K, et al. The potential cutaneous benefits of bentonites and montmorillonites. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024;316(10):702. PubMed 39438324.
- de Groot AC. Propolis: a review of properties, applications, chemical composition, contact allergy, and other adverse effects. Dermatitis. 2013;24(6):263-282. PubMed 24201459.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Content current as of September 8, 2023. (States that FDA has no regulations defining "natural" or "organic" for cosmetics.)
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.