I’m going to be honest, it’s a lot easier to clean up your diet than it is to clean up your beauty cabinet. One look at the label and you might just want to stick it back on your shelf and pretend you never saw anything. There are way too many unpronounceable words and unlike food, it’s hard to know which ones to avoid. The personal-care industry itself is also not regulated by the FDA so there are a lot of loopholes and hidden ingredients.
Personally, I made the switch to natural deodorant and toothpaste a long time ago, but when it comes to shampoo? Or makeup? Not completely there yet. I try to find clean brands (that still work great) when I can, but it’s a process with a lot of trial and error. Not to mention many “natural” companies hide behind their eco-friendly branding, but are still full of gross chemicals. Hate to break it to you, but green + beige packaging is not synonymous with clean.
Whether you’ve already made the switch to more natural products or you haven’t even begun to think about it, oils are a great place to start. They’ll replace your lotions and do an even better job of keeping your skin moisturized, without any questionable ingredients. A few years ago I started to use facial oils and it changed my life (and skin). The “oil-free” craze of the 90’s told us that oil is bad and will clog pores/make you break out/make you a greaseball, but that’s far from the truth.
The reality is that our skin is made up of oils and stripping it of those oils causes way more harm than good; it can actually make your skin produce even more. Since using facial oil, my complexion has smoothed, redness toned down, and oil production evened out. Lately, I’ve been loving a pure rosehip oil; it’s light enough to wear both day + night.
When it comes to body oils, sure you could go buy one, but you can also make your own SO easily. Yes it’s definitely less expensive, but you also get to control the quality and smell! Some store bought oil blends will use “fragrance” (aka ingredient loophole) which can be irritating for your skin, but also just unnecessary. I’ve been making my own and have recently even gotten my friends addicted as well.
Just to note, not all oils are created equal; I learned this the hard way. For example, castor oil is VERY thick and not meant for a daily moisturizer (whoops!). After trying a few different blends, I settled with a mix of almond oil, grape seed oil, and lemongrass + grapefruit essential oils. Both oils are lightweight enough to absorb right in after a shower, are full of vitamin E, and make my skin feel incredibly soft + hydrated!
BODY OIL RECIPE:
(for 16 oz bottle)
8 oz. pure almond oil
8 oz. grape seed oil
20-25 drops of favorite essential oils
Pour everything into a glass bottle (preferably dark to keep for longer). Mix lightly.
Notes: You don’t necessarily need the essential oils, I just like adding a light scent. You can get everything (including this bottle) off Amazon.