I've paid a lot of attention for years on what I put in my body - but it was only in more recent years that I also started more closely considering what I put on my body. What now feels like a very obvious notion was slower to creep up on me... all that lotion we rub into our skin of course isn't just disappearing, but being absorbed through our skin and going much deeper than the surface.Quite literally and simply, whatever we put on our outsides also goes to our insides.Above all, staying well-hydrated, properly nourished, minimizing/managing stress, getting regular exercise and breathing plenty of fresh air will do wonders for your complexion and body chemistry. Stick with those pillars and it'll be much easier to streamline what products you really need or want to use to feel and look your best.But, many of us want to or enjoy using products to boost, soothe and care for our skin - so what follows below is a list of some of my personal favorite brands and specific items. I've compiled this based on a lot of research and experimentation (on my own dime - no paid promos or product placement here). The good news is that for all of the chemical-laden products out there, there is also an abundance of wonderful, clean alternatives! All I've chosen to list here vary in terms of composition, but among other things, all are free of artificial colors/fragrances and toxic chemicals, and are paraben-free and phthalate-free. The reality is that we come in contact with some of these things on a regular basis simply by living in our beautiful, modern world, and typically we don't need to worry about this, but why not try to minimize exposure to such things by selecting products that don't contain them, and instead allow our skin to be as gently cared for as possible?If you're already in the habit of looking at ingredient labels for food, it'll be even easier to make a new habit of reading product ingredient lists. Consider it just as important!I realize that many of these products can be much more expensive than many others found on typical drugstore shelves (though there are plenty of those that are also up there in price) - and cost certainly plays a role when choosing what to buy and use. It's a frustration and important consideration for me too. The good news is that with many of these higher quality products, a very small amount almost always goes a very long way, making them last quite a long time - much longer than products I used to use that were cheaper upfront and of lesser quality, and that I had to re-buy with much greater frequency because I'd run out so fast. And discounts/coupons can often be found by signing up for e-newsletters from your favorite brands' websites, or through official online retailers/websites such as DermStore.com - it just takes a little Googling.365 (Whole Foods brand)
There are products for any and all skin care needs, from soap (I love the bars and foaming hand soap) to lotion and beyond; also, the price point is often less expensive than other quality brands.
EMINENCE ORGANICS
Great for any and all skin care needs as well as make up (tinted moisturizer and lip glosses, in particular) - I especially love the vanilla and brightening day creams, guava and coconut night creams, vanilla sun screen, probiotic masque, strawberry rhubarb serum, brightening cleanser, wild plum eye cream. Reading the ingredient labels, you may almost be fooled into thinking it's for something edible, with all of the plant derivatives that go into their amazing concoctions. I can't get enough of these products! They last me a VERY long time, making the price worth it. For nighttime creams, try keeping the product refrigerated - the cooling kicks it up a notch even higher.
LEVEL NATURALS
This is a boutique company where the two co-founders are completely involved and everything is made by hand. I cannot get enough! If nothing else, I highly recommend keeping the shower or bath bombs on hand - for congestion, headaches or stress relief/ relaxation, these are really amazing. All products are wonderfully aromatherapizing (new word?). Try the soaps (peppermint volcano soap), body polish scrubs (grapefruit bergamot and peppermint), body butter (peppermint and grapefruit bergamot), and shower bomb.
AVALON ORGANICS
Particularly wonderful for hand and body moisturizers, I recommend the unscented version or the peppermint for something a bit more refreshing. I keep a bottle of this on my work desk, and use it frequently.
SIRCUIT SKIN
Sircuit uses medical and pharmaceutical-grade Xs in their products, and offers a free personalized skin consultation. I have fairly normal skin on the sensitive side, and the X-Trap cleanseris perhaps the best face cleanser I've found. Only a very small drop is needed to do the job with each use, and when it lathers it feels like silk. I've found it to be very gentle, soothing and smoothing. This company really has products for any and all skin types and needs.
TOM'S OF MAINE
Have you looked at the "inactive" ingredient list on some of the more popular brands of toothpaste? Many contain several artificial ingredients, namely coloring. Other more common brands have come under fire recently for containing microbeads or other similar mini-abrasives, that some dentists have called out as being bad for gum health - and are also bad for the environment (Illinois has gone so far as to ban cosmetic products containing microbeads for environmental reasons, though I'm not sure if toothpastes are included in this ban). Tom's offers a much cleaner alternative. Just be aware that only certain toothpastes in the Tom's product line include fluoride, so read the packaging carefully to make sure you're getting what you need either way. Aside from toothpaste, Tom's dental floss and deodorant are well worth a look.
THAI CRYSTAL
I never would have believed how well this would work if I hadn't learned firsthand by using it myself. Many deodorants and antiperspirants come with a laundry list of chemical-laden ingredients, but the Thai crystal products are simply made from salt. I personally find the spray works best, but the stick is a close runner up. It's amazing how something so simple can be so effective against being too sweaty or smelly - and if you feel either creeping up on you at some point, simply spritz or re-apply and you should be sufficiently refreshed. I even consider this hot yoga approved!
Make Up
When it comes to make up, I'm of the "less is more" camp and wear very little if any on a daily basis. But for the things I do most often reach for - a light brush of bronzer or blush, dab of concealer or swipe of mascara, or a swab of lip gloss - I feel better knowing that what I'm putting on my face is as pure and non-damaging as possible. Two beautiful brands are RMS Beauty (the concealer, luminizer and lip color are favorites) and L'Eclisse.
Other considerations:
Take time to research and try different products to see what you respond best to. Many companies will generously offer small samples of some of their products either for free or at a very reasonable price, if you want to try before committing to a larger purchase. In addition to purchasing directly from the product retailers, it's also worth perusing websites like LoveHusk, VitaCost, GreenLineBeauty or shopping at a healthy market like Whole Foods, all of which carry a plethora of natural, clean brands.
DIY
Another better-for-you approach to skin/hair care can come in even simpler (and often cheaper) forms.
Want a deep conditioning hair treatment? Try massaging coconut oil through your strands, leave in as long as desired, and then washing out.
Want to bring out some of your natural hair highlights without chemical-laden dyes, or risking lemon juice being drying? Try a chamomile tea soak.
Get too much sun? Pure aloe or coconut oil will be incredibly soothing on your skin.
In need of exfoliation? There are endless concoctions you can mix together to make a wonderful scrub at home - and chances are you already have many of the needed ingredients in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets (for one, the powers of coconut oil are seemingly boundless!). I'll share some more specific recipes soon.
It's particularly important to consider the things we use every day: toothpaste, face wash, moisturizer, and so on. Especially for these items, "once in a while isn't a big deal" is a moot point. Ideally, when it comes to skin care, particularly for products we use with frequency and regularity, we should choose ones that are as clean and pure as possible. And, as we all have different needs and preferences and skin types, I encourage you to do your own research and testing to find out what you like best. The good news is that many of the brands I've mentioned have a sizable product line, so there's likely something for almost everyone within each.So, what does this all really come down to?To repeat what I said from the start: staying well-hydrated, properly nourished, minimizing stress (or learning how to more evenly manage it), getting regular exercise and plenty of fresh air are the true pillars of supporting your complexion and body chemistry. From that base, you'll be able to much more easily streamline what products you really need or want to use to feel and look your best.Because when we feel our best, we look our best.As with anything, we can completely inundate ourselves with loads of products - but even if they are pure and full of high quality ingredients, without taking care of ourselves otherwise they won't really do any good at all.Everyone's body chemistry is unique and sometimes it takes some experimenting to find what makes our skin and hair happiest. Always remember that how you treat your body - from what you eat and drink, to how often you move and stretch, your quality and quantity of sleep, stress levels, inner happiness, and so on - will show through your skin. Treat your body well inside and out - that's the best way to guarantee your healthiest self, and it will show!(NOTE: For more intensive skin care and hygiene information, talk with your healthcare provider (doctor, dentist, or other practitioner) if you have specific questions or concerns.)
