Have you thought about switching to a more natural beauty routine lately? ‘Clean’ beauty seems to be a bit of a fad at the moment in the beauty world. While it’s pretty unrealistic for your beauty products to be entirely clean – just because there are chemicals in products that don’t make them unsafe – you can start switching to a more natural beauty routine if you want to make sure you’re feeding and nourishing your skin. You don’t just want your skin to look good, you want it to be healthy. Below, you’ll find some awesome tips you can use to switch to a more natural beauty regime.
Selecting A Cleanser
A cleanser is a crucial step in any regime. The one you choose will depend on your skin type – foaming cleansers can be good for those who need a good clean, while oil cleansing can be good for those who want a gentle cleanse. It might seem strange using oil on your skin, but like dissolves like. Even those with other skin types can use oil as a first cleanse and then follow up with a different cleanser. Double cleansing is a good shout no matter what! Using the oil to massage your face each night will do wonders for anti-aging and circulation, so try it.
You can find gel and foaming cleansers that don’t have a ton of rubbish in them, you just need to learn a little about ingredients first – and there are lots of sites that will help you to do this.
Selecting A Toner
Facial toners aren’t actually essential – speak to any skincare expert and they will admit that using a toner has little evidence behind it, and that it was likely just invented as another way to sell products to women. As a general rule, if men don’t seem to need it, then you don’t either. However, if you want a toner simply because you’d like to freshen up your skin after cleansing and ensure it’s extra extra clean, by all means you can use one.
Try an alcohol-free toner such as Thayers or Quinns. Many people enjoy using exfoliating toners these days, but don’t realize they could actually be making their skin super sensitive and over exfoliating.
Selecting A Moisturizer
Many moisturizers tend to contain preservatives and fragrances that can be harmful to you and wildlife. Natural moisturizers are a good way to combat this. Try homemade moisturizers using ingredients like shea butter. You should only need a very small amount, just make sure you massage it in for a few minutes.
Selecting A Foundation
Selecting a foundation that’s all natural can be tough, so you could always settle for using one without any parabens. Parabens can interfere with the body’s hormone function, so it’s a good idea to avoid them.
Selecting A Shampoo
There are so many amazing shampoos out there now that are free from things like parabens and sulfates. You don’t want a shampoo/conditioner duo that simply coats your hair and makes it look good when it’s actually unhealthy. Look for a duo that will make your hair truly strong and healthy.
Selecting a Sunscreen
Using sunscreen each day is imperative if you’re going to stay safe from the environment and sun’s rays. Buy a spray-on one so you can simply spray and go at the end of your routine every day. Using one becomes even more important if you’re using a retinol and other exfoliating products. Mineral sunscreens can work very well.
Selecting a Deodorant
Deodorants can be incredibly harmful. Antiperspirants clog your pores to stop you from sweating, which is the body’s natural way of cleansing. Deodorants kill the bacteria that causes a nasty smell while still allowing the body to sweat. That being said, both of them can contain aluminum compounds that are known to be neurotoxins and carcinogens.
Selecting a natural deodorant may seem strange at first, but it’s one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.
Selecting a Bar Soap
Bar soap can contain nasty chemicals – not only that, it doesn’t always cleanse you properly. Many of them contain melted down animal fats that make you feel moisturized but don’t actually contain any benefit to the skin at all. Many of them can also contain toxins and carcinogens. If you’re feeling crafty, it could be a nice idea to make your own.
Selecting a Perfume
We all want to find our signature scent, but many of the perfumes available today do not contain healthy ingredients – many of them can cause allergies and respiratory problems. Natural perfumes, on the other hand, use ingredients like essential oils, fruit and plant extracts and natural essences. Take a look at wholesale fragrance oils and you might find something you love even more than that toxic scent you’ve been wearing.
Give Your New Routine Some Time
When you’re starting a new routine, you really need to give it time to start working. There’s no such thing as an instant fix! Take your time to reap the benefits and you will likely be a natural beauty convert. Results will always be seen with consistent use.
Try A Mini Detox Before You Begin
Try doing a mini skin detox before you switch over to your new products. You can do this by dry brushing your skin, and not using anything on your skin or under your arms for up to a week. This can be tough, but sticking it out will be a great way to get started on your new regime.
Doing this may help you to sweat and purge out toxins before switching to cleaner products. If you’re too frightened to do this, don’t worry. Simply make one switch at a time, giving each product a few weeks to work its magic before adding another in. If you change too many things at once, you’ll likely get overwhelmed and may not stick to your new regime. Taking your time will allow you to really notice the benefits.