Our bodies need wholesome nutrients to be absorbed not only through food but also through the largest organ we have: our skin. When the skin comes in contact with organic plant products, it has the ability to care for and mend itself and to reveal the most gorgeous YOU.
It is of crucial importance what you put on your skin. It is after all our body’s largest organ and we don’t want to overburden it with harsh chemicals or toxins. I make sure that the products I use are clean, cruelty-free, vegan, free of nonylphenol ethoxylate, formaldehyde-free, mineral oil-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, talcum-free, petroleum-free, paraben-free, and dye-free.
Ever since my cancer wake-up call, I started looking much more closely at the list of ingredients in all skincare products and make-up I was using. Pretty soon, I filled bins after bins with sub-par products that I bought. Searching for the cleanest products available, and also trying to stay within the budget, I started making my own skincare. If you scroll and click on the few products I use, you’ll be able to see what’s in the bottles.
Additionally, if you go to the Blog section and look for posts in the category DIY, you will find lots of easy to make recipes for wholesome, all-natural products for skin, body, and hair care, including the three gems mentioned above. Why make your own? You will know exactly what is in it. You will be able to customize it to your specific needs. It’s cheaper. And, it’s fun!
My philosophy about Clean Beauty can be broken down to the following points which I go by when formulating all the products I put on my face, hair, and body:
They are meant not only for beauty but also for wellbeing and health
Back in the day, I used to get harsh laser treatments, acid peels, microdermabrasion, and the like, where I would have to hide from the public for a week until my skin looked once again like that of a human and not a skinned snake. Now, I go for the gentle but mighty power of plants in doses that are high enough to be effective but low enough to not be harsh and cause any reaction of the skin.
They are clean for people and for the planet
I try to get all ingredients from sustainable farmers or manufacturers. One great company to get ingredients from is Mountain Rose Herbs which offers organic and wildcrafted oils, butters, hydrosols, clays, essential oils, and botanical extracts. I also stay away from plastic packaging and recycle my glass bottles.
They are safe and made in a hygienic way
I practice utmost hygiene while formulating my products. What would be the point of making these skin-healthy serums and lotions if they would be contaminated with microbes from the get-go? I also use natural, ECOcert approved preservatives in water-based products to prevent microbial growth.
After I decided to drastically clean up my skincare, I stood in front of my bathroom vanity and looked at the dozens of products: cleansers, toners, exfoliants, astringents, face cream for the morning, face cream for the night, eye gel, eye cream, and so on. Then I picked one and looked at the list of ingredients on the back of the jar.
Here is one on a store-bought, well-known brand moisturizer
AQUA/WATER, GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, ALCOHOL DENAT., HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID, SILANETRIOL, BISABOLOL, DIMETHICONOL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, HYALURONIC ACID, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, DISODIUM EDTA, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, XANTHAN GUM, T-BUTYL ALCOHOL, BETULA ALBA JUICE, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, TOCOPHEROL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SORBIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CI 42090/BLUE 1, LINALOOL, FARNESOL, LIMONENE, CITRAL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE.
ORGANIC ALOE VERA JUICE,ORGANIC ROSE HYDROSOL,HYALURONIC ACID (NATURALLY DERIVED), ESSENTIAL OILS OF LAVENDER, GERANIUM, AND JUNIPER BERRY,CHAMOMILLE EXTRACT
Which of the ingredient lists is more likely to cause any harm?
Here are a few DIY recipes for some easy and effective handmade skincare products. Check them out below, in the swipeable slider.