I’m sure you’ve heard about the Korean skincare routine. It has “only” 10 steps, from triple cleansing, through toning and spritzing, multiple serums and moisturizers, etc. etc. Well, I want to simplify, and I want my face and body skincare routine to be fun, not a chore.
Of course, I want to get glowing skin, and of course, I’m looking for the best natural skincare routine. But, I’m a working mom of two, with a full-time job teaching, and blogging on the side, and I definitely do not have time for 10 steps twice a day. So I simplify. Drastically simplify.
Clean “Green” Skin Regimen
For me, the first, and the most important principle is to use only clean products. You can read here about what I consider to be Clean Beauty.
What I don’t want:
I definitely must avoid:
- sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate,
- synthetic fragrance,
- and preservatives.
To be sure of what really is in the jar or the bottle, the majority of what I use on a daily basis I make myself from organic or wild-crafted ingredients. Short of that option, one can find quality toxin-free products that are certified organic and cruelty-free (the leaping bunny certification).
These days, Sephora even has a separate category of products that are certifiably “green”, lacking toxic chemicals and synthetic preservatives (Clean at Sephora).
What I want:
Whether I make my own skincare or buy products, I look for:
- non-irritating, moisturizing ingredients that hydrate, calm, and soothe the skin (chamomile, calendula, rosewater, aloe vera juice, hyaluronic acid)
- anti-inflammatory agents (green tea, turmeric, plant extracts such as edelweiss, arnica, St. John’s wort)
- nourishing, top-performing oils such as argan, evening primrose, borage, camelia, hazelnut, pomegranate, hemp seed, or rosehip oils
- therapeutic properties of essential oils, but it is important to be mindful that some (like citrus oils) can cause photosensitivity so they shouldn’t be used in daytime products.
My Super Simple and Effective Daily Skin Regimen
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Morning:
- Cleanse with raw honey, Aloe Vera Juice and Organic Hemp Seed Oil (Virgin) cleanser (equal parts of each) with a touch of Castille soap. (DIY recipe here)
- Tone with rose hydrosol and witch hazel toner (DIY recipe here)
- A pure hyaluronic acid serum, I use my own Hyaluronic Acid Aloe Vera Botanical Serum (DIY Recipe see here)
- Clean sunscreen (I like Beauty by Earth)
Evening:
- Oil cleanse (see my post about the benefits of this super-easy way to cleanse)
- Tone again with rose water and witch hazel toner
- Vitamin C serum (I make it from ultrafine Vitamin C powder mixed into Hyaluronic Acid Serum)
- Facial oil, I use my face oils interchangeably so that my skin does not get used to just to one set of ingredients (see them here)
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) – 100g Pure Powder
from: BulkSupplements.com
Occasionally:
- Glycolic or lactic acid exfoliator (I use one by Ordinary)
- Face scrub (handmade grains mix: Olive Leaf Extract Powder, Cranberry Extract Powder, oats, or almond meal)
- Lip scrub (see a super easy DIY recipe)
- DIY clay masks or other facial masks (click here for ideas)
- Beauty by Earth Sunless Tanner
Clean Makeup
Finding natural make-up is a bit more of a challenge. I’ve seen people make their own blushes (with beet powder) and lipsticks (with various micas) and even mascara – but my few attempts at this were nothing to write home about. I am using pure mica as a highlighter and eye shadow on a few occasions when I need that glamorous look.
For a more comprehensive look at clean make-up, see this post.
For other makeup needs, I go for what Clean Beauty companies have to offer. I am especially sold on Tarte. Their cosmetics are super clean, featuring organic ingredients such as Amazonian clay. They go on smoothly and are hypoallergenic:
- When I’m out in the summer, instead of foundation, I opt for Beauty by Earth’s Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen, it makes the skin look just sun-kissed. For a dewy look, I love to use the vegan ILIA – Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 . For evenings when I want fuller coverage, I use Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation.
- For cheeks, I use Ilia Color Haze Multi-Matte Pigment (you can see I’m a fan!)
- For lipstick, I go for wonderfully creamy Kosas but on a daily basis, I just go with my handmade lip balm tinted with pinkish/brownish mica mix.
- For mascara, I opt for Milk.
Hair Care
- Pre-wash: Hair growth serum (handmade with aloe vera juice, glycerine infused with hair growth-promoting herbs, my hair routine in more depth)
- Clean shampoo and conditioner (either make my own or get ready-made clean and organic herbal hair care from Starwest Botanicals)
- Apple Cider Vinegar hair rinse (1 part of ACV to 4 parts of water) leaves hair nice and shiny, as it lowers the pH
Body Skincare Routine
- Shower gel (easily made at home with Castille Soap, good oil, distilled water, and essential oils)
- Soap (started making my own with the easy melt and pour method)
- Body scrub (endless possibilities, see DIY recipe here)
- After shower body oil (go for a mix of heavier and lighter oils, e.g. grapeseed oil mixed with jojoba wax and some essential oils for scent and therapeutic benefits, see my DIY recipe)
- Handmade hand salve
- Handmade foot cream
- Handmade arrowroot flour, bentonite clay, coconut oil, and essential oils deodorant (DIY recipe here)
Perfume and the Like
I am very careful about fragrance. Did you know that conventional perfume companies are not required by the FDA to disclose their ingredients?
Basically, this means that they can, and do, sneak in all sorts of nasties into their finished product. Since commercial perfumes are often scented with synthetically derived ingredients, I opt for a natural perfume made with essential oils (see my simple recipe)
The Takeaway
That is pretty much it. Simple and fast skin and hair regimen, and, most importantly, I always know what is in the jar or bottle. Skin is the largest organ we have and what comes into contact with it can have a great impact on overall health and wellbeing.
What is in your daily self-care routine? Let me know, I’d love to know.
Top 10 Ways to Use Japanese Green Tea for Health and Beauty
Wow, you have a lot of great ingredients in your daily skincare components. I admire you for making so many of them yourself. I am not that organized. A daily morning cleanser, sunscreen/moisturizer and a night time cleanse, toner and lotion. I don’t wear much makeup, but I love to read about what others do. Thanks for sharing.
Funny you said this Lisa. Since the pandemic outbreak, I had any makeup on maybe a total of ten times, and most of it for Zoom meetings. What’s the point? It’s under the mask and sunglasses anyways, lol!
Good information. It’s tough to avoid Sodium Laurel because it’s in almost everything.
That is so true! that’s why it’s so important to read the labels on everything.
I have worked in the chemical industry for years and had to work with the EPA and a little with the FDA, I can tell you that company can hide harsh chemicals into all our products because they are not required to include them in the label if they are less than 1%. This is scary as they can add 8-10++ dangerous ingredients and we never know about it. Generics are even worst as no control.
Thank you for bringing some awarness.
Wow, thank you for sharing. I’m sure you would know, having worked in the industry. Yes, the regulations here in the USA are really lacking, and given the absurd connotation of regulations with some kind of socialism, I doubt they will even get better. It is truly a shame that we cannot have more insight into what really is in the products we use. Even reading labels amounts to very little, a simple word such as fragrance can hide multiple chemicals, potentially hazardous to our health.