The BEST Natural Head to Toe Beauty Routine Guide
It’s no secret that our world is full of harmful toxins, but that doesn’t mean we have to put them on our bodies. You may have noticed that in recent years there’s been a shift in the health and beauty industry, and now more companies are offering natural products. It’s not just a matter of being more eco-friendly.
Some substances like paraben chemicals have now been linked to a possible increased risk of breast cancer.
We all want to look and feel our best, but at what cost? Paying a few dollars more for products that are free of harsh, potentially dangerous ingredients is well worth the added investment. If you’re ready to make the shift to a natural beauty routine this guide will help you replace your current products with healthier options.
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Switching to Natural Skincare
The truth is most active ingredients in skincare products are naturally derived. For instance, the super skin corrector retinol is derived from vitamin A. But during production, manufacturers add a lot of unnatural preservatives, dyes, fragrances, etc. All those added ingredients have little benefit for your skin and can actually cause irritation.
What to Avoid:
- · Parabens
- · Phthalates
- · Fragrances
- · Artificial dyes
- · Plastic microbeads
What to Try:
- · A natural enzyme exfoliator to gently slough off dead skin cells and improve cellular turnover.
- · Natural oils for moisture. Coconut oil and vegetable glycerin are both excellent skin moisturizers.
- · Pure vitamin A powder. If you want to boost the effectiveness of natural moisturizers sprinkle in a little vitamin A powder.
- · Swap soap for micellar water. Micellar water has oil molecules that cling to dirt and gunk without stripping your skin.
Switching to Natural Makeup Products
Once your skin is naturally clean and moisturized, the last thing you want to do is put on makeup products which are a full-on artificial, lab-made ingredients. Lipstick lovers who have been unintentionally swallowing synthetic ingredients can really benefit. Because these products are applied directly to the skin and around the eyes they can be absorbed even if they aren’t swallowed.
What to Avoid:
- · Parabens
- · Phthalates
- · Fragrances
- · Artificial dyes
- · Formaldehyde
- · GMOs
What to Try:
- · Natural pigments. One of the key issues with makeup is the synthetic dyes used to create eyes shadows and lipsticks.
- · Use an all-natural primer or make your own with aloe vera, coconut oil and mineral powder. At the very least this can provide a barrier between your skin and chemical-laced makeup.
- · Replace your foundation with fragrance-free mineral powders.
Switching to Natural Hair Care
A woman’s hair is a defining feature. We use an array of shampoos, conditioners, products and dyes to achieve the perfect style. However, some people would argue styles that are created with unnatural products are far from perfect. Not only that, they can actually harm the hair. If you dye your locks, sulfates will fade the color quicker and cause women to dye more than needed.
What to Avoid:
- · Parabens
- · Sulfates
- · Phthalates
- · Formaldehyde
What to Use:
- · Make a hair mask at home with natural ingredients. Avocado is an excellent option.
- · Skip chemical straighteners and curlers and use heat tools. It may not be as convenient, but at least heat tools are free of chemicals and toxins.
- · Use a naturally tinted powder to cover your roots and reduce the need for touch up dye jobs.
Switching to Natural Bath and Body Products
The irony is in trying to keep your body clean and healthy you may do more harm that good depending on the products you’re using. Even ingredients that seem relatively harmless can indirectly have a negative impact. That’s the case with plastic microbeads. A couple years ago California banned the use of microbeads in personal care products because they can pollute water.
Going natural with your hygiene products, which usually find their way down a drain, is the best option for protecting overall health.
What to Avoid:
- · Parabens
- · Sulfates
- · Phthalates
- · Plastic microbeads
- · Fragrances
What to Use:
- · Olive oil in place of soaps. The oil cleaning method (OCM) is being used by people who want to use clean oils to clear out the bad ones and moisturize at the same time.
- · All-natural, raw shea or coco butter. It’s a rich, creamy moisturizer provided by Mother Nature.
- · Skip the shaving cream and use your natural conditioner instead.
Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the amount of low-dose toxin exposures that can build up over time. It may be easiest to focus on just one category above or eliminating one bad ingredient if you’re making the switch to a natural beauty routine.
Featured photo Lotte Meijer
Identity Magazine is all about empowering women to get all A’s in the game of life — Accept. Appreciate. Achieve.TM Every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the above article. As a team, we hope to inspire and motivate ourselves and inspire you to get all A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? What are you still working on accepting?
That we have to all appreciate the little things and to not take anything for granted.
2. What have you learn to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? What are you still working on to appreciate within yourself and/or life?
I’m blessed to have loving family and friends in my life.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? And what makes YOU most proud? Any goals and dreams that you still have?
Graduating from Arizona State University in 2013
4. We all have imperfections, so we think. The truth–we are all perfectly imperfect. What imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
Nobody’s perfect and it’s been hard to accept it. I’ve learned to embrace my curly hair, my curves and my quirky personality.
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to express and appreciate all the positive traits that make you…well… YOU! Sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (we assure you!) Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my unwavering intensity. Everything I do is 100 percent.
