Face stuff.
That’s the term that I use for all the products that I put–or don’t put–on my face.
We’ve been over this before. I barely use soap on my face, let alone gunk up my skin with other products filled with dubious ingredients.
I wasn’t always this way.
In high school I had a fondness for a certain liquid bronzer that would provide an insta-tan and would only cause trouble if there were Algebra Two-related tears, which was often. When that was the case, I was left with bright white streaks down my cheeks. Not a great look.
Ten years out, I haven’t stopped using products altogether, but I’ve certainly become pickier about what I put on my skin.
There have been enough studies linking dubious chemicals found in cosmetics to cancer for me to swear off the stuff found in the pharmacy forever. And no, just because I used the chemical-filled stuff in high school doesn’t mean that I think it’s too late to make the change.
Here’s the thing: maybe the science is inconclusive, and maybe (ok, surely) there are other environmental factors that can cause cancer, but the fact remains that most cosmetics are filled with chemicals enough to make me pause. My desire to live a long healthy life trumps my vanity.
A few weeks ago, the very sweet Mara from A Blog About Love invited me to an evening devoted to natural beauty. I had the chance to chat with Jessa Blades, a fellow natural beauty devotee and an actual expert on the subject. I interviewed Jessa for a post on Gardenista and you can read what she has to say right here.
31 Comments
Yep. I've pared down my beauty routine over the years for the same reason.Years ago, a biologist friend of mine who was studying the health benefits of muscadine grapes put it to me this way: "If you wouldn't put it in your body, why would you put it on your skin? Everything that goes on the skin gets absorbed into your blood stream." That was an "oh yeah" moment for me. Now I only use cleansing oils and essential oils or the odd fragrance/soap/preservative-free products from Lush. It's a healthier existence.
giiiirl i'm the same. the only ungreen part of my beauty regime at this point is mascara and the occasional lipstick or eyeliner if i'm feeling fancy! i do want to green those too eventually. thanks for educating everyone out there! xo
I've been using Josie Maran's mascara and I really love it. Hers is a bigger company, but I think it's pretty safe: paraben-free etc.
I think back to my teenage years when I'd try to cover up my acne with make up and it would only make it worse. Now my goal is to not wear very much and when I do it's always very very little. Thank you for writing about this and educating everyone!
xo
Rachel
Thanks for the great tips! I should really be more conscious about the ingredients that are in all of my skincare products (I have quite the assortment of face stuff as well). Here's a question for you – in terms of washing your brushes, what kind of soap would you recommend? I have hand soap (by Method) and shampoo.. and I'm not sure either of those are the best choice.
Oops: I thought I replied to this yesterday, but I don't see my note! I just use my basic hand soap (I use an olive oil-based bar soap), worked into a lather! Nothing fancy.
I have to admit that I'm guilty of not really thinking about what I'm putting on my face, but it is quite a scary idea to think of all the chemicals products contain and what they could be doing to our skin.
http://www.ganglygiraffe.blogspot.co.uk
Hi Heather,
I just use my regular-old hand soap (it's an olive oil bar soap with lavender at the moment). I work it into a lather and just swish my brush in it and rinse until the water's clear!
E.
This post could not have been more perfectly timed. I'm about to do my online bulk purchase of beauty products to bring back with me and was going to e-mail you for a mascara recommendation. Way to read my mind!
I got excited when I saw this post, because just last night I stumbled upon subreddits on natural beauty and diy products:
http://www.reddit.com/r/NaturalBeauty/
http://www.reddit.com/r/DIYBeauty
http://www.reddit.com/r/NoPoo (a subreddit on giving up shampoo! some people use baking soda, apple cider vinegar, or just plain water)
I recently bought some rosewater for making mango lassi and I can't wait to use it in making my own exfoliant and toner.
On the sidebar of /r/naturalbeauty's page, they mentioned Fig and Yarrow as a vendor they love. I was intrigued when I saw it on your blog and now I very much want something from there.
Yes: Fig and Yarrow is awesome! Thanks for these resources!
I hardly ever wear makeup, but that's partly because I don't really know how to put it on. (I wish I did, though). I didn't realize that there may be harmful chemicals in cosmetics, though, hmmm…
Hello Erin! This topic obsesses me, so lately I've been trying to make changes. Inspired by your enthusiastic post about natural deodorants, I ordered the one you recommended on your blog (from this post: https://readingmytealeaves.com/search?q=deodorant). At first, I was completely in love: it worked really well and smelled fresh. So I was really sad when my skin started becoming red and sensitive after a week or so. I stopped for a few days, then started again, but the rash came back… Did you go through this with yours at first and then the skin got used to it? Or am I condemned to use commercial deodorant forever?
Darn it! I've heard this from other folks too: more proof that all of our body chemistry is different! Truth is, I had about a day where my underarms were a little itchy and red (after about two weeks of using). I applied only sparingly for a few days and that seemed to do the trick. It's been really great since. I did also recently receive a jar of DeodoMom: it's water and magnesium hydroxide and it works really well (though i prefer the smell of Soapwalla!
Thanks! Maybe I'll give it another go…
I've had this problem, but I recently found a recipe to make my own natural deo – coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, and some essential oils (tea tree, lavender, and jojoba) for soothing razor bumps. It goes on a little slimy, but I had been using the dove clinical that goes on like a lotion anyway, and it dries quickly. I admit I was skeptical but it got me through last week's heat wave
I love this kind of thing! A few years ago I started slowly phasing out products that I'd found were tested on animals; then, I gradually started cutting out other non-natural products, as well. There are still a few that I haven't found substitutes for yet, so I love reading recommendations from others – thanks so much for this!
Yes, totally: all about the phasing out…
boom silk.
two simple words describing the best product i've ever known.
NOTHING chemical. only honey and 3 or 4 other totally natural ingredients.
it's simply simple and simply amazing. feels heavenly on your skin.
if you try nothing else… ever… do yourself a favor and try boom silk.
she has a blog. you can google it… cindy joseph boom silk!
and i never recommend anything to anybody. but I just can't say enough good about this! it's unbelievable. a little pot of it lasts a long time.
Intrigued! Will look it up!
My beauty routine has always been simple. I've just this week started using a hot oil cleanser to rid my face of dirt, which I follow with eye cream and moisturiser, and that's about it. In the day I only wear mascara and eyeliner, with a dab of under eye concealer if I haven't slept well. Natural beauty is always better anyway I think, a genuine smile on a simply done up face is so much more attractive than a pout on a face that has been carefully constructed over a matter of hours (not that those girls aren't beautiful too, I just prefer natural!)
That's the truth: smiling goes further than just about anything.
Totally agree. It's also frustrating that since europe has different standards in the US, large companies often have two formulas. A cleaner european version and a crummier version for us here. Yikes, right? I check everything at SkinDeep.org, the good guide is another, er, good resource.
I know it! I love Skin Deep; glad to know about the Good Guide, too!
About a year ago I did similar research on what I was putting on my skin, and it lead me to do a complete over-haul of all the products I was using. Now, I almost exclusively use products I make myself (with some treats from companies like Lush thrown in). The difference in my skin has been absolutely amazing. Now, washing my face with olive oil and steam is enough to keep it clean and breakout free.
I'm about to hop over and read your interview with Jessa, looking forward to what she has to say!
That's so awesome. It's amazing the difference just taking a step back from it all can make!
Struggling to find an affordable face moisturiser. Any recommendations?
Have you tried washing your face with coconut oil? It's kind of amazing and for me, eliminates the need for moisturizer. I also really love the face serums by Nahla Organic Beauty, but they're on the pricey side.
Thanks! I haven't. I tend to use it on my hair and body, but I will try using it on my face and see how I go. thanks for the tip 🙂
Ich nutze es jetzt auch schon eine ganze Weile und bin immer noch total zufrieden damit.
What makeup brushes do you recommend?
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