EMMA'S NATURAL BEAUTY ROUTINE
Parabens, sulfates, and chemicals. Those are three pretty scary looking words, right? After reading countless articles from all of the emails that flood my inbox everyday from sites like Byrdie and Peach and Lily, I finally made the switch. That is, to a much cleaner beauty routine. There is a myth that all-natural beauty products are less effective than traditional chemical-based products, and I admit that there are still a few products that I use that aren't completely all-natural because this myth is at least partly true. Despite this, my routine from skincare to makeup is much healthier than before now that I've done a bit of digging around the natural beauty market. On a recent trip to Anthropologie's beauty section I invested in three products that I've been using (and loving) in my new and (mostly) improved earth-friendly skin and makeup routine.
Sunday Riley's Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser: This balancing and purifying cleanser comes from the eco-friendly cult favorite brand Sunday Riley. The majority of the formula is comprised of pure botanicals like black pepper fruit, frankincense, jasmine, and sandalwood essential oils. Plus, this cleanser is made WITHOUT parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. The real star ingredients, though, are the French green and Moroccan rhassoul clays that work hard to clean and tighten your pores. As a gal with oily and blemish-prone skin, I find that this cleanser has been working wonders for me. I use this cleanser in the morning since it is a little more gentle than the more hard-core cleanser I use at night to scrub away all the dirt and impurities from the day. Follow up this cleanser with a toner of your choice (I recommend Be the Skin's Botanical Pore Toner which I reviewed right here), and you'll walk out the door feeling as fresh as a field of daisies. :)
Indie Lee's Clearing Mask: Natural beauty definitely comes with a hefty price tag at times, but in the case of some products, like this mask, sometimes it's worth the investment. This clearing mask is chock full of detoxifying ingredients, including the noteworthy seaweed and chamomile extracts, which eliminate dead skin cells while also hydrating your skin. I apply a thin layer of this formula over any of my problem areas (like my T-zone), or occasionally my whole face if I'm feeling pretty gross after a long week. I had been in search of a great clearing mask for a while and when I recently got a facial for the first time, my facialist told me that this product would perfect my complexion. I admit that my skin has been looking in pretty good shape as of late, and it even feels a whole lot less clogged, but "perfect" would not be the first word to come to mind in describing my skin. But honestly whose skin is?
Lavanila's Healthy Deodorant: Of all the articles that I read explaining the horrors of non-natural beauty on my skin, the scariest posts explained the harmful effects of deodorant on the body. Deodorant is one of those products that we all put on in the morning without a second thought of what it's really doing to the skin it's on top of. When I learned that deodorant with the ingredient aluminum in most deodorants has been linked to breast cancer, I got a HUGE wake-up call from the natural beauty world. For those of you now having a mini life crisis because you just learned this important, scary news, don't fret because it's never too late to change up your routine! Make the switch now and just take extra care of yourself in any way you can. :) I thought I would have lots of trouble finding an all-natural deodorant that would still get the job of keeping me smelling fresh done, but when I found Lavinila's formula I thanked the natural beauty goddesses. The vanilla and lemon essential oils keep me odor-free, while aloe leaf juice keeps my skin protected and happy. :)
Natural beauty is a not a passing fad as some people might try to convince you. The products that you use everyday truly have an effect on your overall health, so it's incredibly important that you start to reevaluate your routine and build up a new all-natural regime ASAP. Although it may at first be a hard adjustment, I promise you that the long-term effects will all be worth it. Good luck in your search for the green routine of your dreams! :)
xoxo,
Emma