Many people make a good effort to eat healthy and limit the toxins they ingest, but what about the chemicals you are spreading over your body or putting in your mouth during your hygiene routine? Today I want to share some basic products I use daily and talk a bit about why they are way better than their mainstream alternatives.
Living Clay Mask – Calcium Bentonite clay is full of trace minerals and literally vacuums toxins out of the skin. It’s been used throughout history and has so many healing and detoxifying uses. It’s alkaline 9.7 pH brings the body into balance. I use it as a mask at least once a week on my face and have seen dramatic improvement in my skin. If my hormones are going crazy and causing me to break out, then I will use it daily to remove my makeup each night. You can instantly feel how it stimulates blood circulation and your skin will feel so refreshed and energized afterwards. When I had an allergic reaction to antibiotics, it helped decrease the severity and redness of the rash. I use the powder form in detox baths and even mix it with water & drink to detoxify my body when I’m sick. It’s also the perfect shaving cream for those of you who struggle with dry skin and razor burn. This is one of those products I really could not live without; it’s made my skin clearer than ever!
Coconut Oil – I recently wrote about my absolute obsession with coconut oil and all it’s miraculous healing abilities. In addition to cooking with it, I also use it as a moisturizer all over my body and even on my face. As it absorbs and moisturizes your skin, you also get it’s benefits internally. It has anti-aging properties and will help prevent wrinkles; it also helps your skin adjust to sun exposure giving it SPF effects. And it’s great for removing eye makeup and lip stains. Best of all, it’s super affordable (especially when you compare it to what you would spend on lotion and expensive face moisturizer) because a little goes a very long way. I simply melt a few tablespoons on the stove and put it into a small travel sized container for my bathroom counter.
Lavender Essential Oil -I actually mix this with the coconut oil in the container I use for my face moisturizer. Besides smelling absolutely amazing, lavender oil has many anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It will help heal pimples very quickly, minimizes the appearance of scar tissue, and helps heal cuts and bruises by stimulating circulation. It’s a great moisturizer for chapped skin, so I use it on my lips too. Plus, it’s scent helps calm your mind and body, decreasing stress and helping you wind down for a night of restful sleep.
Orawellness HealThy Mouth Blend – The simple fact that you’re never supposed to swallow regular toothpaste always made me suspicious of its safety for putting in my mouth at all. This is the best “toothpaste” I’ve ever used and I’ve seen incredible improvement in my mouth health over the past year (my dentist has too!). This is a blend of organic essential oils that fight bacteria and helps heal cavities. Plus, it doesn’t contain any of the toxic chemical fluoride. If you have gum problems, cavities, or are just looking for a safe way to clean your teeth, this is a must-try!
Mineral Salts Deodorant – Antiperspirant deodorant works by using aluminum to stop the sweat and odor. Unfortunately, it also causes breast cancer and Alzheimer’s, so I knew I needed to get it out of my routine. (TMI) I sweat a lot, which made this the toughest natural hygiene solution to find. Most products would work for a while or at least stop odor, but I finally found a great solution that is consistently helping with both. Lafes Deoderant is made with simply 3 ingredients: aloe vera, essential oil and natural mineral salt; it comes as a spray or a roll on. The mineral salts combat the bacteria that causes odor. I love the lavender scent and while it’s not technically an “antiperspirant,” I’ve noticed that my sweating has decreased the more I use it. I buy mine at my grocery store, Natural Grocers, and it lasts months using only once a day. Lastly, it doesn’t leave stains or marks on your clothing like the regular ones always do – a great bonus!
As for the “beauty” department, I am researching and testing different makeup and hair products to find healthy options that actually work.
Hair Products – I am currently using Kevin Murphy shampoo, conditioner, hair spray and dry shampoo. They are sulfate and paraben-free and work amazing, but still use a lot of chemicals I am not comfortable with. I’ve tried many of the organic options from the grocery store but found my hair was oily and flat within just a week of use. I am considering making my own as soon as what I have runs out, and I will certainly keep you updated on that adventure.
Makeup – I’ve used Origins, Arbonne, and MineralFusion from Whole Foods, but they are all so expensive and don’t have the lasting power that I really want. I feel like when I come home from work it looks like I didn’t even put makeup on that day. Looking for any and all recommendations!!
Have you found safe, natural beauty & hygiene products that you love? Please share them here!
Healthy and Hopeful 