My switch to organic skincare has been a happy one. I used to have a number of skin problems with the use of commercial beauty and personal hygiene products. Now that I use organic, my skin and body feel so much better. I want to introduce you to some of the organic personal care items that I used to have trouble with, but not anymore!
organic cleansing gel
The skin on our face is treated so harshly on a daily basis. However, much of a woman’s sense of beauty is derived from the appearance of her skin. Considering the number of environmental factors working against my face in addition to my daily skincare routine, the quest to reduce chemicals in my life naturally changed the way I care for my face.
I have combination to oily skin, so it can be especially difficult to find a good facial cleanser. My previous beauty regimen included a conventional foaming face wash that noticeably stripped the skin on my face of its protection. It did an excellent job of getting rid of the day’s dirt and makeup, but it also seemed to take a whole layer of my skin away. The harshness of the chemicals inside these commercial facial cleansers left my face red and tingly. Without applying moisturizer, I literally itched for hours. This didn’t seem normal to me.
So I searched everywhere, until I found an organic solution. The plant-based ingredients in my organic facial cleansing gel gave me the relief I was looking for. While they clean effectively, gel cleansers made with organic ingredients are so gentle that I can often skip the moisturizer now if I feel like it too.
organic moisturizers
As I mentioned before, harsh chemical laden facial cleansers left my skin feeling raw and sore. So skipping moisturizer was impossible for me. But moisturizers also had their own set of drawbacks.
“Normal” petroleum-based moisturizers are known to suffocate the skin and hinder its ability to self-regulate. In the morning when I woke up, my face felt as if I had been sleeping in the sweltering heat of Bangkok: my face was often covered in a sticky film of grease. So my combination of oily skin and moisturizer together resulted in clogged pores and breakouts. And it also meant that I had to wash my hair more often, because this film of oil migrated to my hair during sleep.
Switching to organic changed that completely. Organic skincare ingredients combine to support the sophisticated mechanics of the skin itself, helping it rejuvenate and regulate itself. What I loved about organic moisturizers is that my skin seemed to absorb it. Applying makeup afterwards also felt like it didn’t absorb from the inside, meaning I could use less.
biological masks
Most women’s skincare routine also includes some type of face mask. I used a commercial face mask a couple of times a week before, but I also have friends who use one every day.
Letting a chemical-laden liquid dry and absorb into my skin for 20 minutes seriously worried me. Sure, they did contain some helpful ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, but the rest of the ingredients looked just like the label on my shampoo. I even considered giving up masks, wondering if this really helps me keep my skin young or maybe it’s unknowingly working against it.
There is no such concern with organic face masks. Most of the ingredients used are completely natural. Certified organic means that 95% or more of the ingredients are of plant origin. This means that instead of a few nutritionally valuable ingredients, my face now enjoys a plethora of beneficial herbs and oils.
organic toothpaste
The mouth is another place on our face where many chemicals enter our body. Not only food, but also the products we use to care for our mouths are to blame. I personally started getting more and more sensitive teeth as the years went on. At first I didn’t associate it with commercial toothpaste. But with the rise in public awareness of the effect of fluoride found in commercial toothpastes, I switched to organic.
However, I was concerned if I would get more cavities with organic toothpastes, as I had been taught to believe that only commercial toothpastes help fight damaged teeth effectively. The truth is that I no longer have a problem with sensitive teeth. And while I used to always have a cavity or two at my annual dental checkups, I haven’t had a cavity in a few years.
I hope my story motivates some of you to experiment with switching to organic skin care and hygiene products as well. The change is not only good for you, but you would also be supporting our animals and the environment. Certified organic means cruelty-free and the ingredients come from farms that use environmentally friendly farming practices.