Let's face it: It's time to take care of yourself. But, let's go beyond eating healthy and exercising three times a week.
Harmful, deadly chemicals are everywhere, including in most of the hygiene products that we use daily. We're voluntarily putting cancer-causing ingredients on our skin and in our bodies every single day.
If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will. But fear not: For every chemical-laden product, there is a natural alternative.
Ready to green your beauty routine? Here is an easy, four-step guide for a more natural approach to hygiene:
1. Cleanse with Castile soap.
Castile soap is an all-purpose cleanser that helps to simplify much of this routine. Squeeze some Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap onto a washcloth to use it as a body wash, smooth it onto your face and skin to use as a facial cleanser or massage it into your scalp in place of shampoo. To use Castile soap in place of toothpaste, squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your toothbrush and mix with baking soda.
Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap, $16, Amazon
2. Condition with Lush's Retread conditioner.
It's time to throw out those silicone-based hair products and go for some all-natural hydration. Smooth Lush's Retread Hair Conditioner over your strands for frizz-free, nutrient-rich locks. The olive, jojoba and avocado oils will give your hair a much-needed boost.
Lush Retread Hair Conditioner, $32, Lush Cosmetics
3. Moisturize with shea butter, cocoa butter and oils.
Moisturizing is essential in any skincare routine, including this one. Take a cocoa butter stick and apply to the lips and face for a light, non-greasy facial moisturizer. Warm up a quarter-sized dollop of shea butter in your hands, and then smooth it over the rest of your skin.
Queen Helene Cocoa Butter Stick, $7, Amazon; Alaffia Fair Trade Shea Butter, $15, Amazon
Cocoa butter in stick form can also be used as an alternative to chapstick, and it can be applied to parched lips throughout the day. For dehydrated hair, moisturize your locks with a DIY oil blend. My favorite includes four parts olive oil, two parts castor oil, two parts grapeseed oil and one part rosemary essential oil.
4. Deodorize with Lush's Aromaco deodorant and Ambre Blends Pure Essence Oils.
What's great about Aromaco is that it doesn't contain aluminum like most deodorants do. If your name-brand deodorant isn't doing the job, it could be because you're allergic to aluminum. With deodorizers that you probably use every single day, it's always best to go all-natural.
Lush Aromaco Deodorant, $7, Lush Cosmetics
Apply Aromaco to underarms in place of your regular deodorant stick. It may take some time for your body to adjust to the more natural ingredients, but give it a week or so before giving up on this natural deodorizer. For a light, natural fragrance, apply an Ambre Blends perfume oils to the wrists and neck.
Ambre Blends Anhu Essence Spritzer, $60, Ambre Blends
Have any other natural alternatives that you use in your daily beauty routine? Let us know in the comments below.
