Today, I am featuring a guest blog post “Improve Your Health with a Simplified Beauty Routine and Natural Products” from Breanne Connor at Essential Moves to Wellness.

 

Do you find the idea of a natural beauty routine a little off-putting? Look, I get it.  Why would you change out your products that already work?

 

While your tried-and-true products work great, they are slowly and subtly sabotaging your health.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. I only promote products I use and love. You can read more about it on my disclaimer page.

A Natural Beauty Routine Defined

 

What exactly is a natural beauty routine?

 

It’s a certain lifestyle where all of your beauty products are free from harsh chemicals or ingredients that can cause your body harm.

 

The thing is, most big-name beauty brands use way too many ingredients, and most of them have been scientifically proven to be harmful.  Yet beauty companies continue to use and abuse these ingredients.

 

Some common harsh chemicals include sulfates, parabens, carcinogens, and “fragrance” (source).  They can cause anything ranging from skin irritation to infertility to cancer.

 

Natural beauty products can be homemade, and some are only one or two ingredients!

Start With the Basics

 

When starting a natural beauty routine, it’s best to start with the absolute basic products and add only what’s necessary for your skin and hair.

 

A terribly underrated part of a natural beauty routine is many single-ingredient products are very versatile.  Take honey, for example. You can use it as a facial mask, replace your shampoo, the list goes on.

See some more of my single-ingredient beauty product swaps with my free download! Just enter your name and email below.

 

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To help you avoid overwhelm, I’m going to list what I think are the absolute basics for every beauty routine. Give these suggestions a go, and add on anything else as you go through your natural lifestyle journey.

Body and Facial Wash: Norwex Cloths

 

I’m sure you’re wondering, “What on Earth are Norwex Cloths??”

 

Norwex is an amazing company that sells microfiber cloths designed to pick up any unwanted microscopic organisms on a surface. Whether it be your body, or kitchen counters!

 

Read more about Norwex Cloths and Get a Cleaner Home and Body With These Microfiber Cleaning Cloths!

These cloths are literally the only things that have cleared my body acne, and I haven’t bought body wash in years! The antibacterial power of these cloths are the only thing your face and body need to stay clean.

Toner: Rose Water

 

I know that toner may seem like an unnecessary product, but it actually is very helpful for keeping an even and youthful skin tone.

 

Rose water helps balance your skin’s PH, control excess oil, heals scars, and so much more! (source)

 

You can find rose water at any health food store, or even the vitamin section of your local grocery store. I get rose water in a fine mist bottle specifically meant to be a toner. I just spray it all over my face after washing and let it air dry!

Moisturizer and Hair Oil: Argan Oil

 

I used Argan oil on face as a moisturizer for years before I decided to make my own! There are so many benefits, including repair to damaged skin, anti-frizz, and quick absorption for perfect moisture! (source)

 

After every shower or every time I washed my face, I would put a few drops of Argan oil on my fingertips and massage it into my skin. Then I would put a few more drops in my palms and run it through the ends of my hair.

 

I still use it on my ends occasionally. The only reason I don’t do it as much is because I’ve learned to mix essential oils for a more tailored effect on my hair. You can read all about essential oils and my favorite brand on my post Ditch Your Low-Quality Essential Oils for this Brand—Rocky Mountain Oils Review.

 

Deodorant: Lavender Essential Oil or Any Chemical-Free Brand

 

Okay okay, I know that lavender essential oil sounds a little crazy for deodorant, but believe me when I say that it works!

 

Lavender has a very strong antifungal and antibacterial property, so just a drop or two per armpit has enough power to keep you smelling fresh all day!

 

You can get pure, high-quality lavender oil for a good price if you click here at Rocky Mountain Oils. It’s safe to apply to skin, or use a carrier oil if you like, such as almond or jojoba oil.

 

Now if that’s too weird for you, I get it. I tend to use store-bought deodorant that I know is free of harsh chemicals. We can’t just DIY everything, right?

 

How do you know if your deodorant is safe? I have a little secret weapon called the Think Dirty App. It’s an amazing little app on your phone that lets you scan products to see how clean they are.

 

You can read more about it on my post Your Ingredient List Secret Weapon—Think Dirty App Review.

 

Toothpaste: Tom’s of Maine

 

Now I’ll admit that toothpaste is one area that I haven’t found much success in terms of safe ingredients. While there are some perfectly safe products out there, they are not effective for me at all.

There was one brand that I used for months, but my teeth looked like they weren’t brushed at all! I later found out that I was basically brushing my teeth with watered-down clay.

 

The only brand I recommend is Tom’s of Maine. They have several safe options that scored well on the Think Dirty app, and my teeth are staying clean!

Shampoo and Conditioner: Any Chemical-Free Brand

 

I’d love to list a Holy Grail brand for hair care here, but there is no one amazing shampoo for everybody. We all have different hair types, so this one will take a little research on your part.

But I’m not going to leave you completely hanging! Some brands that I love and trust are Desert Essence, Shea Moisture, and Calia Natural. All of these brands have amazing ratings on the Think Dirty App.

 

Also, you don’t need to have an app on your phone to tell what is natural and what’s not. I have a handy post on How to Tell if Your Natural Products are Actually Natural. Just because something says “natural” on it, doesn’t mean it actually is free of harsh chemicals, and this post tells you how to navigate through the confusion.

Razors: Get a Safety Razor

 

I bet you’re thinking, “What? I even need to change my razor?” The answer is yes, yes you do.

 

You know that little lubricating strip on your razor? That thing is chock full of unknown stuff that the razor company isn’t even obligated to list. Throw it out now!

Look into the money-saving, eco-friendly option of a safety razor! You can read all about my first time using one in my post Safety Razors and Classic Shaving: The Absolute BEST Way to Shave!

 

Putting it All Together

 

Now that I’ve somewhat overwhelmed you with my favorite basics for simplifying your beauty routine, go forward and try what speaks to you!

 

It will certainly be a journey, and it will be very gradual. I personally started out with nixing my toxic shampoo and conditioner and slowly worked from there. You can read about my journey and 5 Things About Going Chemical-Free that No One Will Tell You.

I hope that this post sparks your own journey to a natural lifestyle. I’ve never felt better, and I’ve certainly never looked back.

 

Now I want to challenge you! Take a look at the ingredient list of one or two of your beauty products. Ask yourself if you’re okay with what you’re putting on your hair or skin every day.

 

If not, I challenge you to try natural products! I’ll be rooting for you along the way!

 

Would you be up for switching out some of your beauty products? Let me know in the comments below!

About the Author

Breanne is the owner of the blog Essential Moves to Wellness, where she writes about getting the most out of a healthy lifestyle. Her posts range from DIY beauty to ballet to mental health and wellness. When Breanne isn’t writing, she loves to crochet, tutor other writers, and dance ballet. Check out her blog for more on healthy living.