Organic Beauty Products

You wash your face with a cleanser, rub on some toner, and moisturize before going to bed. You treat your hair with conditioner and lather on some lotion. And in the morning, you put on some makeup before leaving for work. In the span of a day, how many chemicals do you expose yourself to? Are they all safe for you?

The answer, unfortunately, is no. In fact, the average beauty product contains at least one active ingredient that can have long-term effects on your health. So how do you pamper yourself and stay healthy at the same time? The simplest way is to switch to natural beauty products. But for the healthiest option, don’t just go natural—go organic.

Natural vs Organic: What’s the difference?

“Natural” products are simply those that contain at least some natural ingredient. Many of them have been heavily processed, but they get away with the label because there’s still a tiny bit of natural stuff in them. So a cleanser may me made from natural lemon juice—but also a load of preservatives.

Organic products, on the other hand, are made with little to no factory processing. There’s no chemical content, except the occasional preservative to lengthen shelf life. That’s why they’re far better than natural products. Since there’s no processing involved, the plants’ therapeutic properties are still mostly intact. So you’re not just protecting yourself, you’re also getting better value for your money.

Some suggestions

Many organic products are overpriced simply because they’re trendy right now. If it’s not worth the extra dollar for you, you can make your own organic products using common kitchen ingredients. Here are some ideas you can try.

Skin care: Honey, oatmeal and lime

You can find honey-oatmeal soaps in most organic shops, but the glycerin—the basic ingredient for soap—tends to counteract their effects. Make your own cleanser at home by mixing honey, ground oatmeal, water, and some egg yolk. You should get a thick, heavy mixture. Rub it onto your skin, massaging gently, and rinse off just as it starts to harden. For scars and dark spots, cut a lime in half and rub the cut side over the affected area; leave for an hour before washing off.

Hair care: Egg, shea butter and evening primrose

Egg shampoos work well for dry and damaged hair. But why pay for the extra chemicals when you can use the real thing? Lightly beat a couple of yolks and massage onto your hair; rinse off after a few minutes. Shea butter works as a light conditioner, perfect for topping off a shampoo or hair treatment. You can get shea butter creams from organic shops, but you can also make one yourself using a mix of shea butter and evening primrose oil.

Facial care: Mineral makeup, mineral oil and tea tree oil

Mineral makeup has been growing in popularity as an alternative to conventional chemical products. It’s made from naturally occurring dyes and minerals, so there are no harmful effects on your skin—proponents say you can even leave it on overnight! To remove makeup, try rubbing mineral oil or jojoba oil on the area. Facial skin is delicate, so soap and water may be too harsh. Got a nasty zit? Rubbing some tea tree oil on it should help reduce the swelling.