Spring through fall, your skin may have its ups and downs: the occasional red spots from harsh water or maybe a new foundation that just happens to contain chocolate and completely clogs your pores. Unexpected breakouts are always a pain for sure, but nothing, nothing compares to what can happen to our skin during winter. Winter is an alluring time of year for all. We’re busy enjoying snow covered trees, ice skating at Boston Common,hot cocoa, and Netflix, when out of nowhere, the moisture in your skin just evaporates, leaving you with nothing but red, flakey, self-esteem killing absurdity. Not everyone has this problem, but for all of you unlucky suckers like me, I’ll be sharing my secrets for keeping your skin soft and moisturized throughout this rotten season.
My skin product philosophy is simple: if I can read all the ingredients listed on a product, and know exactly what they are, it goes straight into my skincare routine. There’s no doubt these products can be expensive and difficult to find. Often times I have to be super thrifty, and look around for the best deals possible. To get us started, here are a few helpful tips for product searching.
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Stay away from anything that contains the word fragrance in its ingredients list. Nine times out of ten, it’s a company’s sneaky way of saying, “Here’s a whole bunch of chemicals we put into a product to make it smell pretty”. They’ll usually leave those chemicals out of the ingredients list completely, sticking the term “fragrance” in their place. This could be detrimental, because many chemicals are irritants and could cause allergic reactions to consumers with sensitive skin. However, “fragrance” doesn’t always mean chemicals, and if you stick with a brand that claims to be 100% organic like Lush or Burt’s Bees, you should be in the clear.
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If you have dry, easily irritated skin like me, be wary of anything that contains benzoyl peroxide. It will strip your skin of all its natural oils and most skin types experience a hot stinging redness. And trust me, this stuff burns. For some people, benzoyl peroxide recommended by a dermatologist to reduce acne by drying out oily skin, but it’s really not good for most of us. I personally try to avoid it whenever possible.
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Never be afraid to stick to food products you found in the supermarket! You can use organic coconut oil as a luscious moisturizer, or extra virgin olive oil as a very inexpensive and effective makeup remover! Google is a great place to start when looking for food products that have makeup or skincare functions.
Now that those little tips are out of the way, here are my top four organic products to help keep your skin soft and smooth for the rest of winter!
1. HERBIVORE Botanicals Hydrating Facial Toning Elixir
Image courtesy of thefashion.ipq.co
This little beauty is one of my favorite new toys. It’s a facial toner made from purified water, aloe vera powder, witch hazel, vegetable glycerine (an organic compound produced by vegetable oils), and the essential oils of ylang ylang and rose geranium. This baby was a gift from my darling roommate, but you can find it in stores like Urban Outfitter for around $12-$16. I use it every morning to wake my skin up, and reduce redness whenever I’m feeling dry and inflamed. It has truly worked miracles for me this season!
Image courtesy of brittonloves.co.uk
Now, this stuff is truly godlike. I use it almost every night as a makeup remover, as well as a nice thick mask to lock in moisture throughout the night while I sleep. Don’t let its solid-like texture fool you, though: this stuff gets greasy! Only keep it on overnight if your skin is in desperate need of some moisture (and you should probably keep it away from any silk sheets or pillow covers). It’s made up of ingredients like olive oil, beeswax, bee pollen, honey, royal jelly and propolis extract (all natural bee products). I’ve been using mine at least four times a week since November, and I’m just now reaching a smidgen below half of the 4 ounce jar. It has a wax-like consistency, but once you warm it up in your hands, it transforms into a smooth and succulent oil that you’ll want all over your body!
Some stores sell this guy for around $40, but if you’re an Amazon Primer like myself, you can find it for around $21. Be careful though! There are many frauds out there trying to sell you Egyptian Magic with a fake formula, so make sure you read into the product’s questions and comments section beforehand if you’re buying online.
3. LUSH 9 to 5 Facial Cleansing Lotion
Image courtesy of makeupalley.com
This is one of my favorite hidden treasures. You can find this cleansing lotion on Lush’s website with a price ranging from $10.95-$22.95 depending on the size. I put it on after every shower, rubbing it into my skin and lightly washing away with a cotton pad or soft, damp washcloth. It has the most beautiful orchid and almond scent. It contains ingredients like ylang ylang essential oil, almond oil, dove orchid extract, everlasting flower absolute, and some of Lush’s safe synthetics like triethanolamine and methylparaben.
Because it’s made by Lush, I choose to trust its synthetics because of how starkly organic their products are. I have faith that they wouldn’t put any skin-irritating chemicals into their products, but with that being said, a good amount of their ingredients lists contain that dreaded word, “fragrance.” But in Lush’s case, the majority of their fragrances are made up purely of essential oils. Always be aware of what’s going on your skin, though, folks. You can never be too careful.
4. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm with Vitamin E and Peppermint
Photo courtesy of the-file.com
Last, but certainly not least, a product I’m sure you’ve all experienced before because it is simply amazing! Burt’s Bees all natural lip balms are my absolute favorite. They are so moisturizing and literally my favorite accent to any all natural makeup look. I have mine with me 24/7, and it is the only chapstick I have ever fully finished before losing it (astonishing, really). If you haven’t guessed it already, this product consists of beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, peppermint oil, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, canola oil, and limonene. It goes for about $3.00 literally anywhere you look: Target, Walmart, Marshalls, Star Market, and all that jazz! It is one of those products you just have to buy in bulk because your self esteem jumps 500% every time you put it on! I would recommend this product to everyone, oily and dry skin alike. Trust me, I’ve never been more passionate about any chapstick in my life.
So, there you have it ladies and gents: my top four dehydration-crushing products to help you fight winter’s war on skin! Stay tuned for more of my Organic Skincare tips, as well as my do’s and don’ts of makeup!