For years, the American consumer was blind to the realities of our body care products. The lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and skincare we had used for years were all loaded with toxic synthetic materials, fragrances, parabens, plastic filaments, and just all around a bunch of junk that did not serve us — and, in fact, was pretty harmful. Lathering up, layering on, or soaking your skin in toxic materials can lend itself to life changing illnesses and genetic malformations.
Thankfully, when the push came to focus on more natural, ethical, unprocessed, and organic ingredients in our food, we started paying closer attention to what was lurking in what we put on our bodies as well as in them. We’re all about going au natural, but that doesn’t mean using lemon juice as toner (PLEASE don’t ever do this) or removing your makeup with highly comedogenic items such as coconut oil.
It is easier than ever to commit to natural skincare that is formulated with natural chemicals, humectants, and emollients that effectively clean and care for your skin — and with the organic trend showing no signs of stopping anytime soon, these products are more readily available and inexpensive than ever. Here’s a rundown of our favorite green products you can pick up at the drugstore.
The area around your eyes is not only the most ignored skin on your body, it is also the thinnest and most susceptible to harmful ingredients. Botanics addresses both of these issues by packing their non-toxic and cruelty-free Radiant Eye Cream with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid in a rich, eye-loving cream.
If you’re struggling through winter skincare, marula oil is a little known savior of parched and dried-out complexions. Acure Organics brings the cold-pressed and omega fatty acid filled marula oil, an oil extracted from the nuts of African marula trees, to shelves for an impressively inexpensive $16 a bottle.
Facial cleansers are “utility products” in skincare — meaning that they serve a very basic function, should be unfussy and gentle, and should be easy to afford every other month as they are a daily absolute necessity. If you’re looking for an organic, non-toxic, cruelty-free, completely clean cleanser that is as easy to afford as it is to feel confident in using, this is definitely the one.
2018 is shaping up to be the year of peptides, and we couldn’t be more here for it. Peptides, amino acids that are fragments of proteins that healthy skin depends on to stay youthful, essentially act as super boosters in skincare. Peptides rev up the effects of other skincare ingredients, such as antioxidants or retinol, and adding it to your routine can have some dramatic skin-improving benefits.
While Vitamin C is a skincare staple, it is notoriously hard to find a formulation that keeps the integrity of this regrettably unstable active ingredient from going bad before the product even hits the shelves. Mad Hippie’s Vitamin C has a cult following not only because they have figured out how to keep the product from spoiling right after production, but they also pack their formula with plenty of other goodness (ferulic and hyaluronic acids to name a couple) at a considerably cheaper price point than its luxury competitors.
This product is hardly new, and its near-cult following is supported by its list of clean ingredients, calming botanicals, and incredible formulation that is impossibly hydrating for such a lightweight lotion viscosity. If you’re looking for the perfect hydrator to prep your skin for the day ahead but don’t want to break the bank on a product filled with irritating perfumes or questionable ingredients, this is it.
There are few things more refreshing than the cooling and brightening effects of a facial mist. If you’re looking for a product that does a little extra for your skin besides making it feel nice, you’ll find yourself reaching for this Derma E Hydrating Mist several times a day. Prep your skin before makeup application, spritz throughout the day to rehydrate, or calm your skin after a mask at night with this perfect formula.
What are your favorite natural skincare products? Which of these are you most excited to try?
Find more of our natural beauty recommendations on our Pinterest board
