Learning that I had celiac disease and that I needed to avoid products with gluten in them opened my eyes to the brands of natural skin and hair care. Sadly, I was constantly frustrated with price and performance. Being pregnant for the first time made me pay even more attention to what I was putting in and on my body. Getting pregnant a second time has completely opened my eyes to the world of natural skin care.
I've been a loyal Clinique fan for many years. Their 3-Step skin care system gave me great results. However, I found that I NEEDED the products to keep my skin looking good. That annoyed me since I had great skin before I started wearing makeup.
So, I sought out another solution. Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep has become a tremendous resource for me. I was determined to find another 3-step line. I spent a long time researching different brands. I found several, but finally decided that I needed to make my own. This gives me total control over the ingredients.
Step 1 - Cleanse
I use Vermont Soap Unscented Aloe Castile. Make sure to choose an unscented variety to prevent stinging! It is very effective at removing dirt and makeup. If you need a little extra help removing eye makeup, gently dab the eye area with a cotton ball dipped in olive oil before cleansing.
Step 2 - Tone
I LOVE Aura Cacia's Toning Facial Mist! Toning is my absolute favorite of these steps. The only thing I do differently, is that I apply it using a cotton ball instead of spraying it on.
Toning Facial Mist
Normal, healthy skin can benefit from a tonifying/balancing facial mist.
Ingredients
2 ounces distilled water
6 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop clary sage essential oil
1 drop chamomile essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
Directions
Pour into a spray mister bottle. Essential oils and water will separate, so shake the bottle vigorously before spritzing this refreshing blend onto clean skin. If your complexion tends to be dry add 10-15 drops of jojoba or grapeseed oil along with the essential oils.
Step 3 - Moisturize
This is the only step that makes me miss Clinique. I adore Moisture Surge. Conquering this step will take some experimentation. Moisturize your skin with a very small amount of the oil of your choice. Since my skin is rarely dry or oily, I only moisturize at night to avoid any greasiness under my makeup. If your skin is dry, you may need to moisturize in the morning and at night. Any oil can be used. My skin loves coconut oil. You can also try jojoba, gapeseed, olive, cocoa butter (make sure it is 100% cocoa butter), almond, and more.
That's it! Purchasing the materials to get started may be slightly cost prohibitive, but they will last you many, many years. Start with what you can. Most health food stores and even Target carry castile soap. That is an easy one! I already had all of the essential oils except clary sage, so I just skipped it. The toner works fine without it. I purchase my oils from iHerb. I have found them to have the best prices. Enter the code MAN073 to save $5 off your first order!! Health food stores will also carry essential oils. Moisturizing oils are also readily available at your local health food store and at iHerb.
How do you keep your skin healthy?
Another great and exciting post! I was using some castile soap that I found at HT, but after awhile it smelled HORRIBLE....so much so that it was making me sick to my stomach...so for now I have switched to tea tree castile soap (at least I think that's what it is) The toner that you so kindly made me works great! I have seen a difference just within the past few days! I have used olive oil and have also purchased a jar of organic coconut oil (but haven't tried it yet) You do have great skin Allison! Thanks for another awesome post!
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