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natural beauty tips


Robyn Openshaw - Oct 04, 2008 - This Post May Contain Affiliate Links


Dear GreenSmoothieGirl: Thanks for your blog entry today about what you eat in a day, and when. I had been wondering about that. You should also let us know your beauty routine. Do you use special facial cleaners or just simple products? I’m wondering if you use Basic H. Also, do you use expensive natural makeup, or just the drugstore brands? Thanks for whatever info you want to share.

 

Answer: This will probably be a disappointment, since I’m not sure I have any genius ideas. I’m all about what I can do with the least amount of time, with few chemicals, especially sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), propylene glycol (PG), and mineral oil, which are probably the worst three of the bad ingredients in cosmetics and soap. My main beauty tip is to let your pores be unclogged with makeup as much as possible! I use organic, unrefined coconut oil all over my face at night and on my lips several times a day. I wash my face with any unscented, simple facial bar.

 

I don’t wear foundation. I wear drugstore eyeliner, mascara, blush, and lipstick if I go to work or out in the evening, and that’s it. (I’m not recommending them–I just haven’t found natural products that do what drugstore mascara and lipsticks do. In general, expensive brands have just as much junk in them as cheap brands do.) On days I don’t have to dress up, I wear no makeup at all, letting my skin breathe. I’ve read that the “natural” brands (Jason, KissMyFace, etc.) still are found to have toxic chemicals in them when they are tested. Anyone have better ideas? I don’t think “bare mineral makeup” is the answer. I realize that’s all the rage, but they’re still metals or minerals, maybe better than the worst products, but still pore clogging and not really the nutrition skin needs.

 

I also like to go in the sun to run, garden, or play tennis, several days a week–just not long enough to burn. And I use a crystal stick for deodorant (from the health food store or Azure Standard)–it’s just salt! No aluminum products that build up, are very difficult to eliminate, and cause Alzheimer’s risk. (To answer your question, I do use Basic H by Shaklee, not for a beauty product, but for a veg/fruit wash, highly diluted, in a water bottle.)

Posted in: Lifestyle, Natural Products

15 thoughts on “natural beauty tips”

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Another question for you. I know that you put flaxseed oil in your green smoothie. Is putting the flaxseed directly in and letting the blender grind it up with everything else just as good?

    I also had another question. Have you ever heard anything about sitting in hottubs with the chemicals that are in the water? What is your opinion on that. We use chlorine in ours.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I don’t wear foundation either. I think that 99% of the people who do wear it look silly. And the other 1% still look fake 😉 I don’t wear makeup regularly either. And this is interesting — I had gone a couple of months without wearing makeup. Then one day I wore mascara. It irritated my eyes badly! And no, I don’t think it was too old or anything like that. It was just that my eyes had gotten used to breathing unhindered my mascara and did not like it when I put it back on!

    All that said, I still want to be more feminine and beautiful and take care with my appearance, and unfortunately our culture still equates that to wearing makeup. It’s a toss up for me.

    It’s good to know that the natural brands really aren’t much better. I won’t bother spending twice as much for them! I have been interested in the mineral makeup, and if I did buy non-drugstore makeup, it would probably be that.

  3. Thanks for sharing the coconut oil idea. Does it work well in the delicate under-eye area? Or does it ever clog those pores?

    I’ve been happy with Ecco Bella’s milk cleanser and mascara and Burt’s Bee’s lip shimmer. But I still cringe at the packaging and expense.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Whole flaxseed is good. Some feel that the oil itself is incredibly nutritious without the estrogens, but I think the price of flax oil puts it out of range for some, and the whole food is virtually always the best option. So if you don’t feel putting ground flaxseed in your smoothie makes it too thick, go for it!

    Chlorine in pools and hot tubs is bad for us, of course, as we absorb a lot through the skin. I’m not going to tell you not to enjoy your hot tub, though! I would, if I had one! We do absorb more chlorine in one shower than we could drink in tap water all day, so putting a carbon filter on the whole house’s water is a good idea. I don’t know if you could chlorinate the hot tub to kill germs and then have it removed with a carbon filter, but you could ask a plumber.

    Robyn

  5. Anonymous says:

    The flax seed oil is more concentrated oils than grinding up your own flax seeds. I can let Robyn tell you about chlorinated hot tubs, but any chlorine is highly toxic to our bodies and our skin soaks in alot of it. Not a good idea to be soaking in chlorine.

  6. http:// says:

    I’ve been using the Basic H for my fruit and veggie spray but I was having a hard time figuring out how much to dilute it. I have a 500 ml spray bottle; how much Basic H do I put in?

  7. Thanks for this info. I was wondering about this myself. I don’t really wear makeup enough to pay for the expensive stuff.

    I had another question. Maybe you could blog about what you buy at Costco. I’m a member of BJ’s & am either thinking of switching or foregoing it altogether. I’m part of a grocery & produce co-op, so I order many of my whole food staples in bulk.

  8. Anonymous says:

    Thanks everyone. I only get in the hot tub once in a blue moon, but it was a concern.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I have found the Environmental Working Group very informative and a source to find the toxicity of different beauty items.

    EWG.org is the website and Skin Deep in the link on the side to find the ratings of beauty products (makeup, lotion, shampoo, etc.)

    I am still looking for myself. I try to wear no makeup at home and when I go out I use Burt’s Bees tinted moisturizer, blush and lip shimmer. I have not found any mascara and just use a name brand.

    On a side note I just received the Bodhi Soap Nuts for laundry and just about everything you would need soap for. I will try it in the laundry this week. I learned about this from Mike Adams e-mails (NaturalNews.com) I enjoy most of his research. I ordered and then have googled soapnuts and found so much information. I even looked at my own soapnut tree to plant next year.

    I am anxious to hear everyone’s suggestions on beauty also.

    NutriMom (Julia)

  10. Anonymous says:

    Hi- I’m new to the site and loving reading everything, Robyn.

    These beauty tips are interesting. The coconut oil really doesn’t clog your pores? Do you use it as a moisturizer after you wash your face, or just whenever you feel like putting it on? And does it absorb quickly? Sorry for all the questions, but I’ve always been religious when it comes to my daily skin-care routine, so this is fascinating!

  11. http:// says:

    Beth, you kind of have to suspend your disbelief to try coconut oil. (It seems counterintuitive to put straight oil on your face, doesn’t it?) But it’s very nourishing, lighter than you think, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t clog pores. I do find it annoys my eyes if it gets in, so take a second to rub it in gently.

    Thanks for the sites/info, Julia. I read Mike Adams, too, though I wish he’d stick to the natural health and quit with the sky-is-falling economic paranoia stuff.

    Darlene, I don’t know exactly what the dilution rate “should” be, but I put maybe 2 Tbsp. in a large spray bottle and fill it with water the rest of the way.

    Robyn

  12. Anonymous says:

    RE: Thanks for your blog entry today about what you eat in a day, and when. I had been wondering about that.

    I am searching for that article Robyn, can you post it again or tell me how to find it?

    I am so sorry to hear about your divorce. Just know that when I was 43 I was left after 21 years and thought the world was over. It turned out that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. New, deep love and marriage and a wonderful life. Trust yourself.

  13. I also recommend the EWG Skin Deep site to find out how many toxins your products contain.

    I personally use (and am an independent rep for) Miessence brand skin and personal care products. No chemicals or synthetics are used. I am happy to give addl info or samples if you wish. Just email me separately. I found the company when I was looking for a lotion for my daughters eczema to replace what the traditional medical doctors were recommending…..UGH-Aquaphor and straight Vaseline! I have also used the coconut oil on her skin too….it was just getting a little messy for a daily regiment. I like to use the coconut oil as a moisturizer on my lips too.

  14. http:// says:

    I am an au natural person myself too. Coconut oil to remove mascara if I brave it for a special function or just as a regular moisturizer otherwise.

    Berts bees on the lips and as a light blusher if needed. Neutrogena unscented facial bar and Dr Bonner (peppermint) for a body wash. Diluted of coarse.

    I use Tea Tree shampoo and cococut oil as conditioner and a bath oil with a drop or two of essential oils for relaxation. I also use a crystal stick and it even works in our heat (south Texas).

  15. Anonymous says:

    Will definitely add this site to my reader. Thanks.

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