natural beauty tips

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