Commercial Vs. Natural Skin Care
Do Natural Skin Care Products Work?
For 10 days, I am ditching my typical skin care routine and I will be testing out natural skin care products.
This challenge was inspired from one of my previous blogs, How Your Beauty Regimen Can Be Ugly for The Environment. While I was writing, it I learned a lot about the ingredients in cosmetic products, how it affects our health and the environment. With this challenge, I want to see if it is realistic for people to switch from their commercial skin care products to natural ones.
Just to give everyone a little bit of information about my skin care routine, it typically includes face wash, toner, and moisturizer. I have combination skin and it’s not really sensitive. I do not have allergies or acne problems, just get the occasional pimple.
The natural skin care products I will be testing out are part of the Andalou Naturals Brightening Line and include:
- Meyer Lemon + C Creamy Cleanser
- Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask
- Clementine + C Illuminating Toner
- Probiotic + C Renewal Cream (Day)
- Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream
Andalou Naturals is a natural skin care line with so many certifications that it is impossible to list them all! Main things to know is they are Non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) project verified and their products are gluten-free verified. They use certified organic, sustainably sourced and fair-trade ingredients. Their products are vegetarian and cruelty-free. Another thing great about Andalou Naturals is that their products are pretty easy to find, usually be located in local health food stores or health food sections in grocery stores.
While I was shopping for natural skin care products at the health food store, I was informed that when someone switches to natural products people tend to break out at the beginning. It was explained by my local health food store representative that this is because your body is detoxing the ingredients from commercial products. This is something we are going to pay close attention to throughout the 10 days.
Midway
Always remember when you switch face products, it will take some time to get used to, it doesn’t matter if they are natural or not. One of the biggest differences I noticed between my usual skin care routine and the natural skin care line was I didn’t get the ‘squeaky-clean’ feeling after washing my face, which I’ve come to love as it seems to help wake me up in the morning. Another thing that was different was that both the night and day lotions were a lot heavier than my usual face lotion. It didn’t make my skin greasy but I did notice the difference. Neither one of these things was a deal breaker but something to get used to.
I enjoyed the face mask, I haven’t tried anything quite like it before. The face mask kind of heats up and you leave in on for 10 to 20 mins and then wash off with cool water. I found it really refreshing.
So far so good! We will have to see how it goes for the next 5 days go.
The Verdict: Would I Switch?
Yes, after finishing this 10-day challenge, I would definitely switch to a natural skin care routine!
I would make the switch because I didn’t find there to be a huge adjustment period. My skin didn’t have a negative reaction to the products. I got used to not having the squeaky-clean feeling and the heavier lotions. Yes it took some time, but it takes time to get used to new products, whether they are natural or not! Within the 10 days, my skin did adjust and felt normal again.
If you decide to make the switch, my biggest recommendation is to give it time. Just like any product you buy, it might not work right away or agree with your skin but that doesn’t mean you need to write it off right away. Take time try out different products and read the reviews to find a brand that works for you.
What Can You Do to Help?
If you don’t want to switch to natural skin products there are other things you can do to help! Here are some ideas:
- Use less makeup or try not wearing makeup every day
- Use less shampoo and conditioner
- Look for products that have recycling programs. For example, some brands offer when you bring back 5 containers they will recycle them and give you a free item.
- Reduce the number of products you use. Less Products= Less Waste
These are all little ways to help the environment and still use the products you enjoy!
Oh…and that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling I thought I loved? Well, turns out that it comes from a chemical called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This chemical causes your face wash to foam and then strips your face of its natural oils. This is one of the reasons why your face feels dry after you wash it. Maybe I can skip the ‘squeaky clean’ for now and just have a bigger cup of coffee (sustainable, of course) to wake up!
