So I have to admit that I’m doing really well with keeping up with the whole natural beauty product way of life. I made a conscious note to myself a couple of weeks ago to try and use the most natural products when it comes to skin care, body care and hair care, whether that be eco-friendly, organic or botanical. I’m not going to lie – it sure can be hard, especially when you rush through the crowded aisles of Boots on a Saturday and just want to but an affordable face cleanser.
Today’s post is sharing with you some of the products I’ve currently been using, and how I am incorporating them into my daily beauty regimes. Some of them are hero items I’ll be keeping in my beauty cupboards (yep, I literally have designated cupboards for this stuff!) for when needed, and others are pretty much everyday essentials!
Native Unearthed 100% Natural Crystal infused Deodorants
This natural deodorant is perfect for the large vegetarian and vegan customer base there is out there, due to this being a cruelty free product. I proudly own the crystal infused roll-on deodorant with Mangosteen – a unique fruit bursting with antioxidants, nutrients and vitamin C. This fruits is said to be soothing and healing, and is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a bottle full of nature. Mangosteen is also known for its anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been used for centuries in the Far East.
You have to slightly wet or warm up this product before it rolls quite freely under the armpit, which shows just how natural it is. It doesn’t need to be filled with nasties or added cheap properties which would break it down to be slightly more of a looser substance. Before using this product, I was using another natural and organic roll-on deodorant, and this one didn’t disappoint at all. It keeps me fresh and odour free throughout the day and has quite a nice, unusual texture when applying. The selection of natural deodorants cost just £6.49, and they also retail an aloe leaf version too. No guilty feelings when using this…
S5 Clarity Cleanser and Purity Serum:
Ah, that feeling when fantastically packaged beauty products which land on my desk, looking super chic and ready to trial out. I love the clean white carded box of the serum, with its bold green embossed lettering. This type of sleek and modern packaging portrays a brand which really cares about it’s products looking premium and quality. A bit about the brand: S5 is designed to solve skin problems naturally using the strength of ingredients found in the most extreme parts of the planet (such as Antarctica, the Wadi Desert in Egypt and the high mountains of Tibet). They say our bio-actives have naturally evolved strength and resilience to extreme environmental stress over millions of years.
I first used the Clarity Cleanser, which has a rich foaming texture when massaged into the skin. It’s designed for oily/combination skin, and removes excess oil and light make-up with one gently wash. It features Papa Enzymes, which are enzymes from organic rainforest fruit to gently smooth and purity the skin. The brand advise applying to dry skin and then mixing with a little bit of water, before leaving on for 1-2 minutes and rinsing. This should act as deep exfoliation too, so I’m looking forward to trying this.
The serum was recommended to me due to the fact I suffer from regular breakouts, and my skin can be fairly spot-prone. I’m usually a bit unsure when it comes to applying serums – like, do I finish with a moisturiser? Or is a serum alone good enough? This one contain 2% salicylic acid, which is effective for boosting cell renewal, but also has moisturising properties, so I find I use this instead of a moisturiser. But you can follow up with one – it’s totally up to you. I’ve noticed from using this a couple of times a week for the past 3 weeks that it’s super calming – a lot of red, blotchy areas have settled, and it speeds up the fading of any new spots. My spots do seem to be reducing in general, but I guess I’ll have to continue using to see if the results carry on!
Naissance Aloe Vera Gel:
Good old Aloe Vera Gel – a skincare staple I’ve been aware of for so many years, which always comes in handy. This particular brand – Naissance – again focuses on the purest, most natural properties to form the basis of beauty heroes. In all honesty I was actually due an Aloe Vera product, as I haven’t owned the product in a pure form for a long while. I personally love it for it’s antibacterial and antifungal properties; it has deep penetrating properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory. In a gel form, it is also highly moisturising and has soothing and cooling properties. They say it’s great for those with sensitive skin and skin conditions, as it’s non irritant and super cooling.
I’ve been using this product in particular to treat the damaging effects associated with sunburn, moisturising and cooling the skin. As soon as I catch the sun, I always apply this stuff to my face/body at night, to let it heal and repair my skin. Similarly, this gel is highly moisturising and offers soothing relief for irritated skin – so also great for acne. They say that for people that have scalp conditions such as dandruff, Aloe Vera Gel may help eliminate the dandruff and repair skin that has been damaged by either scratching or by the condition itself.
A must have for any girls beauty shelves!
Pure Potions Scar Oil and Skin Salvation:
Another natural beauty brand I’ve discovered lately is Pure Potions, which aim to exactly what their name says. They are completely transparent about the properties and ingredients they use, only utilising natural, organic ingredients. They also make sure what goes into their products is naturally sourced, and can be used on anyone: adults, teens, babies alike. The two products I’ve been testing is the Scar Oil and the Intensive Moisturisation Ointment – two essential items which are great to keep as staples.
First up – the Scar Oil. Now I have a love/hate relationship with Bio Oil, as I used to rave about it for years, before I then felt it kind of stop working on me, and it’s texture became more greasy. Keen to see what this Pure Potions version was like, I was happy to see first of it’s use of Rosehip, vitamin C, and omega 3 and 6. Rosehip is known for it’s abilities to soothe scars, with it’s rich moisturisation and cell renewing properties. This makes is a great ingredient for scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone and dry/aging skin. This Scar Oil fuses the Rosehip with grape seed oil, chamomile and lavender, which are all powerful natural soothing and replenishing agents. From my first-hand experience with this, I found it refreshing and moisturising, but I mainly loved how it renews the skin, revealing brighter, redness-faded skin.
Next up is the Pure Potions Intensive Moisturising Ointment, and believe me when I say this product is just so super cute. It’s mini little pot is great to carry around, and straight away I can tell you this is a must-have for those with eczema, dermatitis, sensitive skin, and any skin concerns which need hero natural ingredients to help soothe and treat. This particular moisturiser is in the form of a balm, and can be rubbed onto the face or any dry areas of the body. It contains beeswax, hemp seed oil and nettle extract (to name a few), which are all skin loving and caring. I found this to have a rich, deep moisturising formula, which creates a semi-occlusive barrier which protects the skin from everyday external irritants. So lovely to use, and great for hydration without any irritation.
Inika Truly Oragnic Enriched Rosehip Oil:
As mentioned before in the Pure Potions review, Rosehip Oil is one of my favourite properties. I tend to have a lot of marks on my skin from previous breakouts, and the tendency to have dull skin. I’ve used this brand’s organic and natural make-up before and always been impressed, so it’s fair to say I knew this product would live up to my high expectations.
This vegan friendly Rosehip oil targets premature ageing, with the helping hand of 4 Australian native botanicals: Kakadu Plum, Quandong, Riberry & Crown of gold. For me, it’s an added bonus that it aids the repair of aging skin, as I used it more for refreshing, brightening and encouraging the healing of my skin (fading red marks, leaving it feeling smooth). This product is said to be great for fading sun spots, red marks and any old blemishes, and for me, that’s what it does. I’ve been using it at night (possibly used this for around 4 nights up to now), and have been waking up feeling like my skin is much fresher. Again, I’ll be hoping that with continued use, I’ll start seeing an improvement to my dull texture and marked skin.
Another point is that this product is extremely pleasant to use – so calming and gentle to the skin. It’s £20 price tag more than reflects it’s uses, and I’m obviously not the only one who thinks that, seeing as it’s currently sold out!
So far, I’m overly happy with my decision to focus on natural, organic skincare. Not only am I feeling like these brands and products are so gentle and caring to my skin, they also seem to perform brilliantly. And the best bit is that I feel good for using them! Their natural scents are uplifting, with luxury textures making them lovely to use.
What are your thoughts on natural skincare? Do let me know if you have tried making the switch too!