all natural beauty products…

Did you know that our skin is our body’s largest organ? Did you also know that up to 60-90% of the ingredients from products we put on our skin goes straight into our bloodstream and doesn’t have time to detoxify. Sounds scary, but it’s true, our skin is eating whatever we put on it, so we need to make sure we are nourishing ourselves from the inside out. No matter what we put on the outside if it isn’t nourishing us inside, we will never get the healthy glow we so desperately want.

There are three major damaging chemicals that are used a lot in the products on our shelves today. We need to try to avoid these as much as possible. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and parabens. SLS and SLES are chemicals used in shampoos to help it lather up and those with sensitive skin can often find them irritants. Parabens are widely used as a preservative and can also cause skin irritation.

There is also evidence to suggest that SLS can cause environmental damage. SLS goes into our waters from our showers and has been shown to kill off certain types of microorganisms that fish feed on, which then impacts the whole of the food chain. It has been said that by 2048 there could be no fish left in the sea if we carry on damaging the planet the way we are.

The toxic chemicals mentioned above are going straight through our skin and into our body, where our liver has to go into serious overdrive to try to remove them. Our body could be using that energy to make our hair shiny, our nails strong and our eyes bright.

Using all natural and organic beauty benefits our health and that of the people around us. It benefits the environment as the producers have an invested interest in the world around them and are making their products in Eco friendly ways, with sustainable packaging. Finally it helps prevent animal cruelty.

For me the hardest part has been trying to decipher which products to use. I have cleared out all my old lotions and potions, that I didn’t realise were so damaging, and have now replaced them with natural alternatives.

First to go were my shampoos and conditioners. I had so many in the cupboard that I have tried over the years and none of them had ever really worked for me. The shampoo I have been loving is this fabulous one from Faith in Nature, (who’s products are award winning and have been certified by Cruelty Free International and The Vegan Society). I also love their conditioner,  their shower gel and bath foam their laundry liquid, actually all their products are amazing. They are vegan friendly and are a very good price compared to most on the market and yet the products are every bit as good as others I have tried. They all smell magnificent as they use scents from nature. I totally love the lavender and geranium and the coconut. It doesn’t lather a lot but it’s enough and my hair has never felt and looked so good. Watch Founder Rivka Rose’s inspiring ‘From Avocado Seed to Global Brand’ story here.

Next up was my skincare, I am now using and absolutely loving this cleanser (soothing cleanser + bamboo cloth) from Tropic. This cleanser is an all natural, cruelty-free and vegan product. Made with natural plant-based oils, green tea extract and eucalyptus, and is a real treat for even the most sensitive skin. It takes 2-3 pumps of cleanser to remove the toughest and fullest make-up. I also love that it comes with a bamboo cloth. The material is amazingly gentle on my face. Honestly, it’s so soft and fluffy! My skin is looking glowing and I have had lots of compliments on it.

I will continue to add all the natural products I am using on here if this is something you are interested in. I have swapped my deodorants, my moisturisers, my washing up liquid, my make up, literally anything that is going anywhere near my body.

Shelley x

P.S; Click the pink writing to go straight to the products.