Today’s Eco-Beauty week post is contributed by blogger Jennifer Nicole. More about Jennifer:
Jennifer Nicole was diagnosed with rosacea – redness, adult acne and blotchy skin – in 2006, and is no stranger to natural and organic products. She owns and runs Awakened Aesthetic, a website that features local, organic and/or socially conscious websites and products, and helps readers avoid the mass-marketed media trap that is Corporate Shopping. Jennifer also co-owns The Demoiselles, a guide for women of all shapes and sizes in search of self awareness and a healthy mind and body (plus some hot fashion, of course).
Who doesn’t have skin problems?
That’s what I thought: no one. Given enough time, we all go through the frustration of unwanted skin problems: dryness, blemishes, wrinkles…even the occasional bug bite. At the same time, some of us – those with perpetually oily or dry skin, those with scars or sun damage – have more to be concerned about than others.
The truth is, finding non-organic skincare products that keep our problems away is hard enough. Finding something that’s all natural, organic, socially responsible, and still works is a whole other matter. What’s a girl to do?
I’ve heard a lot of people say that I should “DIY” my face products: smoosh up fruits, veggies, nuts, flour and oils to make my own masks and washes…but honestly, I don’t have the time (or the energy). I need something I can use at 11pm, when I’m half asleep and don’t even want to wash off my makeup, without worrying that my face wash has gone rancid. The other option I’ve heard is to buy those really expensive products you see online – but my skin is temperamental. If this $30 bottle of all-natural wash doesn’t work, how am I supposed to afford thenext one I have to purchase?
The solution, for me, hasn’t been time-consuming or expensive. It’s been a series of small choices, along with some cheap-and-easy test runs of pre-made products, that have kept my skin clear and my bank account afloat.
- Use what you’ve already got. Right now, I have half a tomato sitting in my fridge. It’s going to go bad. However, since my skin is particularly oily, I can slice up that tomato and place it on my face for 30 minutes: it will destroy the upper keratinous skin layer and let new skin breathe and grow. (Oily skin only, ladies!) For normal or combination skin, try cucumber, which sucks up dirt and oil without all of that acidic content. Dry skin? Grab those old, mushy strawberries. (No other ingredients for these masks, just the fruit itself!)
- Ask for samples. Grechen and I have both posted about Spirit Beauty Lounge, which offers lots of natural beauty solutions for the discerning shopper, but did you know that they also offer sample kits? Before you drop a lot of cash on a new face wash, mask or toner, you can try it at a discount. (I’ll never have to give away disappointing beauty products again.)
- Moisturize from the inside out. It’s like mom always told you: drink lots of water. When I forget this rule, I pay for it: my skin gets blotchy, blackheads creep up from the depths, and the dark circles under my eyes start to look like black holes. This one’s free, ladies, so keep it in mind. Your skin won’t just thank you later – when it’s started to lose its natural elasticity in your thirties and forties – it will also thank you now, as it soaks in that moisture to help even out pigmentation, dryness and overall tone.
- Don’t give up. You’ve got this face, and this planet, for the rest of your life. If you give up on finding the right eco-conscious beauty products for you in your early years, you’re stuck with the crap you’re using now. Do you really want to be staring into the mirror, frustrated by Clean & Clear, twenty years from now?
I know, it seems simple. It seems too easy. But here’s the real kicker: it all relies on you. There’s no perfect face wash for every girl that has rosacea; there’s no one product that will clear your skin and leave you looking radiant every day. There’s only you, a glass of water, and all of those advertisers that are looking to grab your almighty dollar.
So be patient, stay hydrated, and spend wisely.
Please visit these other eco-beauty week posts:
Expert Tips & Picks from Spirit Beauty Lounge + $100 Giveaway!
Sula Paint & Peel Nail Polish Video Review
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