Affordable, Safe Beauty Ingredients

Using safer skin care is an important way to reduce daily exposure to toxic chemicals. A new study, published by scientists at UC Berkley, found that when teenage girls switched to safer skin care products, their levels of harmful cosmetic ingredients dropped between 25-45% in just THREE days. So yes, what you put on your skin does matter.

Being a new market, sometimes the safer skin care and cosmetic products cost more than your average drugstore brand. I believe that if you are in a position to support such companies, this is money well spent. (My personal recommendation HERE). If some of these products aren’t within your reach, the good news is there are many simple beauty ingredients that can serve as affordable safer alternatives.

Disclaimer: If you purchase products from the links below, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. 

Coconut oil

• Moisturizer for dry skin: Use this as a simple, affordable, safer body lotion.
• Makeup primer: Dry skin can make foundation crack and ages the skin. I recommend using coconut oil (or sophisticated oil blends like this) as a primer. Simply let the coconut oil soak in, and then apply your foundation.
• Dandruff treatment: I love to use coconut oil as a simple DIY dandruff treatment. When I’m in the bath (or shower) I will get my hair wet and rub in generous amounts of coconut oil into my scalp. Then I sit back, relax and enjoy my bath for a good 15 minutes. Then I rinse as much of the oil out of my hair as possible and deeply wash my hair with safer shampoo twice. It’s as easy at that! One or two treatments usually rids my scalp of all dandruff.

My recommendation: Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Epsom salts

• Reduce muscle soreness: I love to use Epsom salts in my bath to reduce muscle soreness and lactic acid. I use two full cups of Epsom salts and add a few drops of Valor Young Living essential oil to the bath for a luxurious scent and relaxation. Valor is a grounding and balancing essential oil. You can also use these salts with coconut oil as a DIY exfoliating scrub.

My recommendation: Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt Soaking Solution (available online, at major retailers including Costco)

Shea butter 

• Hand and heel treatment: I keep shea butter on my night stand and rub it on my hands before drifting off to sleep. This is a great gift to give your loved ones for a hand or foot massage.

My recommendation: Fair Trade Blends for Life Shea Butter

Jojoba oil

• Moisture boost to your lotion: Simply add a few drops of jojoba oil to your daily body lotion.
• Massage oil: The unscented and lightweight nature of this oil makes it great for giving massages.
• Hair treatment: Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your shampoo during the winter months.
• Beard oil: For the men out there, simple jojoba oil is great for grooming and moisturizing your beard.

My recommendation: Pure and Natural Organic Jojoba Oil (Make sure you purchase jojoba oil that is stored in glass rather than plastic.)

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