About 7 years ago, when I was heading into my 40s, I started really paying attention to what I was doing to my skin, especially what I was putting ON it!

Around that time, I also learned about the harmful ingredients in our personal care products (in the U.S. specifically).  There is very little regulation to what is used for our skin care creams, make-up, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, etc.  Yet, I knew how porous our skin was with absorbing what we put on it (it’s a sponge). That was a big eye-opener for me.

During this time I also learned about the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to learn the safety of products used.

One other crazy thing…

The more “clean” my body got (eating healthier and reducing the toxin load in my environment), the more sensitive I became to things that I once was used to.  For instance, I started having allergic reactions to mascara!  That was not a fun experience, especially when I was at the office and my eyelids started swelling up!  Yikes  (More on my favorite cosmetics in another post.)

I also felt that I was overwhelmed with so many products out there, that I wasn’t sure what to use.  All I wanted was something that was clean, nourishing and did its job!

So, I did a little homework…

…. And I kept in mind the “Keep it simple, Stupid” logic. LOL.  I like and thrive off of simplicity!

So, here are my favorite skincare products:

1. Organic Castor Oil.  If you are not familiar with it, it’s derived from a plant (castor seeds) and is a thicker clear oil.  Very hydrating and nourishing, and even wound healing!  Check out this article to learn more of how it is used, even for constipation and sunburn.

What’s cool is there are many reports that it’s also helped people grow back thinning hair.  It’s often used by some for thicker eyebrows and longer lashes.  So not only do I put this on my skin every day (for moisturizing), but I also put some on my eye brows too.  Heck, it’s worth a shot anyway!  Why not!

When it comes to lashes, I also use a clean dropper bottle that has 3 parts witch hazel and 1 part castor oil in it.  I shake it before every use and use that as my eye make-up remover!  Easy! I told my friend about this little concoction and she started using it.  The next time I saw her, she said she loved it and I noticed how long her eye lashes were!  She was like, “It works so well and I get the benefit of long lashes too!”

Lastly, one thing I am also careful of with products, especially those that I use for a longer period of time, is the packaging they come in.  If you don’t know what an endocrine disruptor is, well… plastic is one of the major ones.  And as you know, it’s everywhere!  So, I look for organic castor oil that is in a glass bottle.  That bottle will last me a LONG time!  I don’t want the plastic to leach into the oil.  That seems to defeat the purpose!

2. Chagrin Valley Soap and Salve Company.  When I was looking for a clean shampoo, body wash and lotion, I stumbled upon this company.   They are known for high quality ingredients that are sourced by nature and sustainable.  They strive for transparency of what is in their product and have great core values as a company.   The story of how the company started is also cool!  She was in her 50s when she started it! (heck yeah!)

What I have loved about this product is the purity and also the low environmental impact they focus on.  Their facial oils, shower lotion bar, deodorant (NOT antiperspirant – no aluminum in this stuff!) and soaps are great!  They were our personal care product source for my oldest son when he was healing the worst eczema outbreak he has ever had (70% of his body).  I knew I could trust it on his very sensitive skin.

3. Essential oils. So I have come to use essential oils for my entire house.  Most often people freak out with how little the bottles are because they don’t realize how little you have to use!  My most used bottles, last for MONTHS! Plus, I can use them for multiple things.

Sometimes, I will mix my castor oil with a drop of lavender and a drop of frankincense. Yep, just one tiny drop.  That is all you need! If I use a dropper bottle to make the mix, then I add 5-8 drops of each to the carrier oil (castor oil).

Frankincense is super powerful for healing.  Many use it for skin care to reduce fine lines, sun damage and irritated skin.   Lavender also helps with wound healing, powerful antioxidants and induces relaxation! I add drops of this to my bath water… every… time.

To mention it again, essential oils are VERY powerful.  They may look small in packaging, but they are a powerhouse product… not just for you skin but also your home. (More to come on how I reduce toxins in my home.)  They are powerful, and with that, are very concentrated!  Your skin absorbs things very quickly, especially essential oils, so I always advise using a carrier oil (i.e. coconut, olive, castor… ).

If you ever want to learn more or brainstorm ways you can make the shift to cleaner products, please reach out at support@librahealthcoach.com.

Comment below if you have any other recommendations or have found any of this information useful!