The Key To Going All Natural

A year or two ago, if you were to look at my beauty cabinet, you’d have probably been dumbfounded by the overwhelming amount of chemical-filled products in there. Lotions and cleansers and self tanners and hair serums and deep conditioners and astringents… I could go on forever. You see, I’ve always been a lover of beauty products — I still am — but I haven’t always been such a huge advocate for natural beauty.

It just used to be something I never really thought about. I knew that what I was putting onto my skin and hair wasn’t necessarily good for me, but I kind of always assumed that I didn’t have any other option.

Boy was I wrong. After becoming a part of this lovely blog, I began exploring the world of natural beauty, and slowly it rose to become one of my top priorities. I’m still learning — and as I do, I alter my beauty routine ever so slightly. It’s all about constant progression… which brings me to my main focus: making the switch to a natural beauty routine.

Nature pieces and mascara

Making the switch is something that every single person will do differently. Each one of us is unique. We have different bodies — and different wants & needs — so a product that works wonders on one of your friends may happen to not do anything for you. From my personal experience, though, what I can offer you is one main piece of knowledge I have acquired: The key to going natural is understanding that the process is going to take time.

Take your time

Of course you can switch to an all-natural routine in one day. You can throw out every non-natural product you own and replace with the finest ingredients… but I don’t feel that this is the way to do it. It’s similar to the idea of going on a crash diet in order to prep yourself for an upcoming event — it might work short term, but you’re likely to soon go back to past ways. If you want to truly make a change to your lifestyle, do it slowly, one step at a time. This way, your body can get used to each change one by one, you can slowly learn how your body reacts to different products — and alter them until you find what works best for you, and the change won’t be such a shock to you overall.

Start by choosing one thing to switch — maybe you want to use natural oil to moisturize your skin instead of store-bought lotion. Try organic coconut oil for a bit. If you’re not into it after about a week, switch to vitamin E, and so forth, until you find what works for you. Once you’re comfortable with that, move on to switching out your perfume or your body wash. Step by step, little by little.

Coconut oil, olive oil, Wild Unknown notecard

Always make sure to research. You want to be sure that the products you’re using are truly ok to be putting on your body, and you want to get an understanding of why certain products are producing the results they’re producing. The best part about this is that if natural beauty is something that really interests you, all of this research won’t even feel like research. For me, I always enjoy looking up which natural ingredients can be used for what purpose on the body. After months upon months of perusing the internet for this kind of information (just a little at a time), I’ve come to recognize which ingredients are most beneficial for the body, as well as the different ways to use them. It’s fun!

Once you get comfortable with your overall routine, you can start making tiny alterations to the products you’re using, tweaking ingredients here or there to get them to be exactly how you want. Suddenly you’ll find yourself concocting your own unique creations that are formulated just for you. Here are some general insights to help get you started on your natural journey!

For cleansing: Castile soap is great when you need a cleanser. I love Dr. Bronners, which can be diluted and used as a shampoo or a body wash (and plenty of other things, too)!

For exfoliating: Use a naturally abrasive substance like sugar or salt to create an exfoliating product like a lip or body scrub.

Sugar, wooden spoon

For moisturizing: Oils like coconut, avocado, jojoba, sweet almond, olive, and vitamin E are excellent moisturizers. Use them alone on skin or hair to smooth and hydrate, or as a base in homemade concoctions like body scrubs and hair masks.

For scenting: Essential oils are a natural way to add a beautiful scent to your beauty products. Experiment with different mixtures to find a blend that suits you. Try rose & sandalwood, lavender & eucalyptus, or lemon & ginger.

Open perfume bottle, dried plants, pebbles

We’ve done lots and lots of blog posts on DIY beauty products and benefits of certain natural ingredients. Here are a list of some of my favorites that I think are really useful!

Our Favorite Ways To Use Coconut Oil

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses & Benefits

4 Easy Ways To Help Your Face Overnight

5 Overnight Beauty Tips

Homemade Natural Powdered Blush

Strawberry Beauty Tips

How To Make All-Natural Solid Perfume

2-In-1 Homemade Moisturizing Mask For Face & Hair

5 Natural Home Remedies For Frizzy Hair

If you have any tips on natural beauty, please share them below!

More beauty tips from the BLDG 25 Blog.

Follow FP Brigette on Twitter.

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
30 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
10 years ago

I have very fine hair (light blonde) and a lot of it. when i try the natural shapes and conditioners my hear breaks and is very oily. does anyone have a good formula?

Ella Wild xoxo,
Visit my store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartJewelryAlways

marissa l
10 years ago

Over the past year or so, this blog has really been a huge push for me to try out new natural beauty products and to ditch my old, chemical-filled stuff — Thanks for all the inspiration! xx

10 years ago

This is a lovely post and a great reminder to practice patience. I also find that over time my hair and skin need less “work” when there are few commercial products used.

marcy
10 years ago

I have been following your natural beauty posts and have tried probably 75% of your suggestions. I haven’t exactly found a perfect balance with my natural beauty routine but it is so interesting and so fun to experiment. I love the process, thank you Brigette and keep it coming!!! <3

Jessica
10 years ago

This blog has been a huge inspiration for me to continue my path towards natural beauty. I’m currently majoring in Alternative Medicine and I love researching essential oils for health AND beauty remedies! The ways I’ve switched my beauty routine in the past year include:
facial toner = one part water, one part apple cider vinegar, tea tree and lavender E.O. drops
facial, lip and body scrub = two parts dark brown sugar, one part coconut oil, frankincense and patchouli E.O.
facial cleanser= two parts grapeseed oil, one part castor oil, tea tree E.O.
shaving cream= shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, rosemary essential oil, peppermint E.O.
and I’ve switched to all natural products for my toothpaste, body soap and facial moisturizer. The next steps I’d like to achieve are dying my hair with henna and eliminating makeup foundation from my beauty routine.

Sierra Opper
10 years ago

Lemon juice for acne spot treatment! Works SO well!!!

Tatjana
10 years ago

It’s just not for everyone. I tried many different oils on my skin, they all don’t seem to work. I have dry skin and sometimes neurodermatitis. When I use oils only (or mixed with water) my skin dries out in a very strange way. It doesn’t look dry but it feels horrible! When I get essential oils on my skin it burns like hell. I’m allergic to a lot of things therefore going natural for me is a desaster! I’m quite thankful that there are products provided by “the industry” that don’t cause me allergic reactions :/

10 years ago

I recently fell into the coconut oil craze and bought a jar. It is all it’s hyped up to be! I use it with brown sugar and cinnamon to create a lovely smelling scrub in the shower and saves me the extra step of putting on moisturizer after I get out! Plus, It makes me feel as if I’ve been transported to the Hawaiian Islands! Xx, Tiffany { http://www.sunshinedaydreamphotography.com/ }

meg
10 years ago

a good thing to remember when trying to make the switch to natural beauty products is that everyone is different. if using straight oils on your skin makes you too greasy or feels weird, try buying a natural lotion (like Nature’s Gate or Dr. Bronner’s lotions) that include ingredients like coconut and vitamin e oil, but are already blended with other products so they’re not so intense.

also, Tatjana – essential oils often need a carrier oil to be applied to skin. some oils like lavender aren’t very intense so most people can just apply them directly, but if you have sensitive skin or are using a more intense oil (citrus, mint, pine etc.) then you’d want to dilute it into an oil like almond, apricot kernel, or jojoba so the essential oil doesn’t burn you or cause a rash.

madeline
10 years ago

Brigette, I am constantly inspired your posts on this blog! What a lovely surprise it always is to open my computer to one of your posts on natural beauty or decor. I have been making the switch (mostly thanks to you) to natural beauty products lately and I am so happy with it. What do you recommend for mascara? Thanks!

Alison
10 years ago

Im completely intimidated by this concept!! Its sounds great and all…….. But ok Ill start with… Whats the easiest thing to start with?

Rocio
10 years ago

Oooh Brigette, I think you are a wonderful woman! you really work for give us good tips that really works!! I admire you!! best wishes for you from Argentina!!! xoxo

kim
10 years ago

does anyone know where that light-blue top is from (first photo)? is it a free people top?

Rocio
10 years ago

Aloe vera works for me! I cut a leaf, clean it very well, employ the inside of the leaf in my face every night before bed and I wash it in the morning (use just a piece, the rest I keep in the fridge). It helps me to keep my face without blemishes. The only secret is be constant and patient!!

Thuy Do
10 years ago

It actually what I did. Now I have a natural skincare routine. I wash my face with oatmeal then use rose toner to moisturize. After that I use aloe vera gel. It makes my skin feels so good. Sometimes I use oil. For face I’d love to use carrot seed oil to clear away the blemishes. For hair it would be honey, coconut oil and olive oil.

nieka
10 years ago

I have heard that coconut oil clogs pores from some people, and that it doesn’t from others. Does it just depend on the person’s skin sensitivity? I have oilier, acne prone skin, and i have been using olive oil at night and I really like it, but i kinda want to try something new

Maya Srkalovic
10 years ago

What a great post! I’ve recently looked at the ingredients on my self-tanning towel that I use about every other month and I saw maybe 4 different parabens. Parabens are the last thing I would like to see in my beauty products. I read an article not too long ago regarding parabens, and I immediately went to my bathroom and started throwing away the products that had parabens in it. I started switching my products to non-paraben products. I soon realized after that, that I only switched about half my products. My foundation, power, facial cleanser and my self-tanner…all have parabens. Reading this article gave me the drive to change everything that has parabens to non-parabens. As much as I love my makeup, I’d much rather not risk skin cancer for them. I can’t wait to try some of the natural recipes given in this blog. It will make me feel better about what I am putting on my skin, and my whole body will feel better. Thanks for the post.

10 years ago

My biggest obstacle to going completely natural with my beauty routine has been finding a deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum or other carcinogens. I’ve tried making my own with recipes I’ve stumbled on and have bought multiple products at natural markets. But none have actually worked for me. I know you posted how you were trying different shampoo alternatives. So, have you found a great solution for a deodorant/antiperspirant alternative? Most methods have worked for a little while, but not all day. Some are messy and others require you to wet the stick before you apply or others you keep in the fridge to make sure it doesn’t melt on the counter. I’m still on the hunt for something that is effective and convenient.
I am currently still using a natural product because I don’t think it’s worth continuing to put unhealthy substances on my body. Your skin isn’t just used for protecting your insides, it absorbs anything you put on it.

10 years ago

hi! when i first heard about free people years back, i had no idea it was more than clothing.. then i discovered the free people blog last year and fell in love! it is so inspiring and refreshing to see a brand totally immersed in a natural lifestyle + a fun love for fashion. two of my major passions!! i now read the blog every day and am taking notes to switch out some of my beauty routines (no poo + chakras being my top right now:) thank you. xoxo

maya
10 years ago

Amanda, I was also on a quest to find a natural deodorant and I am happy to say I found it :) it’s called “crystal” roll on deodorant . Aluminum , paraben and fragrance free :) you can find it at any drugstore and stores that sell deodorants.
Brigette, I love your blog!!! Keep it up :)

Jo
9 years ago

This is really interesting, I’m thinking of going natural, I’ve started with a few products already and I’m really loving it :D

If your unsure on making your own you should try products from Lush or some of the sellers on etsy who make and sell all natural products. All the products from Lush are tailored for specific things and they smell great. The gorilla perfumes are great too! they can be a little pricey but can be worth it :)

DA
9 years ago

Thank you for sharing these! Personally, I encountered some difficulties when I decided to go natural. But after going over the hump, it was all worth it! Glad I stayed on course: http://www.naturalhaircarenews.com/2014/05/13/my-hair-journey-dominique-alexis/

Emily
9 years ago

I love me some natural products but remember……you still are using chemical filled products. Everything is made up of chemicals even the most natural and simple products. Also natural does not automatically mean safer. Think of poison ivy, hemlock, arsenic, asbestos, lead, snake venom, mercury, etc….these are all perfectly natural substances but also pretty dangerous. And some synthetic substances are virtually non-toxic. So natural does not automatically mean safer and better and synthetic does not automatically mean unsafe or bad. To say otherwise is the naturalistic fallacy. And another thing to keep in mind is that the dose makes the poison for substances. Something **may** have certain bad effects at a certain level….but there can be levels where the substance is completely harmless; this can be true for both synthetic and natural substances. This whole ‘dose makes the poison’ thing is toxicology 101 and applicable to things as innocuous as water!

Nova
9 years ago

Hi,I love this post,I have been into natural products for a while now and I stay on the search for products that are good for the environment.If anyone out there is interested in products that are environmentally safe for your body ,home,hair,ingestion,or anything else you can think of feel free to send me a message that u want to know about more natural products.You can reach me at gogreenforvitality@gmail.com. Thanks

sophia
9 years ago

Where did you get those little glass bottles?