I don’t put anything ON my body that I wouldn’t put IN my body, and this is especially true with products for my face. Here’s why natural facial oils are the foundation of my skincare routine.
Once I learned about all the nasty chemicals that are found in personal care products, it was easy to switch to fully natural and organic skin care, hair care, and makeup. Most of the chemicals and chemical compounds used in personal care products have never been tested for safety. This is especially troubling if you consider that most people use about 100 chemicals a day on their skin with their various products. The cumulative effects of this chemical body burden is unknown.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) explains that, “personal care products are manufactured with 10,500 unique chemical ingredients, some of which are known or suspected carcinogens, toxic to the reproductive system or known to disrupt the endocrine system [and] no premarket safety testing is required for the industrial chemicals that go into personal care products.”
Why I Choose Natural Skin Care Products
Once I learned about all the additional ingredients in skin care, I ditched regular moisturizers for facial oils.
There are so many good reasons to choose oil for your skin instead of traditional moisturizers. Suzanne LeRoux, founder of One Love Organics and plant oil evangelist, explains: “Plant oils help fortify and strengthen the skin’s own natural protective barrier, which is vital to overall skin health. [That barrier] is our first line of defense against germs and is also essential to maintaining moisture. The first step to radiant, glowing skin is the support and maintenance of the skin’s own natural protective barrier [and the best way to do this is by] massaging the skin with pure plant oils.”
There are so many facial oils to try:
- Tamanu oil, which is especially good for healing cuts and scars
- Almond oil, perfect for massage
- Jojoba: Not edible, but great for massage and as a base oil for essential oils
- Shea Butter: Also not actually edible, but totally natural, this thick body butter is perfect for post-shave or after-sun care
- Sesame: A lightweight oil for face and body, deeply nourishing for self-massage
- Coconut: Another light oil for face and body – use the same stuff in the kitchen!
And no, facial oils do not lead to breakouts. Of course, some skin types are more sensitive than others, so always test a bit first before putting on your beautiful face. Depending on your skin type, however, some oils might work better than others. For oily skin, coconut and shea might be too heavy. Some, like carrot seed oil, are considered dry oils and don’t have the same oily feeling when applied.
For years I have used coconut oil on my face and body, and sometimes my hair, for instant, glowing moisture. Coconut oil smells lovely, and pairs well with my hometown climate of semi-tropical Honolulu. But last summer I moved to San Francisco where the weather was significantly colder and my coconut oil turned solid, so it was a challenge to use everyday!
At that time, I switched to a beautiful argan oil for my skincare. I love this mild oil, and it kept my skin soft and lovely during windy, cold days in the city by the Bay. If argan is new to you, learn more about this deeply nourishing oil here. I chose an organic brand that was scented with roses, which made the oil feel extra nourishing and very lovely.
I have switched facial oils again, this time to a carrot seed + rosehip oil. This lovely serum was sent to me by SheaTerra organics, and I wrote a long post on Feelgood Style about the benefits of using this gorgeous oil everyday on my skin. They also sent a really nice scrub/masque combo that I’ve been using to feel extra girly and pampered lately. Learn how to make your own facial oils from organic beauty expert Liz Thompson
However, the ultimate secret to beautiful skin is a healthy diet! Check out this post on Eat Drink Better for the 5 best acne tips and learn why what you eat is more important that what you put on your skin when it comes to deeply nourishing skin care.
Want some more homemade body care? Over the years I’ve made my own deodorant, face scrub, foot spray, lip balm and more. Find these all in my zero-waste body care article.
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