All-Natural Skincare Favorites

Posted by Guest Contributor on Nov 3, 2009 in Beauty, Fab Finds! | 2 comments

A couple of years ago, I began going to Bloom Organics for facials with Carmen McManus, who opened my eyes to the fact that what I put on my skin should play a role in my general health in addition to what I eat. As Carmen has noted, “Your skin is the largest organ of the body, and it absorbs up to 80 percent of what you put on the surface.” She didn’t have to say much more to make me realize that I needed to reassess the quality of what I was using for personal care products.

Since then, finding a nourishing skincare regimen became a similar quest to that of my dietary health. With the resources of Bloom Organics, Whole Foods, and many other excellent retailers, both local and online, I have been carefully determining the best recipe for my optimal skincare routine. Although I can’t say I’ve honed it down to perfection, I do have a handful of new essentials that I will share with you. All contain natural, organic, pure ingredients from quality-conscious brands. Keep in mind that although some of these items come at a higher price than their unnatural alternatives, a little goes a long way, so they often last longer than you’d expect.

Earth Science’s Azulene Moisturizing Shave Crème, (www.earthessentials.com). This is technically a men’s product, but both my husband and I use it regularly. The azulene is the blue extract from chamomile and is moisturizing so that your skin isn’t left flaky and dry. I have incredibly sensitive skin (prone to eczema), and my shaves have become much less irritating since we started using this product.  Find at Whole Foods and online at Houseof Nutrition.com, free shipping on orders over $89. 

Weleda’s Citrus Creamy Body Wash, (www.weleda.com). This delicious-smelling product contains Biodynamic^® lemon peel oil and vegetable-based cleansers. It has become our favorite all-around body wash.  Find at Whole Foods and online at SaffronRouge.com, free shipping on orders over $95. 

John Masters™ Organics Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner,  (www.johnmasters.com). Although hair care was among the last products to go organic in our personal care products, I underestimated the benefits. This conditioner, with key ingredients of lavender oil, avocado oil, and soy protein, smells clean and pure, and after leaving it on for five minutes before rinsing, my hair feels softer and powerfully restored.  Find at Bloom Organics or online at Beautorium.com, free shipping on orders over $100.

Szép Élet’s ilike Organic Skin Care’s Rolling Face and Body Exfoliator, (www.szepelet.com). The Hungarian company Szép Élet’s ilike line of organic skin care is made in small batches from organically grown and hand-picked herbs, fruits, and vegetables to contain the highest possible levels of natural active ingredients. Their Rolling Face and Body Exfoliator is effective yet gentle and has served me well being used two to four times per week. The few ingredients – medicinal thermal spring water, Hungarian paprika, corn meal, castor oil, honey, capsaicin, and vitamins B, C, and E – combine as a wonderfully fragrant, successful exfoliant and gentle stimulant. This product can be beneficial for a variety of skin conditions and can help soften and remove dead keratin cells, stimulate blood circulation, promote the natural self-cleansing process of skin, and charge skin with minerals from thermal spring medical water.  Find online at SkinBotanica.com, free shipping for orders over $49.

100% Pure’s Organic Virgin Coconut Nourishing Body Cream, (www.100percentpure.com). All of 100% Pure’s scents are absolutely scrumptious, but the coconut has become my “flavor” of choice. All natural, 100% vegetarian, and almost entirely organic, their creams are also intensely nourishing, serving well after time in the Florida sun. Also try the Fuji Apple and Pink Grapefruit.  Find online at SkinBotanica.com.

Eminence Organic Skin Care’s Lime Stimulating Masque, (www.eminenceorganics.com). Eminence’s skincare products are made from the highest levels of all-natural organically grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables that are hand mixed with pure waters drawn from a thermal hot spring lake containing minerals and trace elements. Their Lime Stimulating Masque was a shocker to me the first time Carmen applied it during a facial. The tingling sensation was strong, and the masque left me looking like I’d sat for too long in the strong sun; however, within an hour, I was amazed. My skin felt soft yet toned, and there wasn’t a pore in sight. It is an excellent stimulating and detoxifying masque that I now use at home frequently. Only a pea-sized amount is needed for your entire face, and after just a few minutes, you’ll have cleared blemishes and oxygenated, refreshed skin thanks to the lime, thermal water, nettle, and other ingredients.  Find at Bloom Organics or online at SkinBotanica.com.  

Eminence Organic Skin Care’s Fire Thorn Treatment, (www.eminenceorganics.com). Another one of Eminence’s products is likely the most soothing and hydrating cream I’ve ever used for my face. My skin feels well-nourished, and the scent is incredibly soothing. Fire Thorn could be my favorite product that I use today.  Find at Bloom Organics or online at BuyNaturalSkincare.com.

Just as there is no one-diet-fits-all way to nutrition, upgrading my skincare products has become an ongoing search for not only high-quality items but ones that work best for my needs. This requires some trial and error, but most companies have small or sample sizes available to aid us with our search. We’re lucky to have the resources (online and at local retailers) that help us make the right decisions for becoming conscious with what we put on our skin.

Bloom Organics, 2065 Siesta Drive, Sarasota FL 34236 (map it), (941) 362-4194, www.BloomOrganics.com