If I had to pick one word to describe my 2020, then it would be natural. Throughout the year, I’ve focused on different aspects of my life and how I could make them more natural (and often more sustainable too!). I focused on the cleaning products I use, the food I eat and let us not forget, what I put on my skin. If you are interested in natural self-care products for your skin, hair, and smell (wait what?). Then read on to find my top 3 non-toxic personal care products of 2020.
So, why do I feel like sharing these products with you? Because my ‘Clean Beauty‘-analysis of the ingredients shows them to be natural for real and not just products that say they are. Because they actually work, even with my highly sensitive skin. And because they won’t break the bank.
1. Get to the roots of it
If you are looking for natural shampoo and conditioner bars, then look no further. The Folks Soap shampoo and conditioner bars have been a staple in our home for over a year now and I am a huge fan (see a full review here).
Now, be warned: these bars won’t transform your hair overnight nor will they magically give you shiny and volumptuous hair.
These bars won’t just make your hair look healthy, but more importantly, they will get to the roots of it (ha! see what I did there?) and make sure that your hair actually is healthy.
Before switching to these bars I had to wash my hair every day, my scalp would get itchy, my hair ends would often appear dry and hay-like, and my scalp would get sore after wearing my hair up in a bun or braid. Now I only wash my hair once every three or four days, my hair ends look hydrated, and my scalp is healthy.
I’ve tried all of the Folk Soap bars and they all worked brilliantly. The nettle shampoo and avocado conditioner are my favourites. I love the way they smell! The bars are priced between 4 and 5 pounds and they last a good while. Nathan and I both use ours and the shampoo bar lasts us three months and the conditioner bar six months.
2. Trap that moisture
Did you know that your skin dries out after taking a shower? That is if you don’t moisturise it straight after!
I’ve found a body moisturiser that’s natural and more importantly: convenient. Because who has time for a sticky and slow drying moisturiser?
Biology isn’t my strong suit, but do you remember that thing where water moves from higher concentration to lower concentration? I didn’t, but it does. And when you emerge from the shower, you have a higher concentration compared to the air around you. So, water evaporates off the skin quickly leaving the skin dry. When you moisturise, however, you trap some of that water before it can evaporate.
I found this out years ago, but I haven’t been very effective in acting on it. For me, to apply a moisturiser every time after I shower, it has to be convenient to apply and quick to dry. Well… I’ve found it and it’s sweet almond oil.
I purchased a 1 liter bottle from the brand Naissance for 8,99 pounds. In itself, it’s a bit clumsy using the bottle since it’s big and tricky to lift it with slippery hands! Repurposing a pump from a finished hand soap bottle did the trick. It works brilliantly and gives a bit more control over the amount of oil you get.
And guess what? I’ve also started using it on my face! I am not sure yet how long this bottle will last, but I’ve already had it for two months and still have more than two-third left!
3. So very sensitive
Do you remember my review on the Mighty Mint deodorant from We Love The Planet? I’m still a big fan of that one. I LOVE the smell, but sadly after eight months, I had to admit defeat: my sensitive skin started playing up and I couldn’t deny it anymore. It’s an understatement when I say that I was really gutted.
I would have periods in which my armpits would get sore and sweaty no matter how little or much of the deodorant I used. Not very flattering I know, but I’m sharing it since I believe this post will only truly be useful if I share the full picture!
Despite this, I didn’t want to give up on the brand since it really was a a case of ‘it’s me, not you’. So, I decided to try their So Sensitive deodorant. This one has no sodium bicarbonate, no essential oils, and a wonderful fresh smell.
I’ve used the stick for three months now and I think I may have found my forever deodorant. One stick lasts me three months and it’s usually 9,99 pounds which is a bit on the expensive side. BUT, I stock up on this deodorant whenever Holland and Barrett has one of their ‘buy one, get one-half price’-sales. That’s 25% off per deodorant, which makes it 7,49 pounds. So that’s 2,50 pounds per month for a great natural and sustainable deodorant (the other smells are even cheaper). Not bad huh?!
This journey’s not over yet
There you have it, my top 3 non-toxic personal care products of 2020. I’m very keen to continue my search for natural self-care products that really work and that are affordable. And of course, I’ll share them here with you!
I’m really curious: What are the self-care products that really made a difference or stood out for you in the past year? Let me know in the comments!
Much love,
Jenna
