The core of the green beauty philosophy is an emphasis on keeping things natural and simple – going back to basics wherever possible right? Yet it’s easy to spend our entire time focusing upon what we’re putting into our bodies rather than onto them! Conventional beauty products contain a shocking amount of toxic chemicals that have been worryingly linked to a vast number of health concerns including eczema, acne, infertility, and DNA damage. Most women use at least a handful of products every single day, and with your average mainstream foundation containing a disturbing 24 toxic ingredients, you can imagine how our bodies can suffer a toxic build up over the weeks, months, and years.

7 green beauty secrets for clearer skin

Going green with your beauty regime doesn’t mean you have to be dirty, smelly, or spotty! In fact, you’ll probably see huge improvements to your skin when switching your skincare to a more primal approach…

Oil Cleansing Method For Clearer Skin

I used to do everything in my power to avoid oil on my face. Having an acne-prone complexion I was convinced that any type of oil was going to cause a horrific breakout. But then, after years of drying my skin out with harsh, chemical laden products, I learned that some oils won’t clog your pores and they can even make your skin less oily! I’m a huge fan of organic, cold pressed hemp oil for removing make up and cleansing my skin. Oil cleansing involves steaming open your pores with a hot wet cloth, then applying a small amount of oil into your hands and massaging it into your face for 1-2 minutes before wiping away the oil (along with any make-up, dirt and grime) with your cloth and warm water before splashing your face with cold water and patting your skin dry. Give it a go – It’ll be the best change you’ll ever make in your skincare routine!

Buff Away Dead Skin Cells

Instead of buying expensive exfoliators I opt to gently exfoliate my skin with a natural muslin or bamboo cloth – if you’re following the oil cleansing method (outlined above) then you will be gently exfoliating your skin whilst you remove the oil so additional exfoliation isn’t necessary. You can purchase natural cloths from Greenfibres or keep your eye out for bamboo cloths in your local health food shop! I recently found a box of natural bamboo dish cloths for 50p each and they’re perfect! I recommend buying a few of them so you’ve always got a clean one to hand whilst the others are in the wash. I also love to use fine sea salt as a body scrub – simply mix 2 parts coconut oil with 1 part fine sea salt or sugar and massage into your skin in the shower or bath. You’ll be amazed at how soft your skin feels after!

Moisturise with Simple, Skin-Kind Oils

There really is no need for pricey moisturisers – most of them contain a host of questionable ingredients that can cause your skin more harm than good! Make the simple switch to a cold-pressed oil and you skin will soon be glowing more than you ever thought possible! Rosehip oil is my personal favourite and is a great choice for most skin types but dry, mature skin could benefit more from Avocado or Sea Buckthorn oil and for those who suffer with acne-prone skin may hugely benefit from Jojoba or Neem oil.

Give Yourself a Weekly Treat

Face masks are a great way to keep you skin, smooth, fresh, and free from blackheads! My must-have ingredient for homemade face masks are natural, mineral clays. They work by drawing out impurities and refining your skin for a clearer complexion. For oily, congested skin, I recommend French Green clay as it’s highly absorbent and helps to remove impurities, tighten the pores, tone the skin, exfoliate dead skin cells, and reduce inflammation in acne. For normal or sensitive skin, Pink clay is ideal for softening the skin as it’s extremely mild and calming and also helps to soothe irritated skin. To make a simple homemade face mask, mix 1 tablespoon of clay with some water, base oil or tea (enough to make a paste) – once you’re confident with this you can start to add essential oils and food items to give your face mask an extra nourishing boost. Which brings me onto my next tip…

Raid Your Fridge

Start thinking of your kitchen as your new Superdrug! Avocados, raw honey, eggs and green tea all have fantastic skin and hair benefits, and when combined within a face or hair mask! Eggs make a great conditioning treatment whilst avocados, raw honey, and clay mashed together make a really nourishing face mask!

Make Today a Good Hair Day

Rinse your hair once a week with raw apple cider vinegar and you’ll be amazed by the shine and swoosh you’ll have for the following couple of days! Apple cider vinegar balances your hair and scalp pH levels whilst also working as a natural detangler. When used regularly in your natural hair care routine, apple cider vinegar can revitalise your hair, leaving it soft, smooth, and super shiny! I like to transfer some raw ACV into a spray bottle and keep in the shower so I can spritz it through my hair after shampooing. Once spritzed through your hair, massage into your scalp and let the apple cider vinegar sit for a few minutes before rinsing fully with water. This beauty trick will leave you hair so soft there’s no need for conditioner!

If Make-Up is a Must

Nowadays, there are so many natural and organic make-up brands out there that mean you don’t have to compromise looking flawless for unhealthy, toxic ingredients in cosmetics. Not only do they make you look great, you can rest assured that they won’t be damaging you skin or causing any long term health problems. Mainstream foundations include pore-clogging ingredients such as mineral oil and silicones, along with parabens, alcohol and a whole host of other nasties whilst mainstream mascara contains plasticisers (Yes! Plastic!) and alcohol – ever wondered why men have such lovely lashes? The alcohol in mascara dries up your lashes and causes them to become brittle and break!

Do you have your own green beauty secret that I’ve not mentioned? If you’re willing to share, please comment below! 😉

Peace, Love & Clear Skin,