Au not natural
As you guys know, I’m pretty big on products that don’t have a lot of extra stuff added to them and try to buy organic whenever possible. When it comes to food, usually if they have organic, I buy organic. As much as I would like to live in a world where everything is pure and free from creepy added ingredients (and churn my own butter perhaps?), I don’t, and some things I’ll keep buying and using.
Prime examples:
My beloved hot sauce. Arizona Gunslinger does make organic, but Cholula contains silicon dioxide, whatever that is.
The BEST nighttime moisturizer I’ve tried. It’s Korres, so it’s not the worst out there, but it’s definitely not pure coconut oil. This Korres face cream is super rich – a little goes a long way- and smells absolutely lovely. The first night I wore it to bed, the Pilot snuggled up and said, “wow, you smell beautiful.” Enough to keep me using it right there, and I also think it’s an awesome wrinkle-fighter.
Speaking of moisturizers, here ya go.
Jergen’s firming tanning lotion. I have no idea which chemical process occurs for it to “tan and firm” but mixed with coconut oil, it’s done wonders on my post-baby belly’s loose skin. In this case, I fully chose vanity over ingredients. At least I’m not ashamed to admit it?
My coffee creamer:
Yep, it’s coconut milk, but not the plainest thing ever:
and nail polish. I’m a junky. Usually I pink Sally Hansen and OPI products, but even with the lack of formaldehyde, the things in there are a little sketchy.
I figure that as long as I do what I can for the most part, the little things aren’t that big of a deal. Sometimes, I’ve tried to buy a more natural version of a product and have been disappointed, like the $13 “natural” nail polish remover that didn’t do the job.
Some of my favorite organic and more natural home and beauty products:
-Coconut oil. I rub it on my belly (mixed with the Jergen’s) before bed and also love it as a lipgloss.
-My daytime moisturizer: Juice Beauty SPF (I like the tinted the best since I don’t wear foundation, but had to get the plain last time since Sephora was out)
-Vinegar, baking soda, lavender oil, dish soap and lemon juice in cleaning
-Tarte eye makeup. Their eyeliner and eyeshadow palettes are incredible- shimmery, neutral colors with excellent staying power. My favorite eyeliner is here, and the palette pictured above is here.
What products do you try to buy organic? What’s not such a big deal as far as that stuff goes? Produce and meat products are really important to me and am fortunate that we have a great variety of inexpensive options here in Tucson.
See ya in the morning with the giveaway winner and this week’s Bedtime Ab Burner!
xoxo
Gina
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Love this post! I’m the same way… esp with nail polish remove! The natural kind did not work
i adore you!
loved this post SOOOOO much. it’s nice to know that you’re keeping it real! <3
I am horrible when it comes to beauty. I use it all and don’t even check ingredients. It’s amazing that I eat organic food 95% of the time but I don’t put organic products on my body. I’m a cosmetic junkie to the fullest. One thing I am very ashamed of is my addiction to Keratin treatments. I go once every 3 months and it’s supposed to be a healthier one but who really knows. We all have our weaknesses.
I started using Juice Beauty stuff per your blog raves about it and I noticed Sephora isn’t really selling it at all anymore 🙁 I am going to try out that firming lotion though, very good to know you think its made a difference since I normally think that stuff is usually just a gimmick.
LOVE the French Vanilla coconut creamer. I think the 80/20 rule should apply to natural beauty and cleaning supplies as well. When it comes down to it, you have to use what works AND what you like!
amen
I LOVE OPI nail polish! I just had a nail painting party with my friend and her girls and we counted all my nail polish (because I’m a polish junkie too!) and I had 39 colors 🙂 I’m glad you mentioned that “natural” nail polish remover doesn’t really work because I would’ve tried it before, but not now! Thanks!
i love opi, too! and yes, the natural stuff i tried didn’t work AT ALL
produce and meat here, too! i don’t worry as much about skin care products though i do try to stay “natural”
I use Pureology’s Hydrate shampoo & conditioner. I don’t have the bottle in front of me so I have no idea if it’s all natural, but I do know that it’s sulfate free & 100% vegan. And it’s also awesome and smells delicious. The conditioner has some sort of mint in it and it feels really good during & after the shower. The mint is tingly during and after rinsing, your hair feels like silk. It’s sort of expensive (Around $30 a bottle), but if you have a friend who works at a salon that uses it (or you make a friend!), you can give them cash and they usually get around a 50% discount.
Also, I use pretty much all LUSH stuff for my shower. My favorite things right now from LUSH are the Buffy bar (which is an awesome exfoliating bar that is made of cocoa butter & leaves your skin SO soft after showering – no lotion needed) and the Mask of Magnaminty. Lovelovelove.
I eat organic when available for most produce & nut butters. I try to steer clear of processed foods and unnecessary chemicals (MSG, etc), but I don’t freak out about not eating organic if it’s not available or if it just doesn’t taste as good as the original.
Love this post, Gina! I finally found a line of natural cosmetics I like … It’s called 100% Pure. I can’t find natural facial cleanser and lotion I like … I have very oily skin … So for now, I use the fake stuff! 🙂
I’m not sure what face wash routine you have, or what products you use, but you should really try out the oil cleansing method (OCM). Google it for tons of information, but seriously, this is the best my skin has ever looked in my adult life, I don’t even need or use a moisturizer anymore, and my cleansing supplies for the next 18 months cost about $8. Basically, I use a 50/50 mix of castor oil and grapeseed oil to wash my face every night. Also removes make up and is 100% organic. I know, putting oil on your face seems nuts (or it did to me anyway as I have slightly oily skin that gets crazy dry after using soap) but since like dissolves like what happens is the oil dissolves the gunky face oil, washes off clean, and leaves you with really balanced and soft skin. I’m off foundation now too. So, just as an FYI while were talking organics!!
I love Juice Beauty products and I also realized that Sephora wasn’t selling it anymore so I recently went to Ulta and they had a HUGE Juice Beauty selection! I use their Tinted Mineral SPF and wear it every day!
Gina, i love this post and thanks for sharing. HAPPY FATHERS DAY to your hubby.
Love Verefina products! 100% natural and have done wonders for my skin. verefina.com
I have super sensitive skin, so I really have to watch what products I use. I’m a lot more stringent with my beauty and hygiene products than I am with my diet, actually! I try to eat as healthfully as possible, but I have no problem with refined grains and sugars as part of my diet. I eat more for what my body can tolerate (autoimmune disease) which is lower fiber etc. There’s no perfect one size fits all diet, obviously everyone’s body is different. And I suppose I think that the stomach and intestines are built and equipped to chuck out as many “wastes” as possible, but the idea of chemicals constantly absorbing into my skin kind of gives me the heebie jeebies! 🙂 I love the Living Nature makeup range, it’s pretty much the only foundation that doesn’t give me inflammation on my face, and I’m in absolute LOVE with the Modern Organic Products (MOP) hair products. I have super thick curly hair and I swear that the MOP curl defining cream is the best curly hair product I’ve tried. I also use Giovanni’s Smooth as Silk shampoo and conditioner, which is really reasonably priced at iHerb and has a pretty clean ingredients list. Other than that, I just use pure oils and plain soap.
Did you get stretch marks at all during pregnancy.. and if so, does the firming Jergen’s lotion work for that? I have been wanting to try something to firm my midsection since losing weight and hopefully hide those stretch marks a little bit, but I feel that some products out there can be a hit or miss. I really envy your options for organic foods where you live; I unfortunately do not have any big health food stores in my town. I would love to have a Whole Foods Market and/or Trader Joes. There is a Trader Joes about an hour from here, and I have made special trips just to go because I get so disappointed in the selection here. One of our local grocery stores just remodeled and now has a big organic/natural section.. but the prices are so high (for a box of quinoa, I spent over $5, whereas the same box only costs $2.99 at Trader Joes). Sigh…
Hello I accidentally found your blog and love it. Are you near Valdosta??
I’ve been won over by Zoya nail polish. It’s “toxin free” (not sure how they define that). But they have a million gorgeous colors and the best part is that it dries superfast — so I have a better chance of not wrecking my nails before they dry.
For some people, this might verge on TMI, but I sell intimacy products for a living and I’ve found that a nice silicone lubricant works far, far better for me than even the nicer organic lines. If you’re interested in organic lubricants, especially ones without glycerin (which can cause yeast infections) and parabens (which are dubious in any form), check out Sliquid Organics – they’re the best I’ve found so far, especially the plain natural one with the blue label! The texture is great, far nicer than your basic KY Liquid. It’s just not silicone, and I’m spoiled!
Coconut Oil on the baby belly looseness…I am so going to have to try that…
I love my Norwex products…environmentally friendly antibacterial cloths, body and baby cloths, and facial care. They are truly amazing.
In case you are intrigued…. http://caseywetjen.norwex.biz/