While I thoroughly enjoy trying out different formulas and complicated treatments, sometimes simple is best, especially for those with sensitive skin, and what can be simpler than one- or two-ingredient beauty products? In an attempt to eliminate harmful chemicals from their routine, many fashionistas and IT girls now opt in for simple organic solutions, so today I wanted to introduce you to some of my all-natural favorites, paired with tips and tricks on how to get the most benefits from each one.
Are you familiar with NOW Foods? I’m sure you’ve seen their supplements around, but I bet you didn’t know that they also carry an extensive range of skin care – from all-natural treats to high tech potions for all skin types and concerns. NOW Solutions line includes lots of single-ingredient goodies, and I chose five of the most recognizable ones to try:
Let’s start with the basics! We’ve all heard of coconut oil, and many of us probably use it for cooking, but did you know it’s also one of the best natural ingredients in skin care? High quality coconut oil will work miracles for dry and irritated skin, and can be applied all over your body and hair to moisturize, soften, and soothe.
I personally have two favorite uses for it:
- As a hair mask. Melt a tablespoon of coconut oil until it looks clear and has runny consistency, and massage it into your scalp and hair, giving extra love to those dry and split ends. Throw your hair up in a bun and leave it to absorb all the goodness for a few hours, then simply wash off using a gentle sulfate-free shampoo. Your hair will be so soft, you won’t even need a conditioner! But in case you do, rub a pea-sized chunk of coconut oil between your palms, and run it through clean damp hair, then dry and style as usual.
- As a shaving lotion. Yep, you read that right! not only does coconut oil, generously applied to warm wet skin help the razor glide smoother, ensuring the closest shave; it also helps seal in the moisture, preventing irritation, post-shave dryness, and red bumps. Seriously, this is one of the best beauty tricks I’ve discovered, and you should totally give it a try!
NOW Solutions Coconut Oil is 100% natural and considered food grade, so you can use it to treat your body inside and out. It contains no artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives, and no solvents are used during the extraction process.
Another fan-favorite, which is technically a two-ingredient product is Cocoa Butter with Jojoba Oil. It’s formulated with 75% to 25% ratio to provide the benefits of both in this perfectly balanced all-natural formula. Jojoba oil is very similar to human sebum, so it’s been used for generations to soften and re-hydrate the skin naturally, while cocoa butter is a multi-tasker like coconut oil and can be used all over.
- As a massage bar. In its natural state cocoa butter is a solid, so I often use it as a massage bar by gently pressing and rolling it against the skin. The butter melts when it comes in contact with body temperature, making my skin smell like chocolate!
- As a stretch mark treatment. Cocoa butter is probably most famous for its ability to prevent stretch marks and reduce the appearance of the existing ones. I am embarking on a fitness journey, and it will be instrumental in helping me reduce the risk of developing them while I lose weight.
Unlike the coconut oil, this mix is not edible, and should not be ingested [it has a warning on the label], although I bet you’ll be tempted to when you take a whiff of that chocolatey goodness.
If you often take care of your nails, you might have noticed that many liquid cuticle treatments contain sweet almond oil. Its moisturizing properties are second to none, and it can revive even the most hopelessly chapped skin. So naturally, here are two of my favorite uses:
- As a cuticle oil. Because, of course I would! As much as I love my Burt’s Bees lemon butter, sweet almond oil doesn’t need to be rubbed in, and it pretty much absorbs instantly, without making my fingers look like I just dipped them in a pool of grease.
- As a makeup remover. Sweet almond oil [along with camellia oil] makes one of the best natural makeup removers, effectively cleansing, conditioning, and moisturizing the skin in the process. It melts away even waterproof mascara!
The company also recommends dabbing a drop of their all-natural Sweet Almond Oil over the delicate area around your eyes to hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Another gem I discovered in NOW Solutions line is their 100% natural European Clay Powder, which in a nutshell is none other than powdered mud – a naturally-occurring mineral silicate Montmorillonite. I only have one use for it so far:
- As a pore-clearing facial mask. I mix a teaspoon of clay powder with half a teaspoon of water and a drop of sweet almond oil, just so it’s not so dry; stir well until it turns into a paste, and apply to slightly damp skin. I normally wait between 5 and 10 minutes, and wash it off with lukewarm water. This mask helps remove excess oil and unclog pores, making them appear smaller and cleaner.
Fun science-ish fact: The molecular composition of montmorillonite is known to make micelles assemble into vesicles [in human language, it binds together the building blocks necessary to create organic cells], and helps the nucleotides assemble into RNA spirals that end up inside those vesicles. Some scientists speculate that montmorillionite dust may have started the chain reaction that eventually led to the formation of life on Earth millions of years ago.
Finally, a cult classic that you’ve seen on all store shelves lately, which is best used in its pure form – 100% pure and certified organic Moroccan Argan Oil. You can find it as an added ingredient in so many different hair and body products these days, and rightfully so: it’s loaded with healthy fatty acids that normalize the skin’s pH level and help address a multitude of problems, including dryness, irritation, and skin damage.
Obviously, argan oil is particularly great for hair, but when I use it, it’s mostly as …
- A nighttime moisturizer. After removing makeup, apply a few drops on still wet skin, gently massage in, and pat to dry with a soft towel. You will be surprised how soft and naturally moisturized your skin will feel after that, and it will look even better in the morning!
As you can see, sometimes simplifying one’s routine can lead to surprising discoveries. I read several blogs about beauty downshifting and while I’m not ready to dump my serums and potions in favor of simple solutions just yet, I can attest from personal experience that not only is an all-natural routine a viable option, in some ways it’s more effective than many lab-created products from my stash. I think nothing will ever trump the feeling of melted cocoa butter on my skin, or the softness of my hair from a coconut oil mask.
Stay tuned for more NOW Solutions reviews in the near future! I’m testing some very exciting products from their skin care line, and two of them are particularly impressive.
Have you tried using one- or two-ingredient products before? What do you think about beauty downshifting; could you do it? Let me know in the comments below!
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