Happy Sunday! In today’s blog post, I’m going to share with you the top six natural beauty products you can always find in my home.
On my blog, I previously shared a DIY Eyelash Growth Serum recipe using one of my favourite ingredients: Aloe Vera gel. However, in this blog post, I’ll be diving into more of my favourite natural and ecological products, which I use on a daily basis.
1. Pure Castille Soap
High up on my list is castile soap for the simple fact that it’s a multipurpose natural and biodegradable soap.
The antibacterial soap is traditionally made with olive oil. Nowadays, I’ve seen many brands use coconut, avocado, castor, jojoba and/or palm oils in their mixtures, as well as almond oil. This ensures that the soap maintains its cleansing properties while also being moisturizing, making it enjoyable for nearly all skin types.
My favourite product is Dr.Bronner’s Lavender Oil Liquid Castile soap, which I use to cleanse my skin and to wash my laundry.
Learn about all of the other ways you can use castile soap here and its multiple benefits.
2. Shea Butter
Shea butter has been in my life for as long as I can remember. The butter comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree, which can be found in East and West Africa (primarily Ghana). Shea butter is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F; collagen-boosting and skin-rejuvenating vitamins.
I personally use raw shea butter on my skin, lips and hair, and can attest to its incredible moisturizing and smoothing capabilities. As a hand-washing enthusiast living with eczema, I can’t count the many times shea butter helped heal my sensitive skin.
Did you know shea butter could also be ingested? Mind…blown.
3. Aloe Vera Gel/Juice
I vividly remember discovering Aloe Vera in my late teens through my sisters. This is when I excitedly began using it myself, going through hundreds of bottles. Luckily, those days are over because now I have my very own plant!
Keeping with the theme I have going on in my first two favourites, Aloe Vera holds many benefits including, antioxidant, medicinal, antibacterial and skin-enhancing properties.
I use the gel on my skin to moisturize it on top of mixing it in with my hair lotions. It’s also great for when I cut or burn myself by accident!
4. Tea Tree Oil
Among my top most-used essential oils, tea tree oil is one of my best-loved!
Tea tree oil, derived from Australia’s native tea tree, is a medicinal plant which boasts of healing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory chemicals.
Every time I buy a new shampoo bottle, I make sure to add a few drops of tea tree oil in. This does wonders for refreshing and cleansing my scalp! Also, when I’m sick with a cold, I add a few drops in my shower and the hot steam really helps clear any congestion.
Furthermore, I use this oil to help treat my occasional pimples (and the scars that come with it) by combining a drop of tea tree oil with some Aloe Vera gel. After washing my face, I apply this mixture to it followed by a little shea butter. It’s also great in a hand cream for my eczema.
Additionally, I sometimes use one drop of the oil with toothpaste to brush my teeth.
5. Active Charcoal
Active charcoal is carbon that’s been heated to maximise its capacity to absorb. Fun fact: Did you know that carbon could be made from wood, coconut shells, peat or sawdust? Pretty neat!
The activated charcoal works on the skin by drawing all of the bacteria, toxins, chemicals, dirt, oil and more living on its surface. Then, it absorbs those unwanted substances, stripping them away when you rinse the charcoal off your face.
I strictly use activated charcoal in my face scrubs by mixing it with sea salt and a few drops of tea tree oil.
6. Rosewater
Rosewater is made from essential oils obtained from steeping and/or steam-distilling crushed rose petals with spring water. The product has anti-inflammatory, astrigent-like, anti-ageing and antioxidant properties.
For me, rosewater is used as a toner and overall face freshener. Applying it makes my skin feel smooth and hydrated, as well as clean my pores. It also smells pretty incredible!
In the summer, I also like spritzing the product in my hair to refresh my curls.
Learn more about the benefits of rosewater here.
Now that you know some of my top natural beauty secrets, which one are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments!
xo,
Aissatou