13 lush eco beauty tricks
I have a troubled past with makeup. When I worked in magazines I was beholden to the beauty industry, forced to get excited about skin whiteners and lash extenders. It killed me. Well, it wore me down, one blush stroke at a time (previous to editing Cosmo, I’d never worn makeup, never had a blowdry, never plucked my brows). Then, a few years later, I wore toooo much of the gunky stuff while working in TV and literally poisoned myself. When I got unwell I realised I had to do something about this and swerved to chemical-free beauty and makeup products. To read about my favourites, click here and here.
image via Lyns Tumblr
But there’s also the eco argument that’s worth considering in all this. Not all chemical-free products are ecologically sound. Not all organic products are chemical-free. It’s like food shopping: a knotted ball of competing messages.
But boiled down, it can be simple.
Yes, keep it simple and you generally land at the most organic, eco and chemical-free option.
But to be sure, I asked Maria Hannaford to give her take. Melbourne-based Maria works for an environmental organisation that’s all about sustainable food, and her site Econest keeps popping up on my radar in all the rights spots. I love her honest, simple ethos…see what you think of her tips’n’tricks…
My top 13 sustainable beauty tips
My philosophy on pretty much everything is simple: the more we pare back on possessions, ingredients, packaging, and on waste, the happier and healthier we’ll be, and the happier and healthier our environment will be. To this end, I follow two basic rules:
1. If the product has more ingredients than I have fingers on one hand, it’s bye bye.
2. If I can’t eat it, I won’t put it on my skin.
Henceforth, my top sustainable, 100% natural and very basic beauty tricks:
1. Befriend plant oil
You can replace all manner of beauty products – moisturiser, body cream, hair conditioner, shaving cream, deep cleanser – with just one or two plant oils. Choose from coconut oil (my personal favourite), macadamia oil, olive oil, sweet almond, jojoba or argan oil.
For coconut oil I love Niugini. I use that brand because it’s organic, cold pressed virgin and is produced in Papua New Guinea, one of our closer suppliers. Also it comes in a glass mason that you can reuse for all manner of things in the kitchen etc. [I use the same, and for the same reasons - Sarah.]
A lot of argan oils on the market actually contain only a very small amount of argan oil, and aren’t produced sustainably. Mira’s Hand pure argan oil is sustainably produced by a co-op of women in Morocco, and is 100% pure. My lovely friend Jamila is the founder – she’s Moroccan herself and knows her stuff.
Just make sure whichever oil you use is organic and cold-pressed. Extraction processes using heat destroy all nutrients, essential fatty acids and vitamins and turn oils rancid, causing them to form free-radicals which damage and age your skin.
2. Make your face a cuppa
Make a strong tea using pretty much any herb in your backyard and apply it as a skin toner. Lemongrass and lemon balm calm acne and even out skin tone, chamomile soothes sensitive skin and reduces redness, rosemary protects against the sun’s UV-rays and the damaging effects of pollution and lavender is uplifting, cooling and slightly antiseptic. Oily skin is tamed with a tea made with marigold petals (easily grown in the garden). I make up a tea and store it in a glass spray bottle in the fridge for up to a week. You can also use dried herbs, such as dried culinary lavender, but they need to be brewed for longer.
3. Highlight your hair naturally
Lighten hair using a strong chamomile tea in the final rinse after shampooing. To enhance dark hair, use rosemary(boiled as a strong tea). Using these natural ingredients will add shine, softness and volume as well as enhance your colour.
4. Fight blemishes with essential oils
I’m one of the unfortunate few women who still get a pimple or two even in their 30s. It’s hormonal, or something. I simply dab a tiny amount of pure lavender essential oil directly onto the offending spot. The oil, which is naturally antibacterial, dries spots out a treat and also reduces redness.
5. Don’t wear perfume
Oh how the perfume industry gives me conniptions. Some ridiculous loophole in legislation allows perfume manufacturers to list only a few of the many chemicals they may be using, the true formula officially protected as a ‘trade secret’. What we do know is that fragrances contain phthalates, which can mimic some of the body’s hormones and cause reproductive and neurological damage. I mix a small amount of essential oil with a base oil such as sweet almond, and rub this onto my wrists.
6. Go au naturale
Don’t wear makeup (at least not on a daily basis). A little extreme it may sound, but I remember sitting around with my 78-year old grandma and her friends one day whilst they divulged the secret to their luminous skin – ‘makeup hath not toucheth their face’. Not in their teens, not in their 20s, not in their 30s. Why not? Firstly there was no social norm to wear makeup, secondly they didn’t think it made sense to cover their skin in chemicals! They believed wearing makeup blocks pores and prematurely ages skin. Which makes sense. Granted, the social pressure to wear makeup in their tiny Greek village is pretty low, but that’s not the point. I rarely wear makeup these days, only on very special occasions. It doubles as my little salute to feminism.
7. Get yourself some liquid Castile soap
Castile soap is traditionally made of saponified olive oil, but these days most contain a few different types of plant oils. Still, mine contains only five ingredients. It’s ultra handy in the home as it replaces a number of products – I use it as a shampoo as well as a dishwashing liquid. Diluted, it can also be used as a spray n’ wipe. I personally use one that doesn’t contain any palm oil. I’ve found these: Dr Bronner, Olive Oil Soap Factory in WA, and Red Gum Soaps in NSW.
8. Or try Dindi Naturals - another fantastic brand for soap. Their liquid soaps are great, minimal number of ingredients and made in Australia (Victoria in fact).
9. Wash your hair with soapwort root
Soapwort is a flowering plant whose dried roots can be used to make shampoo. I buy it online*, boil it in water and use it to give my hair a light wash. It’s very mild and leaves your hair super super super soft. *It might be a little tricky to get a hold of but be on the look out for it! The alternative is to grow and harvest your own – for Melbourne folk, I’ve seen soapwort plants sold at the Little Veggie Patch Co.
10. Once a week, de-gunk with bicarb soda
Any shampoo, including Castile soap, can leave soap residue on your hair, so once a week wash your hair with a thick paste of bicarb (baking) soda, and rinse with apple cider vinegar for extra shine.
11. Eat your skin conditioner
Healthy, youthful and conditioned skin requires healthy fats, so forget about low-fat foods. I eat plenty of olive oil, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, avocados and nuts (activated, of course) everyday. Also know that fruit like pomegranates and blueberries are rich in antioxidants and promote skin elasticity and vitality.
12. My fave toothpaste is Phytoshield: all natural plant extracts, not overboard on the number of ingredients, no unnecessary foaming agents (consequently doesn’t foam up very much), and it tastes delicious (lemon myrtle is my fave).
13. Squish almonds on your face (a seasonal tip)
Just before almonds are ready to be picked for eating, when their flesh is still soft and gel-like – that’s when they’re the most perfect skin cleanser and toner in the world. No exaggeration. Almond jelly, as I like to call it, evens out skin tone, clears blemishes and smooths wrinkles in no time at all. You just break open the almond pod, pop out the kernel, squeeze out the jelly and smooth it all over your face. I get young almonds courtesy of my mum’s tree every spring, but you can sometimes find them in greengrocers during October, especially ones owned by old Greek men. If you find them, stock up. They can be stored in the freezer.
You can find lots more tips and natural beauty ideas on my blog, here. It’s worth hunting around for products made in your local area – farmers’ markets generally have at least one or two producers selling their hand-made soaps and creams. That way you can ask them directly about the ingredients they use etc.
Tried any of these tips yourselves? Anything you’d like to share? Feel free!
Yes!! I have been waiting for this post for oh–so-long! Thank you Sarah xx
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Sweet serendipity!
I am coming to the end of a few products including my perfume – and had been entertaining the thought of going natural (in the true sense of the word! lol)
I love uniform and aesthetic packaging (an advertisers dream I am!) and I love ritual. BUT I loathe the path of high-maintenance, and “fuss time” dans la salle de bain!
AND…I LOVE the idea of feeding one’s body through one’s mouth AND skin!
I was still um-ing and ah-ing until….now of course when sweet serendipity came a-calling!
Gotta love it
I look forward to exploring most-to-all of the above. Thanks Sarah, and Maria!
PS: Thanks also to the notion of “Ask. Receive. (and) ALLOW”!!!!
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Love this! My tip – Use Epsom salts when soaking in the bath, so many other bath oils and bath bombs contain chemicals.
I have recently given up perfume in favour of essential oils and it feels great knowing I’m not spraying that crap on my skin everyday! I highly reccomend it!!
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LOVE this! Thank you so much for sharing your insights. I’ve been wondering about more natural alternatives as I spend HOURS in beauty stores reading ingredients lists of even the “natural” products and shaking me head….
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July 5th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hi Vienda, This is exactly why I walked away from those sorts of products and went right back to basics – I was sick of reading labels!!
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Oh, don’t you love those hormonal spots well into your third and fourth decade??
I’m going to try the lavendar oil trick.
I love using oils as moisturizer. My favourite oil for the skin is rosehip oil, it makes you super glowy and soft. You can use it on your face, cuticles, hair – anywhere! I use it somewhere at least once a day, it’s beautiful stuff.
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Agreed, the synthetic perfume industry is an abomination and I include all the ‘frangrance industries’ – household products (washing powders, detergents, scented candles – the worst!) as well as personal products. However the art and science of botanical perfumery pre-dates the introduction of synthetics into perfumery by many centuries. Good perfumery is about the promotion natural healing via plant vibration, about culturing the senses and about the invocation of higher modalities. I’ve done a lot of research .. this is my favourite pure botanical perfume: http://primamateria.com.au/store/show/SNA
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Hi!
I love the idea of all natural and using natural oils – however anything not “oil free” makes me breakout enormously.
Any tips or idea?
Christina
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July 5th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Hi Christina
I actually found that when I switched to using natural oils like coconut oil to cleanse and moisturise my face that I actually stopped getting so many breakouts – I think a lot of conventional ‘oil free’ products can be quite stripping, which in turn encourages skin to produce *more* oil, which then leads to breakouts and using more stripping products to try to get rid of them!
So breaking the cycle and using good, pure oils actually makes skin regulate its oil production much better – when I made the switch to using oils I discovered that I actually had drier skin than I thought… !
Otherwise, Dr Alkaitis makes a great Soothing Gel which helps with breakouts (and all their products are clean enough to eat!).
I hope that makes sense
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July 5th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Hi Christina, and Clean Beauty Blog
What Clean Beauty Blog says is totally correct… over time, most skin should settle and produce less oil overall. If oily skin is a problem, make sure you’re not cleansing with a soap of any kind – that includes castile soap. Soaps can disturb the natural ‘acid mantle’ on our skin.. if this happens your skin produces excess oil to counter the soap’s drying effect. Try cleansing with yoghurt or oil (for a deep cleanse), and use a herbal tea like marigold tea, which is great for oily skin, as a toner to combat excess oil until your skin settles (which may take a little while). A lavender or thyme tea toner is also great for controlling break outs. It’s what I use. Hope that helps!
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July 5th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Thanks so much Clean Beauty Blog and Maria, I’ll give it a go!
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July 6th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Hi Maria, I was just wondering how you use yoghurt to cleanse your face? This may sound a silly question! do you just scoop a teaspoon out of the fridge before you head to the shower?
Thanks Erin. x
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July 8th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Hi Erin, heheh, a perfectly fine question! Yep I pop into the kitchen first to drink a glass of water, then I scoop out 1/2 a tspn and head into the bathroom… you really only need a tiny amount. Have fun!
July 22nd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Hi All
I have been using coconut oil to cleanse my face in the mornings and as an eye cream – my skin initially had a bit of a breakout but nothing too severe..and now looks brighter, happier and feels nicer.
Thanks
Also – I just came across this interesting site with lots of toxic free products and tips
http://www.nourishedlife.com.au/2012/04/time-to-toss-our-overpriced-toxic-mascara-have-beautiful-healthy-eyes-and-ashes/
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Loveeee this post. I definitely realized (albeit recently) how harmful and toxic substances in beauty products can be. I am now slowly reducing toxins from our home.
Coconut oil is my FAVOURITE moisturizer + hair oil!! And I like to do an apple cider vinegar rinse every week to keep hair light and shiny.
Have to try out the bicarb soda trick.
You know what they say… Your skin is your largest organ. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put in on your skin!
Thanks for all these beautiful tips!
xxx
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Thank you Sarah and Maria! Everyone should print this out to refer to! I’d also love to know which natural deodorant brand people recommend? I’ve tried a few, but can’t seem to find one that works well and smells nice!
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July 5th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I use Crystal Essence pomegranate. If I am doing something high stress, like a job interview, I will use regular deodorant (just in case) but all other times I use this and it works well and smells good
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July 5th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
Fantastic, thanks so much!
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July 6th, 2012 at 9:37 am
I have been using Coconut Snow for about a year and will never switch. It is more effective than any “conventional” chemical-laden antiperspirant I have ever used. It has a coconut oil base, and is applied as a cream rather than rolled on, so that took a little getting used to. I get mine from Conscious Choice: http://www.conscious-choice.com/shop-1/sustainable-living/coconut-snow-deodorant-4oz
Hope this helps! Cheers, Jen
July 6th, 2012 at 10:20 am
I liked Crystal Essence deodorant too, until I recently found out that the Mineral salts in it are Potassium Allum, aka aluminum in a slightly different form. Frustrating!
I found a homemade deodorant though, thanks to my sister! It works a treat & I love!
Just Coconut oil, baking soda, & cornflour.
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/guide-how-to-make-your-own-deodorant/
I had a few weeks of detoxing when starting it (having to re-apply & getting some BO) but is absolutely my no.1 now.
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July 7th, 2012 at 7:22 am
oh no! now I’m going to have to switch! Thanks for the heads up though Fay!
I might try moogoo, I love their other products
July 7th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Thank you Fan and Jen…this has been so great to hear everyone’s suggestions and tips!
July 7th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Thanks for that I’ve being using Crystal Essence too & thinking it was aluminum free!
July 25th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Hi Elizabeth Rose, I’ve been making my own deodorant for several years now and I’d never ever go back to commercial ones, even the natural ones. They just didn’t work for me. After only a couple of hours I’d be stinky.
I found this wonderful recipe on a blog and tweaked it to suit me. I find this is just fabulous – VERY effective, dirt cheap and so safe – what more could you want. And easy peasy to put together.
1 tbl bicarb soda
4 tbl arrowroot powder or cornflour
2 tbl coconut oil (solid state)
5-10 drops of essential oil (tea tree oil & peppermint is a nice blend)
Combine in a bowl and mix really well with a fork til you have a nice paste. I usually do this in front of the TV, though it only takes a few minutes really.
As the coconut oil is prone to change texture with the weather, I find it easiest to manage in a small shallow sealable container. It doesn’t tend to work that well in a twist up container or roll on. If it’s cold and it hardens up, I either pop it in my bed where it’s still warm to soften up, or just scrape some off with like a teaspoon or whatever. It softens in no time. When it’s hot and the oil melts, just be aware the oil can separate from the arrowroot and bicarb, so you need to just give it a mix and you’re good to go.
Probably sounds a bit fiddly, it’s actually easy.
Good luck
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August 3rd, 2012 at 10:49 am
Jane, thank you so much! I’m going to try it! Question…how do you apply it since it’s not a roll on…just with your fingers?
Liz
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August 4th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Yep – just with the fingers works fine – that’s how I do it. The paste won’t be sticky on your fingers, so it’s not too hard to handle. The last few weeks has been so cold that even putting it in my bed after I get up doesn’t soften it up enough. So I’m now using a teaspoon to scrape some off, and it will soften in no time between your fingers.
It’s also nice to apply some neat coconut oil to the armpits before the deodorant goes on.
I’d love to know how it goes for you so do post your results here!
Cheers
Jane
Oh and my tip…Sukin Organics is a natural, environmentally conscious Aussie brand. I use their cleanser and body mosituriser. It’s also very affordable.
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I have the most sensitive and dry skin on my face, especially around my eyes and I have found that the only thing that helps and relieves my skin is coconut oil. I can’t get enough of the stuff. I was spending so much money on expensive eye creams and moisturises. Coconut oil is nothing less than amazing!
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Ooh thank you Maria for all these great tips! Do you have any recommendations for a good natural deodorant? I’d love to hear of any good ones out there as I’ve been wanting to make the switch for awhile but I’m a bit nervous about it!
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July 5th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I sure do… try Biologika. I tried quite a few natural deodorant brands before getting to this, and can safely say it’s by far the most effective one. Even my husband is happy with it. The roll-on version, which is the one I use, has very few ingredients in it, all totally natural. I’m about to try my hand at making my own soon though, to minimise packaging… I’ve read mixing coconut oil, bicarb and essential oils into a paste makes for an effective deodorant. I’ve tried rubbing some coconut oil into my armpits before applying deodorant and it def helps to boost the deodorant’s power. Will try out the recipe and post the outcome on my blog. Good luck!
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July 5th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Thank you so much! I will give it a go! Looking forward to hearing how your home made one goes as well. Coconut oil is my new favourite ingredient for pretty much everything!
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Thank you for the lovely mention of Mira’s Hand in your blog Maria and Sarah.
We are in Morocco at the moment on a research trip, spending time with members of the family and friends and getting some excellent natural beauty tips from them.
We also be meeting ‘our’ ladies that produce our Argan Oil at their co-op later this week and we will tell them that their argan oil has been talked about on an Australian website!
JamilaXX
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Hope you’re having an awesome time
xx
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The soap root I think that’s the same as soap nuts used to wash your clothes…. They can be boiled to make a liquid which can be used for everything…they are really awesome but my only issue them is they don’t take out baby stains baby poo, formula milk stains ect… Other wise they are really good
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July 6th, 2012 at 8:48 am
Hi Serena, soapwort is a different plant to the tree that soap nuts come from, but yep the general concept is the same and they’re both as gentle as each other. Tip for getting baby poo stains etc off… have you tried soaking them first in water and vinegar solution (you can add bicarb soda for extra oomph), then washing with soapnut/soapwort? Good luck!
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Awesome tricks and tips, reading other people’s comments really
gives you the confidence and inspiration to make changes
for better health! Thanks to everyone. xx
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I would love to know peoples “recipes” for essential oil perfume if anyone is willing to share?
Thanks for a great post, very inspiring
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July 6th, 2012 at 11:38 am
One of the best authors on this is Valerie worwood you can find her books on amazon. Also perfect potion used to do some awesome classes.
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Once or twice a week I whisk one egg white with a teaspoon of raw sugar and leave on my face for 20 minutes. The results are like Botox (which I would never try)! Lines and wrinkles disappear and fade away and my skin is left feeling baby smooth
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July 6th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Oooo excellent! And bake it afterwards into a macaron!
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July 6th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Egg white is the key ingredient in most of the wrinkle freezing type products. It does nothing for your skin other than tightening it briefly and that is also why you get powder on your face as it dries! But much better alternative is to prevent them through a sunscreen and decent moisturizer.
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I use gypsy rose http://www.gypsyrose.com.au/ two-in-one shampoo on my hair and I LOVE IT.
After the initial adjustment period (your hair detoxes from more conventional products took me a week or two I think), it gave my hair more shine and body than any other I’ve used – cheap or fancy
. It has super natural ingredients and lasts for ages, I used to go through heaps of conditioner on my dry ends which was expensive. I find I only need to wash my hair 2-3 times a week too.
My flatmate used it and stopped getting chronic dandruff. It’s really great stuff, and you should be able to get a sample pack from your local health food store or the website
.
The website does have a video that autoplays and is pretty hippy which might scare some people off (esp if you’ve had bad experiences with those useless crystal stick deodorants :p), but don’t let it.
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I use almond oil pretty much head to toe, as the protein in it is great for supporting your skin.
Coconut oil is also great for people who suffer from inflammatory problems (such as eczema) – as it’s traditionally considered a ‘cooling’ oil for the skin. You can literally feel it cooling down the overheated parts of your body.
Darn the cold Tassie weather, however, as my coconut oil’s always set solid…
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July 6th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
HI Amanda, I am from Tassie too and so understand about the weather right now! If I can tell you what I do though it may help with your coconut oil.
I keep a small amount in a smaller jar in the bathroom and then just before I jump in the shower I run a small amount of hot water in the sink, dunk the jar in it, and by the time I get out of the shower its melted enough for me to use.
Just a thought for you!
Stay warm! x
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July 6th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Good thinking – thanks Erin!
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July 9th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I do pretty much the same except I put the jar at my feet in the shower so the water runs over it. Works a treat.
Thanks girls for all the useful tips. I am suffering hair loss. It has been thinning out gradually for 6 years now, more-so on the left side for some reason. I am probably deficient in 101 things but taking a multi-vitamin which I know isn’t going to cut it with the ratio of each vitamin. Anyway hoping someone has either some advice on getting vitamin deficiency testing done ( I am in Canberra) or a good naturopath to diagnose the cause. All hormone levels are fine and iron is good. Any supplements that would help would be most appreciated. I also have a lot of bloating and digestive problems.
Thanks
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July 6th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
My problems with hair loss are a combination of Hashimotos and anemia. I’d suggest you start with anemia as it’s the most common, something like 10- 20% of women have it, your GP or any decent naturopath could arrange some tests for you.
You may wish to look into gluten intolerance if you have stomach problems too. Food allergies can cause vitamin deficiencies, as intestinal damage prevents absorption of nutrients, as well as causing bloating and digestive discomfort. Good luck!
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July 8th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Oh ok, thanks for that, shall look into it, cheers!
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July 6th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I use a supplement called StemTech (http://www.stemtechbiz.com/) and it has helped me heaps with digestive problems – mainly bloating and other things….
. My friend who has recommended it to me says the same. Her mum who has arthritis has also found her joint pain is reduced and her boss’s general wellbeing has improved after using it. I don’t try to sell it so I don’t make any other claims for it, other than it helps me a lot in this area. But it isn’t the cheapest supplement and it may not be the right thing for you. Take care and all the best in finding the right solution 
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I use a supplement called StemTech (http://www.stemtechbiz.com/) and it has helped me heaps with digestive problems – mainly bloating and other things….
. My friend who has recommended it to me says the same. Her mum who has arthritis has also found her joint pain is reduced and her boss’s general wellbeing has improved after using it. I don’t try to sell it so I don’t make any other claims for it, other than it helps me a lot in this area. But it isn’t the cheapest supplement and it may not be the right thing for you. Take care and all the best in finding the right solution 
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July 8th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
oh cool, thanks for that, shall check it out on line as I am in Oz. Thank you!
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July 11th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
They have Australian distributors (it is a multi level marketing thing) a friend of mine is a distributor. You have an option of buying a whole lot which is cheaper than the monthly autoship (like a subscription) which I currently do…. whatever works. I have very few problems with digestion and related issues now. But it does seem to work differently for different folk and I still take regular multivitamins and so on.
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whoops sorry for repeating myself
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[...] no mistakes – every decision is an experience, your experience – and a welcomed one┃divine discoveries – been thinking about doing this again, so this was sweet timing indeed┃green juice┃going [...]
Some Great info thanks
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Hi All, I was just wondering what people use for shaving cream and also if anyone could recommend and good natural concealer coz Ere Perez don’t do one
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July 7th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Hi Nichola, I actually use almond oil or coconut oil as a ‘shaving cream’. You only need a tiny amount. Works a treat. Give it a go.
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July 7th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
RMS Beauty ‘Un’-Cover Up is a great clean concealer
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Can anyone recommend any natural remedies to treat rosacea?
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July 9th, 2012 at 10:44 am
I find that a strong brew of green tea, cooled and refrigerated is great in summer as a spritz. The green tea contains heaps of antioxidants and also decreases redness. Internally look at gut function – poor gut function (specifically low HCl in the stomach) is often related to rosacea. If this is the case try eating 3 or 4 radicchio or home grown rocket leaves before your main meal as this will prime the stomach for digestion.
A herb called centella (gotu kola) is good for strengthening the capillaries and reducing the hypersensitivity which leads to flushing. You can grow your own and eat a few leaves but often a high dose is needed initially so supplement form may be better until the rosacea has improved.
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July 9th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Great, thanks Ananda! Yes, definitely some gut issues going on…I suspect I have a leaky gut. Off to the naturopath I go! I will try your external remedies, cheers
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August 2nd, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Hey Elizabeth Rose!
I had been suffering pretty badly from rosacea for about 5 years, over time it was getting worse and worse.
I tried cutting out all kinds of different things from my diet but nothing worked.
I started using a new skin care line called Gernetic, expensive, but really good. In this time, as well as the new skin care, I also started using Metagenics Probex (probiotics) – 1 a day, plus I increased and upped the quality of the fish oils I was using. I now use Metagenics MetaPure EPA/DHA (5 caps a day). It helped a bit, but eventually my red spots/dots came back.
In the end I had had it and gave up trying to heal it naturally. I decided to use Rosex gel in combination with an antibiotic called Fracas for one week. Now you’re supposed to take it for a week once a day, then continue to take it on weekends in addition to that, on an ongoing basis, but I didn’t want to keep topping up my system with antibiotics so I just took it for the week and that was it.
It cleared up quite quickly, and only now and again would a new red dot appear but nothing compared to as bad as it had been. I would rub a bit of the Rosex gel on the odd dot and I found it very effective.
But the thing I value most highly and that I am convinced keeps my red dots away is coconut water. I think there must definitely be a link with Rosacea to the gut, and coconut keeps it nice and alkali, I have noticed that if I haven’t been drinking my usual amounts of coconut water (between 1&4 fresh coconuts/pure coconut water drink a day), that the red dots reappear. Otherwise I am dot free!!
Right now, my skin is looking better than it has in years and Im pretty sure its a combination of the coconut water, probiotics, and fish oils.
As an aside, I have also started derma rolling in an attempt to strengthen the texture and surface of my skin (rosacea really weakened my skin and the acid mantle of the skin was really broken down, it would tear easily with the slightest scratch, soooo delicate, but not any more since drinking coconut water!!) and combined with my Gernetic products, I am loving the results.
If you live in Sydney – see Naomi at Human Nurture Wellness Centre in Vaucluse – she’s the bestest!
I know how much it can get a girl down – Hope this helps, & hope you see this (with it being so late coming in!)
Best of luck!
xo
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August 2nd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
oh and i also stopped using my fancy giorgio armani make up and switched to all mineral make up by jane iredale – i love it!
xo
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August 3rd, 2012 at 10:55 am
Hi there! I am so glad I saw this!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me. I’ve tried so many things too, but not coconut water daily or derma rolling. Unfortunately I live in Perth, but I will look into finding a beautician who does this!
Thanks again
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[...] 6) 13 lush eco beauty tips [...]
I would love to be able to use oils as moisturisers. Unfortunately I don’t seem to find them nourishing enough?? Or my skin doesn’t seem to absorb them; it just feels dry and itchy after a while. I’ve tried olive, coconut, almond and rose oils for my body but none of them seem to work. I also have a problem with rosacea so am not able to use any on my face. Maybe it’s a digestive issue as to why I don’t seem to absorb oils; I used to have leaky gut but that apparently has resolved. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Hi Rose, I suffer from extremely severe eczema (‘speshlly on my face and neck!), and I thought the same thing when I started using oils too… I felt that they weren’t thick enough, therefore they musn’t be doing any good, right? Wrong! After six months, my skin is in great condition – it feels like it has a lightweight yet natural “oiliness” about it which feels fantastic when all I was used to was dry inflamed and itchy skin. I moisturise twice a day with almond/olive/coconut/rosehip oil blend and I highly recommend it!
I started off by mixing half oil/half regular moisturiser, or using oil as a ‘base’ under the moisteriser, then eventually I felt like I didnt need the awful chemically moisturiser! xx
On a different note, I’ve made some big changes this year (moved interstate, away from friends/family, new job) and I’ve started getting itchy dandruff – any tips, friends?
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July 8th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Thanks for your advice Leigh! I like your idea of using oil as a “base” then apply my regular moisturiser on top to get my skin used to it. You mentioned you suffer from eczema I gather you don’t use any oils on your face? I’ve heard people rave about rosehip oil but I’m hestitant to try due to my rosacea.
I’d like to say that I have some advice to help with itchy dandruff but unfortunately I don’t.
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July 10th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Hi Rose
I use a blend of lovely oils, night and day, on my face, neck and decolletage. In my blend is Olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and macadamia oil, plus a little bit of lavender and palmarosa for sweet smelling goodness.Also, Rosehip oil on my eye area. The oils have changed the feel of my skin, it feels plump and very moisturised. I even apply some oil, then have a warm shower/bath and put a warm washcloth over my face – does wonders for the moisture! Highly recommended! xx
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July 9th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Hi Leigh
If you’re not sensitive to essential oils (test mixture on a bit of skin first), try this: Essential oils like rosemary, lavender, cedarwood and peppermint are renowned for soothing and treating dandruff… try mixing 5-10 drops of each with 50ml of a light plant oil like jojoba oil, rubbing it into your scalp and leaving it on for 30 mins before washing off. Alternatively just add a few drops of the essential oils to your shampoo. Also using an apple cider vinegar rinse as your final rinse should help. Your case sounds like it might be stress related… you’ll hopefully find it settles down as you do. Good luck!!
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July 10th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Thanks Maria! I’ve been using an apple cider rinse with lavender oil in it, i will keep going! xx
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July 17th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Hope’s Relief made by Body and Soul Hair in Qld. Full of nice things. Works. I picked it up at the chemist, it’s like a conditioner for the scalp but I think they do shampoo too. Using Aveda there, they have a nice scalp shampoo. Lisa
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Can anyone recommend a good foundation and powder?
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August 2nd, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Jane Iredale Mineral Make uP is AMAZING!
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I use diluted apple cider vinegar as a toner and make up remover. I also use coconut butter as a night moisturiser.
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July 9th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Hi Stacey,
What quantity of ACV to water do you use? I would love to use this as a toner!
TIA
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July 9th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
I use one part acv to 4 parts water. It’s great to get everything off and my skin is so much more even now. I laugh when people tell me how good my skin looks cause it cost next to nothing and is the best ptoduct I have ever used on my skin!
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July 10th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Oooh this is a great tip! So natural, & cheap – what more could one ask for?
I stopped using Trilogy rosehip oil recently in response to a horrible advert they currently have in women’s magazines. Why I even read them I don’t know, I thought I’d try my luck with Marie Claire, being more grown up and all. No such luck. They are currently advertising Trilogy rosehip oil as a “weapon in the war against other women.”
How awful and misogynistic is that?? I’m appalled!
And also switching to A’kin brand rosehip oil…
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July 10th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Mia – *sigh* how awful :/. Ads like that are why I can’t read mags like that.
But I do adore a good magazine, so may I be so bold as to rec Peppermint to you? It’s all about beauty, fashion & sustainability – a really great read.
http://peppermintmag.com/
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[...] I can’t help myself – just can’t sit still! hahaha. I was recently reading an article about the simplicity and goodness of natural skincare, and was so happy my train veered onto this [...]
Hi – does anyone have any thoughts on moo goo??? i’m thinking of giving it a try.
Thanks!
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Hi – does anyone have any thoughts on moo goo??? i’m thinking of giving it a try.
Thanks!
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July 17th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
i’ve had great results with their shampoo (having had shocking psoriasis/dermatitis/dandruff forever).
It does still contain a nasty ingredient or two (Sodium Cocyl Sarcosinate i think is the culprit), but it definitely seems to be the lesser of very many evils, and given the amazing results, i’m sticking with it!! Thinking of trying out their SPF face cream soon too.
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July 17th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
ta – i think im going to try the milky wash – my husband suffers from eczema and uses aqueous cream – but i dont think it helps! he thinks if spouting hippy mumbo jumbo when i tell him about all the nasties in it. ha. i’ll get there eventually!
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July 17th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Isn’t aqueous cream/ paraffin/ mineral oil and everything in that family just industrial waste? I remember reading something along those lines as a beautician. Seems icky to me!
July 17th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
yeah – it’s so so icky! i need to break his habit!!
interestingly, the pharmacist recommended it…..
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:21 pm
pharmacy – harmacy!!
I like to use sorbolene and caster sugar in the shower as a soap free moisturising exfoliant…..and it also works for the face too. ALso use macadamia, olive and castor oil with a few drops of tea tree and a few of orange for my OCM ( Oil Cleansing Method). Works well at night and twice a day in winter.
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Does anyone know of a healthy nail polish remover? I have one that is “non acetone” but when I look at the ingredients on the back it has a lot of nasty sounding ingredients including propylene glycol which I know is particularly bad. Any ideas would be greatly received. Many thanks
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I was introduced to this lush oil on the weekend – it goes on face, hair… its a wonder oil!
http://www.jaoltd.com/products/goeoil.html
Its so natural and if you are like me and have dry skin, you will soak this up and feel fantastic. Available in Aust via http://www.damselsindistress.com.au/
And I dont work for them, I am just someone with hellish dry skin that is constantly searching for something and I might have just found it!!!
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Oooh, just read about a lovely natural product:
http://www.thisisnotamall.com/collections/beauty/products/100-natural-coco-lip-balm-by-khao-kho-natural-farm
Sounds like it could be a good one to add to the amazing list above!
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[...] Hannaford after I read a guest post she wrote on Sarah Wilson’s blog…you can read it here. Maria works for a small environmental group and is on a ‘journey’ to living her life [...]
[...] Source Link: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2012/07/13-lush-eco-beauty-tric [...]
I started washing my hair with baking soda to get rid of the grey hair. It not only works on the grey hair but I noticed a lot of new hair growth too.
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[...] Source Link: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2012/07/13-lush-eco-beauty-tric [...]
[...] Source Link: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2012/07/13-lush-eco-beauty-tric [...]