Life gets busy, let’s face it; sometimes, between work, family, friends, the gym and trying to keep your head above water, it can be really easy to neglect your skin. Particularly the skin on your body. Admittedly, I’ve sometimes gone WEEKS without moisturizing (EEK)!! But I’ve learned that maintaining healthy skin should always be a priority because it’s the barrier between us and viruses, bacteria, and the toxic outside world.
Using products with quality ingredients is essential because our skin is porous and absorbs what we put on it. Ultimately, these compounds and chemicals can reach the bloodstream and wreak havoc inside the body. Certain chemicals found in personal care products are known hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, and carcinogens. And those are just the ones we know about! Only about 20% of chemicals used in personal care products have even been assessed for safety.
Products to be particularly conscious of are the ones that stay on the body throughout the day, such as body oils and lotions. These products have more of an opportunity to absorb into the skin, which is why good ingredients are so important! Without further ado, these are my favorite body products and rituals:
PRE-SHOWER
Dry Brushing- Dry brushing is an Ayurvedic practice used to promote lymphatic drainage in the body. Benefits include skin exfoliation, cellulite reduction, and cell renewal. The best way to dry brush is before a shower on dry skin. Start at your feet and brush up in long strokes, towards the heart, slowly moving up the leg (you can repeat each area several times for best results). Once you move to the arms, start at the hands and work your way up the arms. On the chest and stomach, brush in a counterclockwise circular motion, but be mindful of sensitive skin on the chest. When dry brushing the back, work from the neck down, to the lower back. After you're done (this should take 3-5 minutes), hop in the shower!
SHOWER
Juice Beauty Green Apple Body Cleanser- When it comes to body washes, I don't expect a lot. I just want one that is going to clean and nourish my skin without drying it out. I recently started using Juice Beauty body wash and have been really impressed. As with many of the Juice Beauty products, it has a lovely fruity scent and I find it to be really moisturizing.
POST-SHOWER
MUN Argan Oil- Another MUN gem I adore is their Argan oil. I occasionally suffer from eczema on my lower legs (random, I know), so I love to use this oil there. Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which makes it perfect for very dry and damaged skin. This works great as a cuticle oil and is a safe alternative to Morrocan Oil for the hair. Who doesn't love a multi-use product?!
MUN Ayour Toning Serum- I am obsessed with this serum and use it primarily on my chest, thighs, and bum. It contains Morrocan olive oil, cucumber seed oil, prickly pear oil and rosehip oil among other high quality and effective ingredients. This serum is packed full of antioxidants which prevent the formation of free radicals (great to use before applying sunscreen). If used consistently, you'll see a marked improvement in the appearance of wrinkles and tone of your skin. It has made a big improvement in my Keratosis pilaris (tiny bumps caused by clogged follicles) and has diminished the appearance of my stretch marks too.
For 15% off your MUN order, use the code: ALICE15
Juice Beauty Green Apple Firming Body Lotion- When I'm in a bit of a rush, sometimes I don't have time to apply my oils, so I turn to Juice Beauty's body lotion which is rich in jojoba, Vitamin C and shea butter. The consistency of this lotion is thick and creamy but absorbs incredibly well and doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky. I was honestly a bit skeptical at first about non-toxic lotions, opting instead for oils until very recently. This lotion is just as, if not more effective than any conventional body lotion you might buy at Sephora.
Weleda Skin Food- If you've been following me for a while, you know how obsessed I am with Weleda Skin Food. I've been using this product for years without even knowing it was non-toxic. Skin Food is quite rich so I suggest using it for dry hands and feet. However, this is another multi-purpose product that can even be used on the face. Read my full review HERE.
SUN PROTECTION
Suntegrity Natural Mineral Sunscreen- When I found out that the ingredients in most sunscreens can cause more harm than good (hormone disruption, reproductive problems, formation of free radicals), I made it a priority to find a sunscreen that was safe to put on my skin while still protecting me against harmful UV rays. I did some research and decided on Suntegrity, which is a mineral sunscreen. Mineral sunscreen acts as a barrier by laying on top of your skin and preventing the sun from being able to penetrate, whereas chemical sunscreen absorbs right into your skin (AHH!!). The main complaint with mineral sunscreens is that they can leave a white residue on the skin, but I'm happy to report I did not have this issue with Suntegrity.
I hope these suggestions help you choose some safe, effective products for your skin! Do you have any body-care favorites? Let me know in the comments below!
