About 5 years ago, after dealing with allergies and multiple trips to allergists & dermatologists, I made a conscious decision to cut down on all the crazy toiletries and lotions that I use. Not only was it affecting my skin & body in weird ways, it was a BIG waste of money. Do you really need 5 different scented lotions even if the are 5 for $25? I also realized that my Grandmother managed to live her life without all this jazz, so why couldn’t I. Now she is also the type to use lard as lotion so I’m not going that far. So here is my general break-down:
- Oil of Olay Sensitive Unscented Soap
- Clean & Clear Sensitive Facial Cleanser (or Kiehl’s Blue Gel Cleanser when I can afford it)
- Purpose Moisturizer w/SPF15
- Aveeno Lotion (unscented)
- Dove Unscented Deodorant
- Almond Oil (for the grocery store aisle) for hair, and skin in the winter months
-5 perfumes : 2 Body shop oils (mango,vanilla) & 3 quality perfumes (Hanae Mori, Givenchy Indecence, Gaultier Classique)
Makeup: I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis but when I do I use MAC products & Loreal mascara
It’s not all natural but it’s as basic as I can get my regimen to be. One of the best things I learned was to use unscented products and stick to using 1 perfume so that the smells of deodorants & lotions don’t clash.
The Daily Mail had this interesting article today titled “Revealed… the 515 chemicals women put on their bodies every” day
[photo courtesy of Daily Mail]
It’s interesting to see their take on the things the average women uses on a daily basis and the daily chemical intake. Sometimes you really don’t consider what you are putting on your body and how that still affects you and your health. Even with my minimal regimen I may need to revamp to change to more natural products.
Take a look at the article and see how your daily chemical intake stacks up.
funny, but i look at that list, and the ONLY thing i use daily is lotion. i can’t shower every day or my skin would scream (trust me, it did). i use deodorant when i feel the need (i’m in a low-sweat job, so i don’t see the need if i’m not doing anything to stink myself up), and i d on’t wear make-up, or fake-tan, or anything else like that, lol.
i do indulge in scented oils, butmost of those are custom blends with organic jojoba oil. the lotion i use is preservative free (the name of the company is villaness, if you’re interested. she does do scents,but, once again, they’re the same as the oils i use, and allof her stuff is natural moisturizers). i alsodon’t do hairspray (hate the way it makes my hair feel), and only shampoowhen i shower (every 3rd day, once again, my skin won’t take it).
it sounds grosser than it is. i HATE the way my face feels after a shower, and i don’t have a zit problem,so i don’t worry.
my oldest son uses the clean & clear for sensitive skin, too, as we’re battling epic zits, and it seems to help.
I actually understand the shower thing. My dermatologist suggests the same thing. I’ll have to look into that lotion & moisturizers you mentioned.
Hey there Saunielle!
As I look back, nearing my birthday, the only thing I used on my skin and face 40 + years was Lubriderm; actually I still use it. The only deodorant I use is a Thai crystal from the health food store. Aluminum and isopropyl are very bad for you. Anti-perspirants are worse; it’s normal to sweat. In the summer I use pure shea butter from the African stands. No, it’s not packaged nice, but a little goes a long way, and hey, African women are generally wrinkle-free.
As an African-American woman, I have to use products that work for me. Fashion and beauty mags don’t take my needs or income into consideration. It takes a little more research, and folks may go eww, but later for them. BTW Alex Wek, the first Black woman on the cover of Vogue, and one of the more important models on the planet, shocked everyone by saying that the only thing she’s ever used since she was a baby, up to now, is ––vaseline.
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