I have started this year on the hunt for healthier products for my skin and hair, with more natural ingredients than packed with preservatives and harmful, hidden ingredients.
After having conversations with friends, wandering around on product-packed isles in shops and pharmacies and doing research online, I have found a couple gems that I would like to share with you.
2020 is about being more indulgent with myself and learning to take better care of my skin, my hair, my self.
Dr Organic – Organic Coffee Stimulating Shampoo
When I was having a conversation with one of my friends, who is vegan and an expert on natural ingredients, she mentioned a couple of products that are healthy and also really effective. The first product is a shampoo that is supposed to help stimulate the hair, which contains coffee and chilli pepper. When I heard about it, I went straight to Holland & Barrett in search of the wonder shampoo. I have been using it ever since. It strengthens breakage-prone hair and adds volume. Aside from coffee, the ingredients include ginger, lemongrass, black pepper and vitamins B3 and B5.
It retails for £7.99 and you can find it here.
I will make a separate blog post about hair growth and densifying with information that helped strengthen my hair.
Garnier Hair Food Mask Treatment
After finishing the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Coconut Hair Mask, which is a favourite in its own right (especially for the amazing smell it has), I decided to try the new Garnier Hair Food mask treatment with Coconut and Macadamia. It can be used as a conditioner, mask or leave-in. It has 98% natural origin ingredients with 2% ingredients which help preserve the product.
Some of the oils present in this hair treatment are Macadamia, Sunflower seed, Soybean, Sweet Almond and Coconut, which help nourish the hair.
It retails for £3.49 / 34 RON and you can find it at boots.com / notino.ro.
Beauty Kitchen Mineral Primer SPF 30
Recently, I looked more into sun protection and why it is better to use it on a daily basis. I found the Beauty Kitchen’s SPF 30 lotion and decided to give it a try. It has 100% natural ingredients, it is biodegradable and is suitable for all skin types. It has a sunscreen-like texture, no fragrance and can be worn alone, after the skincare routine. After you rub it into the skin it is invisible, but on a first application, it can have a brightening effect due to its white colour.
I like applying it before my foundation as well, as a primer and UVA/UVB protection at the same time. Another great aspect is that it also protects the skin against pollution.
It retails for £14.99 and you can find it here.
Avon Distillery Clean Break Cleanser
I have attended the Glamour x Distillery back in September, where I received a little goodie back in which I found the Clean Break Cleanser and put it to the test. It is a butter-like balm that melts between your fingers. At the event, the Avon representatives described this cleanser as perfect for giving yourself a facial massage while cleansing your skin. It is infused with apricot oil, mango butter and cocoa butter in a recycled glass package, topped with an aluminium cap. As of now, I just finished it and I was so pleased with the way it did not strip my skin of moisture, it actually kept it soft and clean.
Ditch your makeup remover wipes which damage the environment by not being biodegradable and they do not remove all the impurities from your skin. Give makeup removing balms a try and start double-cleansing.
It retails for £15.00/ 79.00 RON and you can buy it on avon.uk.com / avon.ro.
Garnier Organic Lemongrass Detox Gel Wash
Since we started talking about double-cleansing, in the last three months, after removing my makeup with the cleansing balm, I have been using my Foreo device with the Garnier Detox Gel Wash to remove any impurities left on my skin. I discovered this wash after the Vogue Five Days of Beauty event and what drew me to it was the natural ingredients such as Organic Lemongrass grown in Sri Lanka, Organic Cornflower Water, Botanical Glycerin and 100% natural- origin fresh herbal fragrance. Plus, it is 100% vegan and in 100% recycled and recyclable plastic. This gel wash removes dirt, pollution and keeps your skin fresh, without drying it.
It retails for £5.99/ 22 RON and you can shop here / notino.ro.
Garnier Perfecting Toner
Once I am done cleansing my skin, I prepare it for the moisturiser by applying the Garnier Perfecting Toner, which is infused with Organic Thyme Essential Oil and contains Salicylic Acid. It tightens pores, mattifies and purifies the skin. It has a subtle herbal smell and comes in 100% recycled and recyclable packaging.
It retails for £5.99 / 21 RON and you can find it at boots.com / notino.ro.
Dr Organic – Rose Otto Deodorant
Another product that my friend mentioned is the Rose Otto Deodorant from the same brand. I have been wanting to stop using the sprays due to how toxic they are, not only for our health but also for the environment. I started using the Dr Organic one and so far so good. This roll-on deodorant is aluminium, paraben and alcohol-free, which makes it great for all skin types, sensitive skin included.
Aloe Vera, Sunflower Oil, Icelandic Moss and Vitamin E are just some ingredients that help inhibit odour and keep the skin soft. It comes in different scents, such as Coconut, Argan, Hemp, Pomegranate and more.
It retails for £5.99 and you can shop here.
If you are from Romania, you can find Dr Organic products at Sensiblu pharmacies and online.
Irina Iacob 