Another au naturel update

Welp, it’s been about six weeks since I began switching out my old beauty products for more natural replacements, and I thought you might be interested to know what I’ve continued to use, what hasn’t worked out so well, and what other new products I’ve added to the mix. Surprise, surprise, not too many things got cut out.

Gimme Some Mo’

Aubrey Organics Rose Mosqueta shampoo — I’m still on my first bottle, and will definitely buy another. You only need a quarter size drop to clean your hair really well (my hair is pretty long too), and I also figured out a way to make this stuff get more foamy and lather-y — you just shake the bottle before squeezing out some product. If I had read the directions more carefully, they actually tell you to do this. I have no idea why this activates things and makes the shampoo more foamy, but it does. Still no scalp irritation, which had been daily battle with regular shampoo.

Kiss My Face Conditioner — I am still using this brand, with one small change. I switched to the Miss Treated line, which is more moisturizing than the Whenever conditioner. The only downside about KMF is that their bottle sizes are a little small. If they had a larger size (say, with a pump), I’d be all over that.

Aura Glow body oil — I started using body oil even more when I discovered the best way to apply it EVER. Instead of smearing it on after a shower, I now use it in the shower after soaping. I personally hate fussing with lotion after I get out of the shower, so this solves that problem in spades. Simply rub the oil into your skin at the very end of your shower (you don’t want to do this before soaping or shampooing because everything will just wash off). When you get out of the shower, pat yourself dry, and you’re good to go.

Josie Maran Argan Oil — Still using this in my hair for blowouts. Still amazed by the results. No frizz. No flyaways. Hair is smooth, shiny, and SOFT. The blowout can easily last two days as well. Also, I recently discovered that I can put some of this in my hair, blow dry, and then curl it, with fantastic results. The oil helped hold my curls for an event! What CAN’T this stuff do for hair? I use about a dime size drop and rub it all over the ends and mid section of hair. Careful not to use too much — then your hair can look kind of greasy when you blow it out/flat iron (I’ve done this…eventually the oil soaks in, but the first couple hours are…weird).

SanRe Supple Sunshine day cream — Love, love, love. Will definitely repurchase when it’s time. Keeps your skin so comfortable during the day, and the sunscreen is really effective. How do I know? I recently was in the sun in a tank top, and I noticed yesterday that while my upper body had gotten a little tan, my face was a distinctly lighter shade. So…that’s awkward. Good thing I’m going to the beach later this month. Hopefully things will even out.

Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum — Basically just a mix of oils for the face, this one is definitely best at night. I suspect it’s similar to Linda Rodin’s Olio Lusso, though I won’t be finding out any time soon since her stuff costs $138 for an ounce (and on Amazon). Feels good going on to the skin, and is surprisingly soothing. Just don’t apply it RIGHT before you get into bed, otherwise it’ll probably smear off all over your sheets. Give it a good 10-15 to begin soaking in.

Gots to Go

Avalon Organics Vitamin C Cleansing Milk — This stuff was just okay for me. I suspect it was too moisturizing for my skin, especially in the evening, when I need something that cleanses a bit better to take the day off. Even though it smelled nice, I didn’t like the way it made my skin feel. I still use it sometimes in the morning, but have replaced my general cleanser.

Not featured before was some makeup I purchased from a line called Jane Iredale. Her makeup is very well regarded not just in naturals, but also in the makeup industry as a whole. I purchased her amazing base loose mineral powder foundation, and a palette of eyeshadows too. The only other mineral makeup I’d ever tried was Bare Minerals, which I had to return immediately because the bismuth oxychloride irritated the heck out of my skin (I looked bumpy, red, inflamed…not attractive). This mineral powder was okay but I felt like for the price ($42), I just wouldn’t use it enough, and I wasn’t in love with the finish. I think I don’t really like the super matte look on myself. The eyeshadows were also good, but pricey. They have some of the most intense color per amount of product I’ve ever seen. They applied well on the skin, but again, this was just a price issue for me — the shadow trio I bought was $27. So maybe it’s unfair to put her products in the ‘No Thanks’ pile, because they worked fine, but the price really swayed my vote given the frequency of use. If you still want to check out the Jane Iredale line (it’s huge!), it’s sold at Nordstrom and at many Pure Beauty stores.

RMS Beauty — I discovered this line and am in love. Created by Rose Marie Swift, a celebrity makeup artist, this is probably the cleanest makeup line out there. But it also delivers some of the best results of any products I’ve used. I purchased the Un-Cover Up, which is a concealer with buildable (and seamless) coverage, as well as the Living Luminizer, which is a highlighting cream that doesn’t look sparkly or glittery. Both are musts in my daily beauty routine these days. They make your skin look fantastic! I actually have not been wearing any foundation. A little concealer, some luminizer, bronzer and blush, and my skin looks great. RMS products are pricey, but because they have no water in them, they last forever. For example, my Un-Cover up has been used pretty much daily since I purchased it, and it still looks brand new. It’s crazy!

More Acure Organics — I mentioned before how excited I was to try other products in this line, and they have not disappointed! I use their eye cream daily, and love the way it feels on the skin. Their Radical Age Reversal cream is also a great night cream that really firms the skin. Combined with the facial oil (I apply that after the Age Reversal), and you’ll wake up glowing.

REN Mayblossom Cleansing Gel — I’ve been using this for about a week now, and like how it cleanses the skin well but doesn’t leave it feeling stripped. So far so good. REN products are available at Sephora.

Desert Essences Tea Tree Oil Cleansing Pads — These have been great for sweeping over problem areas on my face to remove those last little bits of dirt and makeup. The tea tree oil also helps get rid of zits. The smell is pretty strong, but it dissipates quickly.

Has anyone else tried natural beauty products they really like as of late? Any you DIDN’T like? I have a feeling switching products can be a bit trial and error, based on your own skin and hair and beauty preferences. And if I’m honest, there are some things that are harder to replace, like a really good mascara. In the end however, I’m actually enjoying my routine, because strangely enough, it’s made my skin and hair more predictable. My hair especially was always kind of a crapshoot depending on the day and the weather. I still have to style it, of course, but the results are much more predictable these days. This will never be a bad thing.