Natural Skincare Regimen

Recently I've been thinking about how loads of people tout conventional skincare regimens, with exfoliating and the use of various products. I wash my face regularly and try to avoid too much sunlight, but I'm curious what permies people do to take care of their skin. Thoughts? Any interesting folk practices that you've heard of?

I make all my own products, using only ingredients I know are safe for me, like tallow, olive oil, beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, nut oils, bentonite clay, activated charcoal, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, some essential oils, etc. Shampoo&body (soap) bars, to toothpaste, mouthwash, facial soap bars, deodorant, bug repellent/sunscreen, face & body lotion bars, leave-in hair conditioner, and I'm working on a hair conditioner bar. I've experimented with homemade cosmetics, but... I sweat. So, I mostly just skip the makeup.

In winter, I try hard to keep showers & hair washing down to 2x/week, to keep my skin & hair from drying out, too much. In summer, I try to keep showers down to 2 or 3x quick ones/day, lol. Summer hair washing is 'as needed', but I still try to keep it to no more than 2x/week.

Carla Burke wrote:I make all my own products, using only ingredients I know are safe for me, like tallow, olive oil, beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, nut oils, bentonite clay, activated charcoal, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, some essential oils, etc. Shampoo&body (soap) bars, to toothpaste, mouthwash, facial soap bars, deodorant, bug repellent/sunscreen, face & body lotion bars, leave-in hair conditioner, and I'm working on a hair conditioner bar. I've experimented with homemade cosmetics, but... I sweat. So, I mostly just skip the makeup.

In winter, I try hard to keep showers & hair washing down to 2x/week, to keep my skin & hair from drying out, too much. In summer, I try to keep showers down to 2 or 3x quick ones/day, lol. Summer hair washing is 'as needed', but I still try to keep it to no more than 2x/week.

I take quick showers ALL THE TIME in summer.

Thanks for sharing!

I wash my hands frequently with soap and water to prevent spreading germs.  I shower a few times a week, or daily during heatwaves, but only shampoo a couples times a week and only soap my armpits, feet and any body parts that actually got dirty. Only use water on my face.

I prefer unscented soaps from vegetable oils (like Kirk's Castile), but use whatever is on hand. I do use deodorant daily b/c in my line of work I often have to dress up and can't deal with sweaty armpits.  Currently I use a charcoal/magnesium bar that works great.

I can't stand the feel of sunblock and only use it in rare situation like at the beach, if I need to be out in the sun, I prefer a sunhat to lotion.  In winter time, I use Oil of Olay if my face gets really dry, and a cocoa-butter lotion on my legs occasionally.  Other than that, no lotions.

I'm 27, on keto for 3 months and besides the diet, my skincare also became so minimalistic which I absolutely love.

Because of my poor diet in the past, I had flakey dry skin and rosacea on my very pale and sensitive face. So I decided to do some changes.

For 3 months I use tallow balm which I make by myself from rendered suet fat and some extra virgin Greek olive oil. It recovered my extremely dry and sensitive skin on face, lips, body and using it as a deodorant too. Both dietary changes and all natural skincare had tremendous benefits inside out. So, I'm sticking to it.

For hair I use 1 egg yolk as a shampoo and an ACV/water mix as a rinse. Works wonders as a weekly hairwash routine. That's it.. simple, cheap and effective stuff is what I love.

James Landreth wrote:Recently I've been thinking about how loads of people tout conventional skincare regimens, with exfoliating and the use of various products. I wash my face regularly and try to avoid too much sunlight, but I'm curious what permies people do to take care of their skin. Thoughts? Any interesting folk practices that you've heard of?

I have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), which means my mast cells think everything is a foreign invader and kick up a whole host of reactions to an ever-increasing list of substances. After doing some research, and thinking in terms of the simplest, most cost-effective way to do something, I've come to realize that my skin-care needs are ridiculously simple:

- Kirk's Castile soap: https://kirkssoap.com/archives/product/fragrance-free-castile-bar-soap

I use this on my face and body.

- Baking soda

I buy a generic grocery store brand that's cheaper than Arm & Hammer - I mix it with a little water and use it both as a toothpaste and a shampoo. There are a lot of recipes for both shampoo and toothpaste out there, but you don't need to add anything!

- Apple cider vinegar

Until my apple trees begin to produce, I purchase a quality version like Bragg's. I use this diluted in water as a hair rinse after the shampoo.

- Shea butter: https://www.alaffia.com/products/shea-butter-unscented-11-oz

This is just to moisturize. I use it on my face, hands, and elbows.

That's it!

I've been using this Dr. Bronner’s https://occmakeup.com/best-castile-soaps/#more-505 since I was around 15. This stuff would literally erase ZITS overnight--and my friends would notice. I've tried other soaps, but they leave my skin feeling and looking oily. I will be 47 in 7 days. I need all the assurance I can get, and using this soap gives me the confidence that I have a restored moisture balance to my skin. It also smells so good! I've used it for other things, but I prefer to save it for cleaning my face--and other parts that tend to get oily, on occasion.

Natalie Roberts wrote:I've been using this Dr. Bronner’s https://occmakeup.com/best-castile-soaps/#more-505 since I was around 15. This stuff would literally erase ZITS overnight--and my friends would notice. I've tried other soaps, but they leave my skin feeling and looking oily. I will be 47 in 7 days. I need all the assurance I can get, and using this soap gives me the confidence that I have a restored moisture balance to my skin. It also smells so good! I've used it for other things, but I prefer to save it for cleaning my face--and other parts that tend to get oily, on occasion.

Love this stuff, Natalie! I use it to handwash dishes, and the wash water goes out into the garden in the end, and for all other household cleaning. During the first six months of my baking soda haircare regimen, I used Dr. Bronner's to clarify and remove the buildup. It's terrific!

Nothing. Ever.

I don't put anything on my face at all, no soap nothing. When it inevitably gets dirty water will do, it's not as if I change the car oil with my face. I will very occasionally use a unscented hand cream on my hands if they get dry from over washing or anything else. by occasional I mean once every 4 or 5 months. Where I live I only require sunscreen in early summer IF it is sunny, this year I didn't need it at all :(

Just started dry skin brushing before showering. I'm not one to start something and say "this is amazing I'll do it forever!" but it does seem to make my dry winter skin very happy.
Post shower, I apply sesame oil. Both of these things are winter only.

Otherwise it's just simple fragrance free castile soap, a natural shampoo bar, and a squirt squirt of watered down vinegar for conditioner.

Matt Todd wrote:...a natural shampoo bar

What brand of natural shampoo bar do you use? I have long hair and haven’t yet found one that produces good results.

Thanks.

Alana Rose wrote:

Matt Todd wrote:...a natural shampoo bar

What brand of natural shampoo bar do you use? I have long hair and haven’t yet found one that produces good results.

Thanks.

This is my favorite shampoo&body bar recipe, if you're ever of a mind to make your own. Granted, it does assume a person already knows how to make soap:

Goat-milk-in-oil shampoo/body bars
(Adapted from Simple & Natural Soap Making, by Jan Berry, p.76)

3.9oz/111g(wt) water
3.9oz/111g lye

5.1oz/144g (wt) goat milk
7.5oz/213g coconut oil (zOP26.8%)
3oz/85g mango butter(10.7%)
10.5oz/298g rose & calendula-infused* olive oil(37.5%)
3oz/85g sweet almond oil(10.7%)
4oz/113g castor oil(14.3%)
2T raw honey
1oz/30g lavender eo
3T Neem (opt)


*a strong, double infusion - first with 2oz calendula in a 1qt jar, topped with evoo, shaken & sous vide @ 130°F 24hrs. Strain, press, then pour over 2oz rose petals, in another qt jar, shake, & sous vide 24hrs. Strain, press, filter through super fine mesh.

Label: double-calendula-infused olive oil, coconut oil, goat milk, castor oil, sodium hydroxide, mango butter, lavender essential oil, neem oil, honey

As we all know, all skin types are different, and they need different approaches. Personally, I have discovered the ANSBotanics hyaluronic acid powder, and I fell in love with it ever since. I usually mix it with my night cream, serum, or just daily cream, and apply it to my skin. It does an amazing, job even if I was skeptical at the beginning. Since my skin is mostly dry, and sensitive and I have passed the age of 25, it needs special care. This powder leaves my skin fresh and prevents fine lines.

I just use water for washing for the most part, as well. I use soap on pits, groin, and feet if I've been sweating, and I wash my hands with soap. After washing my hands with soap, I spritz them with a vinegar/water mix to restore the pH. I put vinegar on my pits to prevent bo, too. My husband is nuts abouts vinegar on skin. He swears it cures all skin ills. He doesn't really have any major skin issues to begin with, though.

I find if my skin gets dry, I just need to drink more water.

When I lived in a semi desert environment, I found I couldn't drink enough water to stay properly hydrated (ie, not have dry skin). I discovered if I ate something like cucumber regularly my body seemed able to absorb more water and my skin didn't get dry. Later I heard about gel water, so I wasn't just imagining it!

When I get eczema, which Ive had my entire life except for the 10+ years I was a raw vegan, I have a salve I make with shea butter, candellila wax, herbs, and essential oils.

Jan White wrote:I just use water for washing for the most part, as well. I use soap on pits, groin, and feet if I've been sweating, and I wash my hands with soap. After washing my hands with soap, I spritz them with a vinegar/water mix to restore the pH. I put vinegar on my pits to prevent bo, too. My husband is nuts abouts vinegar on skin. He swears it cures all skin ills. He doesn't really have any major skin issues to begin with, though.

I find if my skin gets dry, I just need to drink more water.

When I lived in a semi desert environment, I found I couldn't drink enough water to stay properly hydrated (ie, not have dry skin). I discovered if I ate something like cucumber regularly my body seemed able to absorb more water and my skin didn't get dry. Later I heard about gel water, so I wasn't just imagining it!

When I get eczema, which Ive had my entire life except for the 10+ years I was a raw vegan, I have a salve I make with shea butter, [url]Skin Lightening[/https://okdermo.com/product/benoquin-monobenzone-20-cream/] candellila wax, herbs, and essential oils.

It sounds like you're practicing good hygiene by using soap to cleanse specific areas of your body, especially after sweating. Cleaning areas such as the armpits, groin, and feet is important to prevent the growth of bacteria and odor.

I was recommended the face serum from Seeb organics from a source I really trust. Looking forward to trying it out.

I've messed around with putting oils on my face, but I felt like it was counterproductive(?), since I have an oily face. Still something I wonder about.

I hear tallow works really well. I think The Van Man sells a good one, still need to try.

For me, I use thermal water (whatever is cheapest, I cycle through them), like Vichy or La Roche Posee. I find it helps the skin, and as a side benefit, cools you down on hot days. It has lots of minerals.

I know nutrition has a lot to do with it... and sun. When I go to eastern europe, people my age look 10 years younger, because they get less sun damage, and just eat really healthy meals like lots of soups with veggies, just healthy home cooking.

This girl there I knew who had amazing skin would always be drinking carrot juice, I think that helps too.

In terms of shampoo I can recommend a very organic product I found: North American Herb and Spice shampoo (they also sell a conditioner).

It's made from pure plant extracts... I used "organic" shampoos that still had weird chemical names in them, and would be like "95% organic", etc... NAHS shampoo is literally 100% organic and natural, the ingredients are just like "rose water, oregano oil, etc." I was surprised and stoked I found them.

Doesn't smell as good as a commercial shampoo, but my sister, who hates organic stuff and thinks its some hippie trend, even was surprised how soft that shampoo left her hair.

But besides that... I've found just cutting aloe vera from my garden and rubbing it all over my face and hair and scalp helps a lot. Aloe vera is like a magical cure, it helps with everything. I tried making a aloe vera / goat milk / vitamin E concoction myself before, my ex-gf's mom swore by it, that might help more. I tried it for a while, with things like that it's hard to tell over time what really helps,  but she was telling me these miracle stories about it working wonders for her coworkers.