Since giving birth to my daughter 11 months ago, I noticed a change in my skin. It had become dry, patchy and itchy. In fact, the itch became so bad that every time I got out of the shower I would itch for up to 3 hours. I figured it was hormonal, so just dealt with it.

Then it dawned on me… perhaps my body was reacting to the chemicals in all the beauty products and the cleaning products I was using? Most beauty products are full of nasty chemicals like parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates, talc, to name a few. There has even been some evidence that some chemicals in beauty products can cause cancer!

I have had a love of beauty products all my life. My love for makeup extended to a love for skin care products, cleansers, moisturizers, toners, eye crèmes, face masks, exfoliants, even bath and shower products. You name it, I’ve tried it.

Despite this love, I made a decision a few months ago to switch to natural beauty products – and I haven’t looked back.

A friend of mine suggested MOO GOO products (www.moogoo.com.au), which have been recommended for people with skin conditions. What I liked about the product was the guarantee that “MooGoo does not use gimmick ingredients and marketing, or cheap filling ingredients.” After studying the ingredients, I gave it a go. I must say, I absolutely love the cleanser. I use it on my face and body, morning and night. It doesn’t foam like ordinary cleansers (as it doesn’t have foaming agents like Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate), so I just knew there were no harsh chemicals in it. My skin felt clean, and the itch had decreased. I followed my routine with the Moo Goo Udder Crème (moisturiser) and the MSN cream – other products I absolutely LOVE. I also use these products on my 11 month old daughter.

The face cleanser is another product I purchased from Moo Goo. The Oil Cleansing Method is an alternative way to wash the face using only oils. It leaves my skin feeling so soft.

I also purchased the Moo Goo Shampoo and Conditioner. Although it is a lovely product, I’ve found that it’s not the right product for my oily hair. But my husband loves it!

One thing that is great about purchasing from the Moo Goo website is that they send you a free sample with every order. I was sent the anti-ageing crème which I use of an evening before bed – great product. I was sent the eczema and psoriasis balm with my last order, and I am currently using it on my hands, which tend to flake after a hard day of housework and cleaning.

Next, as summer was fast approaching, I needed to purchase my daughter a safe, natural, and chemical free sunscreen. A friend suggested WOTNOT sunscreen – 100% natural, free from Titanium dioxide and provides broad spectrum protection against uv-a and uv-b. So I found a great website – Organic Beauty World (http://www.organicbeautyworld.com.au). I purchased the sunscreen, which I have found to be fantastic – smells lovely, goes on smoothly, and to top it off, contains NO nasty chemicals!

I also purchased the Miessence liquid foundation and translucent powder as I have done a lot of research on the chemicals found in some foundations (like carcinogens).  Miessence products contain no synthetic chemicals and seemed like a good alternative to over-the-counter products.  Although these products felt lovely on my skin, the coverage is minimal and I would only recommend it to people who are looking for coverage similar to that of a tinted moisturiser.

The natural shampoo and conditioner (Karpati) purchased from Organic Beauty world is lovely!!! It leaves my hair feeling clean and fresh, and contains no nasty chemicals.  To my surprise I received a number of samples with my order – one of which was the La Mav Certified Organic Firming Eye Lotion. I loved the eye lotion so much, I purchased it with my next order, and I currently use it every morning and night.  It is hands down, the best eye crème I have used to date (and I’ve tried many).  I love the fact that it is organic and natural.

The service at Organic Beauty World is fantastic, and the product range is endless. I highly recommend it.

At this stage, about 90% of the cosmetics and skin care I use on myself and my daughter, are now naturally derived. I feel so much better knowing that I am providing the safest care for my family.

I have researched this area extensively over the past few months, and what is actually contained in conventional beauty products is frightening. What I’ve also discovered is that there are so many simple, non-toxic alternatives to these personal care products.

Dr Mercola is a US doctor who has devoted his life to pursue his passion of educating the public about health truths. His website is the most visited natural health website on the internet (and I have become addicted to his articles!!!). Dr Mercola suggests that “being choosy and only using products made of real, recognizable, natural and organic ingredients bearing the USDA Certified Organic seal, is your best bet when purchasing products that go into your body, or onto your skin”. (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/26/Easy-Economical-Green-Remedies-You-Can-Prepare-at-Home.aspx?sms_ss=facebook)

In this article, Dr Mercola lists the chemicals you definitely want to avoid:

· Paraben, a chemical found in underarm deodorants and other cosmetics that has been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the growth of human breast tumors.

· Phthalates, plasticizing ingredients (present in nearly three-quarters of 72 products tested by the Environmental Working Group), which have been linked to birth defects in the reproductive system of boys and lower sperm-motility in adult men, among other problems.

· Musks, used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.

· Artificial fragrances, which are among the top five known allergens, and can cause asthma and trigger asthma attacks.

· Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system.

· Toluene, made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus.

· Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum, these products coat your skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging, and are a suspected cause of cancer and disruption to hormonal activity.

Dr Mercola also recommends the following beauty products:

· All-natural moisturizers — Pure emu oil is a great alternative to facial- and body moisturizers and lotions, as is pure coconut oil. It’s a fantastic moisturizer and a potent source of the beneficial fat lauric acid.

· All-natural acne fighter — Rubbing just a drop of oregano oil on a breakout can speed up the healing and prevent unsightly scarring without resorting to harsh commercial acne medication (remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards).

· All-natural deodorant – I advise stopping ALL antiperspirants. Common soap and water works fine. If you still need further help then try a pinch of baking soda mixed into water as an effective all-day deodorant.

· All-natural shampoo and soaps – You can find clean, non-chemical soaps at many health food stores.

I highly recommend everyone read his articles at Mercola.com, and subscribe to his free newsletters, as they are so informative. I guarantee you won’t want to use an over-the-counter beauty product ever again without first reading the list of ingredients!

A great list of “toxic” ingredients can be found at the ONEgroup website – http://www.mionegroup.com/toxic#51. If you are unsure whether a chemical is toxic or not, this is a great directory to refer to.

Please remember – not all “natural” beauty products are in fact natural. Some “organic” beauty products contain one organic ingredient. If a product contains sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate it is NOT natural. Remember that everything you put on your skin eventually gets into your bloodstream, and can potentially cause serious damage to your body. So do your research, and read the ingredients before you make your purchase.

Happy (and healthy) shopping!

Rebekah Foxe

Makeup Artistry by Rebekah

Sydney Makeup Artist
www.makeupbyrebekah.com.au
Have a question you would like to ask Bek?? email Bek at – rebekah@beyondthebride.com.au