Sometimes it feels like the only way to keep our skin free of blackheads, pimples, unsightly blemishes and clogged pores involves a slew of chemicals and creams we can barely pronounce. It can be hard to balance caring for your body with caring for the environment.

Even when you cut back on water usage and shower time, you still are stuck with the by-products and potential waste that comes from mass-produced, harsh beauty products and facial cleansers. Using more natural products is better for the health of your skin and for the health of the environment.

You can still maintain your beauty goals and experience a feeling of cleanliness without using astringent chemicals to achieve it. Here are some of the natural cleansers that are available for you to use and their benefits.

Plant-Based Products

Nature is full of plants and minerals you can use to create your own natural cleansers. For example, you can use honey as part of a natural, homemade facial cleanser. Other plant-based items that you can use involve herbs such as lavender or rosemary mixed into warm water.

Oatmeal is another alternative that can aid in cleansing your skin in a more natural manner. There are thousands of online recipes and DIY tutorials to teach you the variety of natural cleansers you can make at home, and there are lots of other plant-based products that are available for you to try.

Due to their makeup, they’re better for the continued health of the eco-system, and if you make them yourself, you won’t be contributing to plastic waste or oil usage for their transportation.

Common Household Items

It’s important to note that your skin can be damaged by things other than facial cleansers. Some of the harshest cleansers that you already have in your house are likely used to keep your home itself clean. You can substitute these harmful products with more natural cleaning products.

Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are good alternatives for all of your cleaning needs. They also offer the benefit of not harming your skin while you’re using them to scrub your house. Using these types of natural products works to reduce your carbon footprint and how many chemicals are allowed to enter your water sources.

It also supports you in keeping your skin and body healthy, as you will be less likely to have chemical residue on your face and hands.

Alternative Soaps

Handmade soaps are becoming more popular because they combine many of the natural elements that you enjoy without having to feel guilty about the production process. While you may not have the time and money to make your own, there are many small businesses and eco-friendly stores that are willing to put in the extra effort to create handmade products rather than massed-produced, chemically-intensive soaps.

It’s important to purchase products that are sustainable in nature in order to do your part in helping the environment. Handmade, natural, organic cleansers and soaps also have the added feature of not being harsh for your skin. The type of soap that you can select will depend on your personal preferences, but there are many varieties out there.

Holistic Approach

Taking a more holistic approach when it comes to your choice of cleansers and cleaners is more than just good for the environment. Soaps often contain dyes and other byproducts that could be contributing to your body’s pH being out of balance. This could lead to ongoing health issues or the development of other types of skin problems. Employing natural cleansers can help to rebalance your body.

Do some research into your specific skin needs - eco-friendly products that work for someone with oily skin will not have the same benefit for someone with dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, you will want cleansers that hydrate and moisturize without irritating your skin, like a coconut oil-based cleanser. If you have dull skin, you will want ingredients that regulate your melanin production and slough away dead skin layers, like a fermented rice water cleanser.

There are numerous benefits when it comes to using natural cleansers. Consider these options when it comes time to make a decision about which set of cleaners is right for you, and be willing to experiment and explore your options.

Using a natural cleanser might take more work or cost more money than a typical over-the-counter cleanser, but it will be sure to make you feel healthier and happier, not just physically, but emotionally as well. Helping the planet helps ourselves, and just knowing that will be sure to give you a glowing complexion.

Looking for 100% all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list.  

Written By:

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.