5 Natural Skincare Favorites

By: Ariana Palmieri
I have combination skin: Sometimes oily, sometimes dry, and definitely prone to acne. However, since I started using these 5 natural skincare products, my skin has improved quite visibly. I still have acne, but it’s minimal and goes away within a day or two (it used to take at least 5 days to go away). Want to see the same results? Have a little extra cash? Love natural products? What ever your reason, be sure to add these goodies to your bucket list (ASAP).
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The Organic Pharmacy  

Why you want it: This oil-based cleanser not only makes dirt disappear right before your eyes, but it also moisturizes your skin (instead of drying it out).

What it costs: $75 (pricey, but worth it – lasts a while!)

My review: By far, this is the most effective cleanser I have ever used. Trust me when I say I’ve tried a lot from Burts Bees makeup wipes to 100 Percent Pure cleaning foam. Featuring sunflower oil, jojoba oil, Shea butter, and 15 other natural ingredients (including carrot!), this product is void of icky chemicals. All you need to do is take a dime-sized drop of the stuff and rub it into your skin. Since I mainly use eye makeup, I usually start by applying a dab of this cleanser to both my eyelids, then rub it in while spreading it around my face. It’s super gentle, so there’s no need to worry about it irritating my eyes (which is awesome). After a while of rubbing and spreading it all over, I just wash off my face with lukewarm water. It’s that simple. It literally dissolves makeup away (poof!). Plus, like I mentioned earlier, it never dries out my skin. Instead, I’m left with smooth, glowing skin that has a subtle, but pleasant smell.

Jurlique

Why you want it: This milky lotion is perfect for hydrating dry skin, reducing wrinkles, and combating dark spots/uneven skin tones.

What it costs: $65 (Worth it – it’ll last a while too!)

My review: Since I’m young, I can’t say I suffer from wrinkles. However, since I started using this product (in combination with the carrot butter cleanser) my skin has cleared up unbelievably. Sure, I’ll break out every once and a while, but they’re even more minimal than previous breakouts and don’t last nearly as long (a day or two, tops?). The website that sells this does not specifically mention this product is good for acne, but I’m convinced it has helped my skin with getting rid of acne, regardless. Since it hydrates the skin and is loaded with powerful (and natural!) ingredients, I’m sure it helps keep skin healthy in more ways than it lets on. The best part is that I don’t even need that much for it to work. Similar to the cleanser, I just take a dime-sized amount and pat it onto my skin in the morning and the evening everyday. That’s it. It leaves my skin feeling a little funny (and it kind of smells like sun lotion), but it’s so worth it!


Aqua Reveal  
Why you want it: Like magic, this exfoliator makes dead skin cells you don’t even know you have peel away right before your very eyes (no, it’s not painful – it actually feels really cool!).


What it costs: $58

My review: I had no idea what I was in for when I tried this the first time. I received it as a sample, so I wasn’t prepared when all of a sudden, as I’m rubbing it into my skin, dead skin cells just started peeling off. It felt so weird, but strangely satisfying (sort of like the satisfaction I get from popping zits – but this is a much better habit, I admit.) It’s a great, lightweight exfoliator that doesn’t dry out my skin and actually makes it look brighter right away. I use it once 2-3 times a week after cleansing my skin with the carrot butter. I just take a little bit of it (usually 3 or 4 dabs will do – one for each area of my skin, like my forehead, cheeks, chin) and massage it in. Almost immediately I see (and feel) results. Dead skin cells are icky, so I quickly wash my face in intervals after each spot on my face is exfoliated. What I love most about this product is that it has over 95 percent natural ingredients, is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free, which is awesome!


Zyderma
Why you want it: Great for zapping zits on the sly, you can rub this stuff in during your morning routine and wash it off with your makeup at night.

What it costs: $38

My review: I’ll be real here – the only acne treatment I used before this was Clearasil, which is loaded with not-so-natural chemicals. While this acne treatment contains ingredients that you probably can’t pronounce, they are all naturally-derived and each is explained on Credo’s website, which is where I got my free sample from. This little goodie is one step ahead of Clearasil because not only is it powerful and natural, but it doesn’t make my zits look like I caked concealer all over them in an attempt to cover them up. It’s got a grey color that blends into my skin (as if it weren’t even there) when I rub it into my skin, perfect for treating acne while out and about. If you like to wear concealer over your acne, that’s fine too because this won’t conflict with any makeup you put over it. All I do is take as much as I need and rub it into my problem spots. Then I just wash it off at the end of the day with my nightly cleanser. The first time I used it, I was amazed at the speed of the results: one pimple that had been bugging me for days was gone the next day.

Tata Harper
Why you want it: This facial mask is sure to leave your skin soft, smooth, and radiant all over!


What it costs: $58

My review: While I don’t use this product as frequently as the rest, I still adore it. At least once a week I use it because of how nice it makes my skin feel. I also love the fact it’s 100 percent natural,  non-GMO, and cruelty-free. Plus it smells great (and kind of fruity!). When I put it on, I apply a thick layer all over my face and just let it sink in for 20-30 minutes. It makes my skin feel really tight (not in a painful way), but once I wash it off my face feels nice and smooth. My skin even looks better (kind of like its just been renewed). I definitely recommend it, but only if you can afford it or want to give yourself a well deserved treat. It’s not as essential in my routine as the cleanser and conditioning lotion I mentioned earlier, but it is certainly something I will buy in the future.

By Ariana Storniolo (Palmieri)

Ariana Storniolo is the founder of Greenify-Me, a blog dedicated to zero waste and sustainability. Her work has also been featured on Going Zero Waste, Green Matters, Mother Earth Living and several other online publications.

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