My Go To Natural Skin Care Products

I’m so excited to share this list of my favorite natural skin care products with you! It’s taken me many years to find lotions, soaps, shampoos, etc. that don’t flare up my health conditions. I’m really passionate about this topic because I think everyone should have the tools and information to avoid toxins and make healthier decisions in their everyday life.

I hope that all the products I’ve researched and tried will help you on your journey to better health.

What we put on our bodies matters, especially for those of us with chronic illness. These are the skincare products that don’t aggravate my asthma, fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions.

In my last post, I shared some of the reasons to choose natural skin care products, especially if you’re chronically ill.

But there are many reasons everyone should avoid harmful chemicals lurking in our lip balm, deodorant, and other products. Check out my previous post if you’d like more information on chemicals to avoid and additional resources for finding healthier alternatives. One of the most helpful resources I recommend in that post is the EWG.

I was inspired to write this because of the popularity of my post: A Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Starter Kit: My Go-To Shopping List for Food Allergies. To my disbelief, it’s been repined over one thousand times! It’s clear that a lot of people are looking for options that aren’t going to aggravate their health and allergies.

 

Advice on Switching to Natural Skin Care

 

Before we proceed: I know it can be overwhelming to start diving into researching what is in the products you’re already using.

The temptation may be to throw everything out and start over. In my experience, especially with my health and tight finances, this can just cause more stress.

My advice would be to try replacing a couple of products first, maybe the ones with the worse scores on EWG. Or, choose to replace the products that stay on your skin longest, like your lotion and deodorant.

The Challenge of Finding Skincare and Personal Care Products

It’s taken me over a decade of trial and error (and allergic reactions) to find out what products work for me. I want to help you save the time and money and frustration to find products that work well.

Maybe you’re like me and also have asthma, fibromyalgia, suspected Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), and chemical sensitivity. I also have POTS (a form of dysautonomia), autoimmune disease, and a history of cancer, so I have to be very careful what products I use. My skin is also very sensitive—I deal with eczema and acne.

And I’ve wasted a lot of money on products that I couldn’t even try because I opened the bottle and the smell alone was too strong. I’ve wasted still more on products that gave me an allergic reaction or made it difficult for me to breathe. You have to shop very carefully when you know trying something new could trigger an asthma attack, a headache or migraine, or send your nervous system and muscles into a horrible flare.

PS a neti pot has been a huge help for me when I’m having an asthma attack or allergic reaction from a chemical or fragrance. I included my neti pot in my list of 10 Of My Favorite Health Products.

When it comes to skincare, my philosophy is: the fewer ingredients the better. This means fewer things to potentially react to. Hopefully that will make this list prove helpful for most of my readers.

I know some of these products won’t work for everyone. For instance, I can use coconut oil, and some people are allergic. On the other hand, I’m allergic to lavender, and other people can tolerate it just fine. I hope at the very least this post gives you a jumping off point so you can discover new brands and new resources to look up products.

I’ll also share some easy DIY recipes so you can make your own skincare products.

 

A Quick Note

 

As a disclaimer, I’m not a doctor or any kind of skincare specialist. I’m a chronically ill woman who has read a lot of labels and a lot of articles on the ingredients that show up on those labels.

Please note: I’m using the term “natural” because these products feature healthier ingredients and leave out toxins. Please see the products’ descriptions to see what percentage of the ingredients are natural, organic, etc.

By reading this post, you agree that you are responsible for ensuring that any products you try are safe for your particular allergies and needs.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small portion of sales, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog through your purchase!  

My Favorite Skin Care Products

 

Bee King’s Wonder Balm

This natural skin softener is my go-to hand lotion. I absolutely love that the ingredients are so simple, plus, they’re made locally in Washington State.
Seriously, here’s all that’s in this: Coconut Oil, Chamomile-Infused Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Grapefruit Seed Extract.
I’m also interested in trying out some of their other products.

 

Life-flo Avocado Oil

I use this as my face and body lotion. It ended up being easier to “make” my own face lotion from a single ingredient than to find one with ingredients I wouldn’t react to. This oil has a light smell similar to olive oil and absorbs quickly.
For my face, I add a little bit of tea tree oil (a little goes a long way with essential oils) because its antibacterial and has other properties that have been shown to help acne and eczema.

 

Sans Pareil Shea Butter

Another good option for hand lotion, this product leaves skin feeling super soft. It smells a bit like candle wax and other than that has no fragrance. I also add a little to my avocado oil at times for a more nourishing face or body lotion. I learned that, conversely, dry skin can cause acne, so I’ve been using this to help prevent breakouts.
Full disclosure: I also use topical acne medicine. I get my medicine compounded so it doesn’t contain fillers I react to. With my natural skin care routine, I only have to use my acne medicine sporadically for stubborn breakouts.

 

The Honest Co. Purely Simple Honest Face + Body Lotion

Don’t want to make your own lotion? I found this product recently and my mom has been using it and loves it. It has a nice mild lotiony smell and leaves skin hydrated and soft. My mom spends a lot of time in the sun, so she needs a lotion that rehydrates her skin. Several natural products she tried weren’t cutting it, so I’m really glad this one works so well. I’ve also tried it and like it.

 

Badger Balm Coca Butter Lip Balm

This is my go-to lip balm that I keep by my bed and in my purse—it’s easy to apply, does a great job of hydrating my lips, and I love the smell of coca butter! (It does come in other flavors too.)

 

Medicine Mama’s Bee Magic Wand

This lip balm/ smells and tastes like honey—yum! I love the velvety consistency; it’s about like Vaseline, except of course there’s no petroleum. For awhile, my lips were painfully chapped for no reason, so I tried this product in addition to my go-to balm, and my lips healed right up. I’ve also found if my lips are irritated after eating salsa or something spicy, this soothes them.
Plus, you can use this balm as a face lotion. Go light—a little gives your complexion a glow and a soft honey-scent, too much and it can make you look a bit clammy.

 

Bodyceuticals Organic Calendula Lip Balm

My parents use this lip balm and really like it. I prefer more flavor, but they prefer the fact that this balm is virtually flavorless and doesn’t leave lips lip-gloss shiny. I’ve used it in a pinch (aka I forgot to order my balm), and it works great.

 

 

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanser

I use some apple cider vinegar and water on a cotton ball as an alternative to antibacterial astringents. (More info here.) I find it helps bring down the swelling in acne.
I don’t love the vinegar smell, so I put it on 10 to 15 minutes before showering to get the benefits before I wash it off.

 

T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Cleanser

I love this mild natural astringent and frequently put it on my face directly after showering and before applying lotion. It has a very faint rubbing alcohol smell which goes away quickly as it dries. It helps soothe inflamed skin and helps with my acne breakouts.

 

Crystal Roll On Deodorant

This is the best natural deodorant I’ve used. It is a little odd to get used to rolling on a deodorant, but it works if you give it a couple minutes to dry on your skin before putting on your shirt. Or do what I do and wear a tank top while it dries.
This brand also sells different scents and kinds (aka non roll-on) of deodorants.

 

Pretty Frank Deodorant

A couple of my family members use this product and really like it. I tried it and it caused some skin irritation, but I think that might be from the baking soda. I might try one of their products that doesn’t contain baking soda in the future. (PS this brand recently changed their name from Primal Pit Paste.)

 

Seven Minerals Aloe Vera Gel

I use this gel for small cuts, a soothing skin care, and to cool sunburns. Aloe gel is also a natural anti-bacterial and has additional qualities that make it great for skin.

 

Honey

Did you know honey has been used for its antibacterial properties since ancient Egypt? I use it for small cuts and to spot-treat acne before bed. I also use it to create my own face mask.\

 

DIY Face Mask

After reading a lot of recipes for natural DIY face masks, I’ve settled on my three favorite ingredients of choice: honey, mashed banana, and aloe vera gel. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed and I’ve found it reduces acne inflammation. If I’m out of bananas, I’ll swap them out for some avocado oil. I mix up a small amount of each and gently wash off after about ten minutes later. The honey can be sticky, so blotting with a warm wet paper towel does the trick.

 

Bath Products

 

Desert Essence Red Raspberry Shampoo

I love this shampoo—it smells so yummy. I think this is the only product I use that includes “fragrance” as one of the ingredients. I’ve tried unscented shampoos before and they just don’t seem to leave my hair smelling fresh. I’m on the lookout for something a little more natural, but in the meantime, I’m really happy with how my hair feels and smells with this shampoo. Here’s their unscented option too: Desert Essence Shampoo Fragrance Free.

 

Earth Science Fragrance Free Conditioner

I know the recommendation is to use the same brand of shampoo and conditioner, but I like this conditioner better. It leaves my hair feeling smoother and doesn’t weigh my hair down, which is important with fine hair like mine. They also make Earth Science Fragrance Free Shampoo. My family uses both the shampoo and conditioner.

 

DIY Face Scrub – Poppy Seeds

I kept trying to find a natural face scrub, and then realized they all had a common ingredient: poppy seeds. So I just get some organic poppy seeds in the baking aisle and use them to gently exfoliate my face.

 

One With Nature Dead Sea Salt Soap – Argan Oil And Shea Butter

This is just a great bar soap—mild fresh scent, foams well, and doesn’t dry out my skin.

 

Soaps and Cleaning Products

 

Biokleen Dish Liquid Soap

Works great for dishes, and we use it for hand soap too. Use a foaming soap dispenser for your hands—its too strong and leaves my hands dry otherwise.

 

Biokleen Free and Clear Laundry Detergent Liquid

Having a laundry detergent you don’t react to makes all the difference. I’ve tried detergents that have left me stuffy and asthmatic from the fragrance or itchy just from wearing clothes. My family has used this product for many years and it works great at cleaning clothes, with no reactions.

 

Biokleen Soy Cleaner

This is what we use for cleaning the bathroom. It’s the mildest bathroom cleaner we’ve found, but I’m sharing this with the caveat that it does bother my sinuses and sometimes my asthma. It doesn’t bother my mom, so it may work great for some people. We run our HEPA filters when my mom is using it to clean so it doesn’t bother me as much. I’ve been trying to find a more natural bathroom cleaner and haven’t found one yet. Suggestions?

 

DIY Deodorizer for clothes

Ever notice how new clothes can have a chemical or perfume smell. (I can sense everyone else with asthma or MCAS nodding!) Adding some vodka to clothes and pre-soaking them in water before washing them is such a lifesaver. You can also put some in the washing machine to get rid of odors. Get more info here.

 

DIY Natural Window Cleaner – Lemon Juice

The smell of window cleaners triggers an almost-instant asthma attack or intense headache for me. Lemon juice and water is all you need for a natural alternative! My mom tried this on the windows last time she cleaned them, and she said it got them cleaner than products she’s purchased in the past! She did notice she had to clean some spots twice where there was residue from the last cleaner she used, then our windows were looking better than ever.

 

Hair Products

 

DIY Natural Detangler – Now Solutions Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin mixed with water makes an easy to make and use detangler. The post where I found this recipe no longer exists, but I’ll frequently put a small amount in my hand and just work it through my damp hair. I don’t use this very much now that my hair is medium length, but it was a lifesaver when my hair was to my mid-back or waist. I’ll definitely use it again if I grow my hair longer.

 

DIY Natural Dry Shampoo – Arrowroot Powder

I was skeptical about the idea of dry shampoo—my hair gets limp and greasy really quickly. (Yay.) But this works as a great touch up when I’m too tired to wash my hair. Check out how to use arrowroot powder as a dry shampoo in this post from Wellness Mama. (PS I love her blog for finding natural alternatives!)

 

Other Products

 

Jason’s Powersmile Toothpaste

I’ve been using this toothpaste for years and really like it. Great minty flavor and it leaves my teeth nice and white. I’m allergic to fluoride so it’s been a challenge to find a good toothpaste.
Full disclosure: I do occasionally use fluoridated Sensodyne when my gums are sensitive or if I’m fighting cavities. I inherited poor tooth enamel, so that’s why I’ll use something that’s not natural every now and then. If you have any questions about your tooth health and natural toothpaste, you can talk with your dentist.

 

Sprmal Bamboo Toothbrush

PS want a toothbrush that’s not made out of plastic? This one works great.

 

Bambo Earth Mint Dental Floss

I switched to natural dental floss after learning my floss could contain PFAS, aka forever chemicals. (More info here.) Works great and my teeth actually feel cleaner. The link is to the floss with a little glass case—here’s the link for just the floss refills.

 

Bon Vital Coconut Massage Oil

My CMT uses this massage oil and I used it for years. It’s literally one ingredient: coconut! It’s refined so it doesn’t have a strong coconut smell or oiliness. I recently switched to something with no scent (see the next product!), but I still think this one is a great option.

 

Handcraft Grapeseed Massage Oil

My new favorite massage oil—totally scent-free and just one ingredient. My CMT uses this in her office and it’s a great option if you can’t do coconut.

 

There you have it! I hope this list is helpful for you on your health journey and that you’re able to find products that work best for you.

If you like this post, I’m thinking of doing another with my favorite natural makeup products. I could also write another about products we use around the home to lessen our chemical exposure.

Let me know in the comments if you’re interested in more posts like this!
And feel free to share your favorite products and any resources you recommend for researching healthier, more natural products.

Which products are you most interested in trying? Have you tried any of these before?

 

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