Learn about the best Natural Health & Beauty Products below!
If you’re anything like me, you are most likely looking to do what you can to reduce your impact on the environment, while also creating a healthier home for you and your family! One area that I’ve done a lot of ‘experimenting’ in, has been my bathroom! It seems that a lot of beauty products come in plastic & produce a lot of waste. Not only that, they are full of toxic ingredients that are not great for us, or for the environment. In the past few years, I have found what I believe to be some of the best natural health & beauty products out there!
Check out my top ten best natural health & beauty products below! All are easily available on Amazon. (This post contains affiliate links. By purchasing through my site, you are helping me keep this running at no extra cost to you!)
So, a shampoo bar is just like a bar of soap, but in shampoo form. Basically, exactly what it sounds like. On my journey to find a way to stop buying plastic shampoo bottles, Lush started coming out with ‘shampoo bars’. I was intrigued, but I really wanted something with less ingredients, and something a little less expensive. I had tried making my own shampoo to fulfill that desire, with less than stellar results. So, I scoured the internet and eventually came upon these Whiff Botanicals Freedom Shampoo Bars.
Four ingredients. No plastic packaging. Animal cruelty free, gluten free, vegan. No SLS, SLES, parabens, cocamide DEA, or silicones!
My hair actually does really well with these bars. I have fairly dry and fragile wavy hair – for reference. You just wet your hair, swipe it over your scalp several times (I usually do 6 swipes front to back along the top, and then kind of scrub it in behind my ears and at the base of my neck,) lather well, and then rinse. I can also get away without conditioner!
If you keep these dry in-between uses, they last about two months.
Purchase on Amazon here:
Whiff Shampoo Bar, Unscented
Whiff Shampoo Bar & Conditioning Bar, Peppermint
Although my hair did/does fine without conditioner when using the Whiff Botanicals bar, I really wanted something that could double as a conditioner & shave bar. This is it!
These bars are slightly more expensive, but they last much longer. I have gone through three shampoo bars and still have the same conditioner bar! Again – these come in cardboard, (compostable or recyclable) so less waste with packaging. I also enjoy that its easy to control how much I’m putting on my hair. I can swipe over my ends or at the base of my neck several additional times if I want a little bit more moisture there.
As a shave bar, I have had zero issues. Works best if your skin isn’t dripping wet and you rub back and forth over the are really fast to really work up a lather. If you are used to a foaming shave cream, this may take a little adjusting to – but it works great.
Like any other bar of soap or shampoo, you want to keep this dry in-between uses so it holds up and lasts longer. Definitely recommend.
Ideally, yes, this would come in a glass bottle or jar, but I haven’t been able to find anything like that. Aside from the plastic packaging – this stuff is fantastic. This is my go-to for moisturizing my skin and face. In fact – it is the only thing that I will use to moisturize my face! I have extremely sensitive skin, and most oils/lotions/products cause me to break out, but not this one! And its safe to use around your eyes and I’ve noticed a difference in fine lines, dark circles, and wrinkles there.
This is essentially a blend of several different oils that are safe for skin use, and won’t clog pores. Some oils are better than others when it comes to keeping your pores clear (this is a great article about comedogenic oils if you want to learn more!) and this mainly uses oils low on the comedogenic scale. This Jason Vitamin E Oil contains: Sunflower, Safflower, Rice Bran, Avocado, Almond, Apricot, and Wheat Germ oil. Wheat Germ oil is very pore clogging, but its at the bottom of the ingredients list on this, and doesn’t bother me, so its safe to assume there isn’t a whole lot in here. Several of the ingredients are organic, too. No sulfates, not tested on animals
Purchase on Amazon here:
4. Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel. The holy grail! . Research shows that this extract has very effective astringent, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties due to the high tannin content and volatile oils it contains. This makes it good for several ailments, which I’ll describe below. A must for your medicine cabinet!
This is my go to for nearly everything. First of all, it is an incredible astringent that – once again – does not cause my sensitive skin to break out! When I use it consistently, I notice a reduction in under the skin acne flare ups, which I am prone to on my forehead and chin. It also works well if you have particularly oily skin (sometimes my nose gets a little oily – my skin runs more on the dry side of things). Or if I have a pimple I pop and drain, I’ll use witch hazel to clean it out after.
Secondly, its great for cuts, scrapes, and burns and is a must have for the medicine cabinet. I much prefer this over hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol – I find it stings less.
Additionally, Witch Hazel is a great home remedy for hemorrhoids. You can soak a cotton ball with it and apply to the affected area. Or, it can be added to a sitz bath or normal bath. I’ll also add it to my bath water if I’m having any skin ailments (it’s good for itching), or if I’m in need of a detox bath (like if I’m sick or feeling under the weather). It also helps reduce the chances of getting ingrown hairs & razor burn if you use it after shaving.
Purchase from Amazon Below:
5. Tea Tree Oil
Another one of my absolute favorite essential oils! Tea Tree is useful for so many things – it is definitely something I recommend keeping around. If you’re just getting into using Essential Oils, this is one I would recommend starting with.
Tea tree oil contains a number of compounds, including one called “terpinen-4-ol” that have been shown to kill certain bacteria, viruses and fungi. This particular compound also appears to increase the activity of your white blood cells – which help fight germs and other foreign invaders. Essentially, Tea Tree Oil is a great anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.
The most important thing to remember, is that this stuff is very strong, and will cause a tingling/burning sensation if you use it directly on the skin – even when diluted you will notice the same sensation – so it is very important that you dilute it!
As an Anti-Fungal:
- Added to shampoo or a cup of water (a few drops in either), can provide relief from dandruff.
- Diluting a couple of drops in a cup of water or in a sitz bath can provide relief from yeast infections.
- You can also add a few drops to a carrier oil (like coconut or almond) and apply to psoriasis, contact dermatitis, or nail fungus.
As an Anti-Bacterial:
- Adding Tea Tree Oil to Witch Hazel & Aloe Gel can make a non-toxic hand sanitizer.
- Mix with Witch Hazel & apply directly with a q-tip to pimples or acne
- Adding a little Tea Tree to your Witch Hazel when cleaning a cut or scrape can boost the antibacterial power.
- Cleaning your armpits with a few drops of tea tree diluted in water can help wash away the bacteria that causes odor, and work as a natural deodorant.
- A homemade mouth wash with a high quality tea tree oil product added reduces bacteria in the mouth.
Other uses:
- Create your own insect repellant with Tea Tree, Witch Hazel, Citronella, Peppermint, and Eucalyptus Oil.
- Add to vinegar to make an easy all-purpose house cleaner.
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Castile soap is my go-to for the shower (and also a staple for my DIY Laundry Detergent!) Minimal ingredients, easy on your skin, and no weird hard to pronounce chemicals or sulfates.
Additionally, Dr. Bronner’s and Kirk’s brand bar soaps have recyclable packaging (a win for the environment!) You can even purchase as a bar soap, and then melt down (with boiling water) into a liquid if needed.
It took me a very long time to find a toothpaste I liked that fit my high standards. I wanted it to be cruelty free, fluoride free, no micro beads, no sulfates, no titanium dioxide, and to be comprised of naturally resourced ingredients. For a long time, I was buying “Tom’s of Maine” toothpaste. Once I realized it was owned by Colgate, and that the ingredients were actually not much different (or better for you) than your standard Colgate toothpaste, I stopped buying it.
When I found out Dr. Bronner’s had a toothpaste – I was sold. I had to try it! I love their company and was eager to see how I liked the toothpaste. The ingredients checked out for me – and as a bonus, they were primarily organic.
I’ve now been using this toothpaste for over a year and I seriously will never go back! The main thing you’ll notice is the taste is much different from your ‘standard’ toothpaste. It does not have a sugary or sweet mint flavor that many toothpastes have. I now find normal toothpaste absolutely disgustingly sweet, as a result. Overall, I’m very happy with this toothpaste – I find it works just as well, gets the job done, is less toxic, and comes from a fantastic company. I will 100% continue to use this until I eventually start making my own toothpaste to cut back on waste!
There are three toothpaste flavors – peppermint, cinnamon, and anise – but I prefer the peppermint flavor the best. Check your local Whole Foods or health store to find this, although the best price I’ve found has been buying a 2 or 3 pack on Amazon (below).
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8. Coconut Oil
They do say coconut oil is good for everything. You can use it for so many different things:
- Make-Up remover
- Body Moisturizer
- As a Carrier Oil for Various Essential Oils
- Hair Mask
- Personal Lubricant
- Oil Pulling (for oral health)
- Mild Sunscreen (has an SPF of 7)
- Coconut Oil has Antibacterial and Fungal-fighting Properties (can help with yeast infections, bacterial skin infections, minor cuts/scrapes/burns)
- Helps Heal Hangnails & Torn Cuticles
- Use on Chapped Lips
This is a staple in my house. I try to buy it in a glass container that I can reuse. Just make sure that you keep whatever you use for cooking separate from what you’re dipping your hands in for make up remover, skin care, etc.
9. Body Brush
If you are unfamiliar with one of these, you might be thinking its just something to scratch your back with (and I guess, to some extent, it is)! However the health benefits of body brushing are numerous. I keep mine in the shower and brush my body at least once or twice a week – every day if I’m leading up to my period and experiencing PMS symptoms, or if I am sick, or just feeling like I need a little detox!
Essentially, a body brush is used to stimulate and exfoliate the skin, increase blood flow, and help the lymphatic system eliminate toxins and waste. You can watch a video and learn more about body brushing here. I highly recommend this as a nice ‘wellness’ staple in your bathroom. Keep the lymph system moving, your skin healthy and glowing, and your body healthy and happy! These last for years. I have had the same one in my shower for 3 years now (I clean it every once in a while) and I expect it to last at least 3-5 more years! (It would probably last even longer if you kept it away from the shower so it doesn’t get wet as often.)
10. Jade Roller & Gua Sha Scraper
The idea behind the jade roller and the Gua Sha scraper, is similar to the body brush – increase circulation, move lymph, and release muscle tension. So, not only does it improve your skin, it also feels amazing as it releases tension in my upper lip area (pursed lips), my forehead/eyebrows (furrowed brows), and along my jaw. The jade roller is a little more mild than the Gua Sha scraper – think of it more like a gentle soothing cooling massage, where the Gua Sha scraper is more of a vigorous way to relieve muscle tension, move lymph, and increase circulation. I typically do the jade roller in the morning post shower, and the Gua Sha scraper at night before bed (the scraper will increase redness temporarily as blood comes to the surface of the skin).
Watch a video about how to use the Gua Sha tools on your face here.
Additionally, if you like to use a moisturizer, both products can help with absorption, and many sources actually recommend using a serum, oil, or something similar when doing the massage. Since I struggle with sensitive skin, I have used a little aloe with mine, but nothing else. Just be sure to clean your tools after.
The Gua Sha scrapers can also be used on the rest of the body for any intense areas of muscle tension/knotting/injury, for breaking up scar tissue, and as a general massage tool. If you google ‘Gua Sha’, you may be alarmed by the bruising caused – but don’t let it throw you off! This is typically from using the tools in a rough manner to break up deep muscle knots.
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Lynn Brant says:
Tea tree oil is awesome but it’s a nasty toxin for cats internally or externally