Natural Alternatives to Mainstream Beauty Products

Years ago when I first started my research into natural beauty and skincare, I decided to rid my entire house of every product that could potentially harm my body or health! When I encourage people to switch to natural products, they often have the same question. How do we replace those science based mainstream products? I’ve written a whole blog post here on my top 10 alternatives to "those" mainstream products but this time I wanted to really focus on the natural alternatives to popular science based products, because I know when you make the switch, your new products need to work!

Firming Body Lotions
When it comes to body firming lotions to tighten the skin, restore elasticity and stimulate collagen production, you can’t go past the Acure Firming Body Lotion. Made with organic, antioxidant rich ingredients like Evening Primrose, Rosehip and Cocoa Butter to help nourish and moisturise the skin, but the best part is it contains science based plant stem cell technology using the Gotu Kola stem cells to firm the skin, control redness and reduce skin inflammation.¹

CoQ10 Facial Creams
Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role in protecting skin against free radical damage. It is a powerful antioxidant and can help support collagen production and skin elasticity. I have put together an entire blog post about the benefits of Coenzyme Q10 here. This Q10 Anti-Ageing Moisturising Cream from Lavera Basis and the Andalou Resveratrol Q10 Night Repair Cream are both under $25 and great natural CoQ10 options!

Commercial AHAs
Products containing AHAs have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, so many AHA based exfoliants on the market are full of harsh chemicals that can strip the skin and leave it feeling sore. Although that’s not the case with The Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner! This amazing potion is gently exfoliating, highly moisturising and pore refining! This product contains Lactic Acid which is a gentle AHA that may help synthesise collagen and promote cell turnover. It removes dead skin while moisturising, refining and actually thickening the skin too!² This skin refiner is a natural way to exfoliate your skin, without leaving it stripped or dry. To use, apply to a cotton pad and wipe over the face after cleansing. This is one of my favourite beauty products and I've dedicated a whole blog post here on how the Beauty Chef skin refiner works!

Hyaluronic Acid
If you have dry or dull skin, chances are you may have tried a skincare product with Hyaluronic Acid (a deeply hydrating ingredient). However, mainstream products often contain synthetic Hyaluronic Acid or harsh chemicals. For a Certified Organic alternative, I love the La Mav Hyaluronic Acid Hydra-Max Serum from La Mav which uses natural (vegan) hyaluronic acid, pairing it with gentle organic ingredients that won’t harm the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is highly moisturising because it can actually hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water!³ It really is dry skin’s dream come true! This serum is soothing, plumping and offers a hydrated, more luminous complexion. Apply a small amount to your skin after cleansing for best results!



The Facial Treatment Mask
To achieve a more youthful, plump complexion you don’t need to be using masks and products filled with harsh chemicals or artificial ingredients! This Ginseng Collagen Boost Mask from 100% Pure is made with Hydrogel which is actually made up of 95% Organic Aloe Water and 5% Plant Cellulose. This Hydrogel formula is easily absorbed into the skin, leaving a thin peel away layer. An active ingredient in this collagen mask is Ginseng. Ginseng is known for it’s ability to firm the skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and target sun damage.³ To use, simply apply to the skin after cleansing and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

The Pigment Corrector
Hyperpigmentation is a problem that can occur for a variety of reasons like pregnancy and overexposure to the sun. One highly effective ingredient in reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation is Rosehip! This BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil from Pai Skincare is the most concentrated on the market. It also contains Fruit Hip Oil which has double the regenerative sterols and five times the carotenoids of regular Rosehip Oil! Rosehip is well known for its ability to target damaged skin as well as reduce skin discolouration and sun spots.³ To find out more about the power of rosehip oil, check out this blog post I wrote! To use, apply 2-3 drops onto your skin after cleansing and before moisturising.

Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid is another AHA exfoliant that removes the dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin designed to leave us looking fresh and brighter. The Andalou Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask naturally exfoliates the skin to lift dead skin cells and reveal more beautiful looking skin. It’s formulated with ingredients like Pumpkin Puree and Manuka Honey which are both hydrating and soothing. This mask is also made with Andalou’s Fruit Stem Cell Science from plants such as Malus Domsetsica. You can use this mask up to 3 times a week by applying to clean skin and leaving for 10 minutes.

(sources: ¹acuregateway.com, ²the-scientist.com, ³livestrong.com)