When we talk about being ‘healthy’, most of us consider what we are eating and drinking, whether we smoke plus of course how much exercise we are doing.  And this is often reflected in how we look and feel.  But one component often overlooked are the toxins that we are exposed to in our every day environment.  Some may be outside our control (living by a busy road, for example) but many aren’t and something we can easily address is the choice we make in terms of what we put on our skin.

Our very first blog post was all about going green in the bathroom and this post builds on that by having a look at some natural treats for your face and some easy swaps in your beauty routine, all of which will reduce the toxic load on your body.

I’m nearing the end of my nutrition and lifestyle course and my eyes were opened somewhat when we studied toxins and the pathogens that we are often unwittingly introducing into our bodies.  Our biggest organ, the skin, is our first line of defence against any dangers in the environment, so it’s really worth checking the small print on your favourite creams, cleansers and lotions for synthetic chemicals and to understand what’s being absorbed by your body.  Parabens, for example, are an endocrine (hormone) disruptor which many studies have linked to cancer and fertility issues, and yet these are easily avoided with a little care and attention.

So, that’s the bad news - but the good news is that there are plenty of wonderful products on the market that are completely natural, along with store cupboard ingredients that are fun to use for DIY face masks (see links at the end of this article for some suggestions).

Here at The Geographer, we only stock natural products for the face and body and have spent some time researching some lovely items that really work so you can confidently buy from us, knowing that you are choosing something kind to your skin.

Some of our favourites this year include this natural detox clay face mask made with activated charcoal and chia seeds and with no artificial colours or fragrances.  The little jar goes a long way - each treatment uses just a pinch of the powder mixed with a little water to create a mask that will cleanse and balance.

My favourite way to remove make up at the end of the day is with a little coconut oil melted in my palm and then gently rubbed into eyelashes.  Then, wipe off with a washable make up remover pad feeling pretty chuffed that there’s no single use plastic or waste products going into the bin.

For a full facial cleanse, I love slathering with any organic oil (try jojoba, avocado, sweet almond or olive) just make sure it’s cold pressed and virgin before you reach for your cooking oil!  Pour 1-2 teaspoons into the palm of your hand and then massage all over your face and neck.  To clean off, simply run an organic cotton cloth under some warm water and gently press and wipe away the excess oil.

If you are a fan of plain soap (and why not!) our favourites here at The Geographer are the Alternative range from Suma and the fabulous Natural Spa bars which smell good enough to eat.  In fact, the latter also come in a gift box set if you wanted to treat yourself or an eco-conscious loved one to a supply.

Moving on to a more luxurious treat, our solid massage lotion bars from Reborn are designed to boost energy and relieve stress.  Made with tea tree and peppermint essential oils, along with organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil and vitamin E oil … you can imagine how delicious this smells as you rub it into dry or stressed skin.

So this is just a taste of our natural body care range.  We’d love to know what you think or to hear about your favourite tip for natural beauty.   Pop it in the comments or reach out on our socials.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/beauty/a32320090/homemade-face-masks/

https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/skin/articles/a38190/homemade-diy-face-mask-recipes/