How do you move from Chemical filled cosmetics?

[mrm82]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum.

I am looking to move away from all types of ordinary deodorants, shower gels, shampoos etc etc to an all nautral alternative (after reading some quite scary facts and opinions about the amounts of awful stuff in the majority of normal toiletries).
All the bars of natural soap I've seen in shops are tiny and I was looking maybe to start using one thing that I could say wash hair with, face and body and not need to replace it every few days.
Any hints on what I should get to get started.
Cheers.

[mark1963]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum.

I am looking to move away from all types of ordinary deodorants, shower gels, shampoos etc etc to an all nautral alternative (after reading some quite scary facts and opinions about the amounts of awful stuff in the majority of normal toiletries).
All the bars of natural soap I've seen in shops are tiny and I was looking maybe to start using one thing that I could say wash hair with, face and body and not need to replace it every few days.
Any hints on what I should get to get started.
Cheers.

As far as the soap goes - just get a cheap skin sensitive one that does not contain hydroxy.... anything or sodium lauryl sulphate. I wash my hair with it then condition my hair with 2 drops of olive oil - but then I'm a bloke so can get away with that. It does make my hair soft and luxurious and it does not smell of oil either. :)

[21_12_2012]

I know a girl who started buying from here:-

http://www.amarya.co.uk/

She's well aware of 'the agenda'

But she says it is expensive to buy chemical-free cosmetics, plus they do not seem to 'stay on' for as long as chemical stuff.

Try googling "organic cosmetics" or "natural cosmetics"

You'll probably find lots of stuff.

edit:-
Soap...there are sellers on ebay that sell natural soap. I got one as a free gift once for buying some stuff, and it was nice soap too. In fact I will be buying some of it, i just finished the bar i got.

It was small though yes, i thought it was a sample size maybe. But yes it really was the best soap ive ever used.

[mrm82]

I should point out I'm male, so perhaps cosmetics was the wrong word, I more mean Toiletries.

A friend told me that he uses olive oil soap as shaving soap and washes his hair with it too with freat results - trouble is I got too accustomed to all these 'anti-irritation', super close shave deals! That promise a close and comfortable shave, whereas I've found they actually don't!

[mark1963]

I should point out I'm male, so perhaps cosmetics was the wrong word, I more mean Toiletries.

A friend told me that he uses olive oil soap as shaving soap and washes his hair with it too with freat results - trouble is I got too accustomed to all these 'anti-irritation', super close shave deals! That promise a close and comfortable shave, whereas I've found they actually don't!


I use olive oil to shave with - it's better than soap.

[farros]

Hey OP.. your diet/excersise should be more of a concern than toiletries if your trying to live a less toxic life. Im on a raw diet, work out daily, quit masturbating and am drinking only water.. but I still love the smell of the Umbro spray I get from the pound shop. and use head and shoulders shampoo. These are minor lower end things you need to worry about imo.

[robbyblade]

I wash my hair with a whipped egg. It doesn't lather like shampoo but it doesn't need to. I only wash my hair about once a week. I don't use soap on my body. You don't need it. I don't really use deodorant but if I think I might need it for insurance, I'll just rub a little coconut oil on there. They have salt crystals that work pretty well. I've heard you can use lime juice as well.

I'm on the primal diet by Aajonus Vonderplanitz, which I think keeps me from smelling bad. It's a completely raw diet.

Also, use COLD water to wash your hair. Cold water is better for you anyway.

[leoo]

You should definitely check what they put in cosmetics for girls.
Most of it are horrible substitutions for "natural" materials.

[21_12_2012]

You should definitely check what they put in cosmetics for girls.
Most of it are horrible substitutions for "natural" materials.

Parabens are a very common and extremely nasty substance added to cosmetics/sun creams.

[josjo]

If you want to make it really easy, just quit soaps. I haven't used soap for ages now, I don't smell (I have a fairly public job, so I'd probably be told sharpish!). Use baking soda on my hair, and almond oil, apple cider vinegar. Coconut oil makes for good moisturiser, as does almond oil. Olive oil I personally find is too heavy, especially for the face, but almond oil is good for that.

All can be used on the hair too. I only tend to need to have a cold shower, and scrub with a cloth/brush.

For smellies, why not mix some essential oils into some base oil - e.g. maybe a mint oil or tea tree oil in almond/avocado oil.

[paracelsus]

Without being too facetious, you will have a job moving away from chemicals, everything in the material universe around us, is made of atoms and molecules aka chemicals.If you are looking to use soaps, with no additional ingredients other than those that have been used for thousand of years, you could make your own from vegetable oil/animal fats and lye. Very easy reaction to carry out and results in much cheaper soap bars than the store bought ones. You have to let them 'cure' (finish reacting) for a few weeks before using them. You can buy the sodium hydroxide in B&Q for a couple of quid or make your own lye from wood ash.........(make sure you wear personal protection kit, gloves, boots, lab coat/apron and goggles and don't use aluminium vessels, as lye reacts with these and produces hydrogen).........:)

[bruiseviolet]

To wash my face I use a little lemon juice and organic brown sugar on a cotton pad.. I used to use olive oil to remove my eye makeup but it can get into the eyes and build up over time. :/ I use a Lush moisturiser, their stuff isn't completely natural but there's a lot less ingredients.

Pears Soap is said to made up of mainly natural ingredients and is supposed to make skin really soft and is apparently good for acne.

All you can do is cut down really, and try to make your own where possible which is what I've been doing. Am actually researching how to make some natural moisturises that wont clog my skin.

There's quite a few skin care people on youtube with natural alternatives as well.