Thread: All Natural Moisturizer

Originally Posted by maranajla

I am slowly and to the best of my ability making my way towards using all natural, non-petrol-based, products in my home. I have been using Pond's dry skin face cream and as I am near the end of the tub, would like to try something else. What I like about this Pond's is it hydrated my skin but doesn't leave it greasy and it is not heavily scented. Also, while I realize all natural products can be more expensive (still don't get that), I'd like to stay as close as possible to the price~ 10 oz for $8~ so please, no Dr. Hauschka. .w.: For those more knowledgeable than me about ingredients and their substitutions, they are: Water, Mineral Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Ceresin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate, Candelilla Wax, Triethanolamine, Laureth 23, Fragrance, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (plagiarized from Drugstore.com).

Thank you in advance for your guidance! Any suggestions?

I study aromatherapy, so I now make my own face creams, etc. No added ****e. Got face like baby's bum.

DHC has a soap I like a lot. It's olive-oil based, and doesn't leave my skin all tight after I wash. It's called Mild Soap, and I think is around 8$ a bar, but lasts FOREVER. They have a lot of other olive-oil skin-care products, but I haven't checked their ingredient lists to see if there's any fakey stuff in.

Originally Posted by clovis

DHC has a soap I like a lot. It's olive-oil based, and doesn't leave my skin all tight after I wash. It's called Mild Soap, and I think is around 8$ a bar, but lasts FOREVER. They have a lot of other olive-oil skin-care products, but I haven't checked their ingredient lists to see if there's any fakey stuff in.

I'm pretty sure DHC contains parabens and other bad stuff in it. I remember looking into it during my paraben-free product quest.

I mention Collective Wellbeing, Garden of Wisdom and Herbal Gardens because I've been using their products for a while now and my skin likes them. All produce paraben-free products and are reasonably price. Garden of Wisdom and Herbal Gardens are small business, so I'm happy to support them.

Mathkitty:
I only use the soap, so I'm not sure about the rest of the line. Looking at the box, it has a few sodiums in it, but doesn't list any parabens. As such, I should say, since a lot of products don't list "soy" either, but it's in there under another name;)

Originally Posted by bdaddiction

It is definitely okay with me. Least someone knows something about this. I did a continuing education credit on "Fragrance Free! Creating a Safe Health care Environment" for my nursing license on Perfumes that are in the everyday products we use. I was surprised on how not everything needs to be regulated by the FDA and they don't even need to put what ingredient they use in the product. This also goes for household cleaning products as well.

They did come out with a study on the Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo, but people don't realize that it is way more than that.

I don't really have great sources on this, but here are two links from the CEU...

Twenty Most Common Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products

MACI -Out they Go, In they Come

And here is the article on baby shampoo...

Group finds carcinogens in kids bath products - USATODAY.com

I never did like baby shampoo-felt it was way too harsh-I bought some stuff made by an Amish woman and it was great!

Originally Posted by maranajla

(cont'd)
Speaking of Tom's of Maine~ I heard they and Burt's Bees are no longer just a little home outfit, that they have been bought by a major company. Does/can this mean their good all-natural name is bastardized by the corporation and their all-natural-ness is semantics? I think of Bath and Body Works whose products state 'final product not tested on animals'; it sounds fuzzy and warm and yet who knows what happened when the recipes were being developed. I realize this may not be the perfect example but it was the first that came to my mind.

I find this fascinating, so please keep suggestions and knowledge coming! ..g.:

I LOVE Burt's Bees lip balm! Hope it doesn't change!

When I was a teenager, I used to put crushed rose petals in witch hazel and use that on my face. This thread brings back nice memories when skin care was much simpler!

I would second using olive oil and coconut oil as well to use externally or even include it in your diet.

About once a week, I break open a Vit-A capsule and work it into my skin (at night) with my face cream. Not sure if it actually penetrates deep enough to do any good but it makes me feel better.

I'm going to pick up some more natural stuff next time I am near the natural food store (we only have one sort of nearby) and it's a very small store.

I'm a fan of making your own moisturizer. You can buy various butters for fairly cheap, and mix and match them accordingly.

I made body butter this past Christmas (I'm still trying to come up with the ultimate recipe, but I used olive oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter), and it kept my skin beautiful.

Originally Posted by maranajla

Melanie: Under sodium laureth sulfate, you noted companies will say it is from coconuts but is still a 'bad' chemical ~ does this mean I should not buy anything with it? I just bought Tom's of Maine toothpaste that specifically stated the SLS was from coconut.

(cont'd)

Yes, that is what Aubrey meant by "half-natural" in his intro to the list. Many "natural" brands, like Tom's, Burt's, Nature's Gate, Kiss My Face, etc. contain mostly natural ingredients, but then they contain chemical preservatives, surfactants, or fragrances, etc.
I think Dr. Bronner's is now only half-natural. Bronner died and his family has changed some of the ingredients. His soaps used to be totally natural, now if I'm not mistaken they carry SLS and a few other chemicals. Sucks!

It's hard to buy total and completely natural products, because these chemicals are so pervasive in all products. But it's good to have an awareness of just how much you are being exposed to.

Again, Aubrey Organics is all-natural, all-organic, all the time. I LOVE this company. Here's a bit about the founder, Aubrey Hampton:
He was born on an organic farm in rural Indiana, educated in NYC. Learned to make herbal cosmetics from his mom when he was nine years old. He is a phytochemist and herbalist. He founded Aubrey Organics in 1967, has created over 130 natural hair, skin, and bodycare products, which are internationally recognised as the most natural herbal products available. In 1990 he was awarded the Activist of the Year Award by the Culture and Animals Foundation for his work for animal rights and the environment.

I could go on and on ..g.:.....but here is a link to the website:
Aubrey Organics - Natural Hair Care, Natural Skin Care and Natural Body Care

I got turned on to Aubrey when I was looking for a natural shampoo and I tried his Saponin shampoo for my oily hair, and can I just tell you, it was like night and day. People literally were saying: "What did you do to your hair?! It looks fabulous!" I'm not joking, it could've been an Aubrey commercial, with me turning to the camera and saying, "Why, I've just started using Aubrey Organics Saponin shampoo and his Rosemary Rinse!"
hehe.

I've been hooked since 1995!

Kharis and indigostars:

Care to share your secrets? Or even just a hint? ..g.:

Melanie: Thank you again, you are a fount of knowledge! I will look at Aubrey my next trip to Whole Foods; it is odd, but as small as their beauty section is, I am still overwhelmed by the options.

Re: coconut oil~ I've been trying to use it for the past month topically and I am unable to find the proper amount to moisturize yet not be greasy. I like how my already soft skin (tummy, etc) feels with the coconut oil but the parts that need the moisture the most, like my arms and legs, are still sorely lacking. :(

Originally Posted by maranajla

Kharis and indigostars:

Care to share your secrets? Or even just a hint? ..g.:

I use two base creams. Aqueous cream BP and Vitamin E and A cream from Sallys. I add to that Essential oils of Elemi, Frankincense, Sandalwood and several others that are anti aging and moisturising. I also add to the mix Starflower oil, Evening primrose oil and other oils depending on what I want from the cream. Any good Aromatherapy book will provide recipes.

This is my favorite company for natural skincare....it is
Fairtrade as well....double bonus!! Shea Butter Face Care - Default Store View

Their company is based on unrefined shea butter, which is collected and made by hand....the outcome is a yellow butter (instead of refined to white) which is full of the vitamins. Supposedly the white shea butter is super refined using machinery and petroleum based products to extract the oils faster.....also, the women in the tribe collect (wildcraft) the shea nuts in the wild and carry them back to their village on their heads in baskets so no gasoline is used in the process, no pesticides since they are wild and not cutivated plantations, etc AND the village receives $$ back from selling the unrefined shea instead of a middle man ripping them off!! win win, we get an amazing product full of vitamins that was crafted by hand and they recieve fair paymnent....also, the company donates (maybe 10%) back to the tribe.....excellent relationship!! I love supporting them!

What about Cetaphyl? I don't know if there are any synthetics but I know it is recommended by dermatologists. I use a real small amount because my skin tends to break out but it seems to work with Cetaphyl.

Originally Posted by Fotia

What about Cetaphyl? I don't know if there are any synthetics but I know it is recommended by dermatologists. I use a real small amount because my skin tends to break out but it seems to work with Cetaphyl.

I know this one gets recommended a lot, I didn't have any luck with it, but here are the ingredients for the cleanser:

Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Stearyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben.

So yes, there are synthetics in it.