Thread: All Natural Moisturizer

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?

My skin tends to break out, and I swear by Aubrey's Vegecol. It's a bit more pricey, though - somewhere between what you have and Dr. Hauschka et al.

If you have a Whole Foods in your neighborhood, they are a great source of soaps and cremes, and if you're willing to spend a bit of time to locate the bargain products, they can be really affordable. I know that one can spend a fortune at WF, but they also have some really good deals on the lower shelves.

Weleda has good moisturizers, like the almond one. And I think it comes in a small size tube as well so you can test it first.

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?

This may be a bit more work then you wanted, but have you tried making your own? There are loads of recipes out there and the raw ingredients aren't hard to find or expensive. I haven't quite found the right recipe yet so I'm experimenting in my kitchen with apricot oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and water - I'm getting close to what I want but I'm not there yet! You can control exactly what goes into it.

Weleda Skin Food
(for me)

I like Collective Wellbeing. I have been using the daily moisturizer with SPF 15 for a while now.

Collective Wellbeing - Home

I've also discovered Garden of Wisdom. Lots of all natural moisturizers, serums, cleaners and stuff. Also a great source of ingredients if you want to make your own stuff. All finished products come in trial sizes:

http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/home.html

I've also gotten a fab natural cold cream makeup remover here:

Natural Bath Products, Natural Beauty Products, Natural Soaps, Health Remedies, Bath Gift Baskets, Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, All Natural Shampoo, Hair Loss Shampoo

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. 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 don't know if you are aware of this, so i wanted to post a list of synthetic cosmetic ingredients.
You say you are trying to make your way toward natural and non-petrol based products. But every ingredient you list for Pond's is synthetic. There are no natural "substitutions" for these chemicals. Your path to natural products is probably going to take time and a bit of money while you find what works for you.

First you have to figure out what kind of skin and hair care you need. If you have dry skin, you need a lot of moisture and not anything like toner. If you have oily skin you need to focus on cleansing and toning, and not as much moisture.

You have to realise that chemical products have knocked your skin out of balance. You skin is "naturally" a certain way(as stated above) and you have to find gentle products that work with your unique chemistry.

"Natural" and "organic" products cost more because you end up using less of the product, so it lasts longer. I cannot stress this enough. People fight paying more for cleansers, but you will SAVE money in the not-so-long run. Just like you should not wash your hair every day, or even every other day, you ideally should do as little as possible to your skin for its optimum health.
All skin experts will tell you to throw half of your products away, because all you ever need is a good cleanser and moisturizer, and if you are super oily, maybe a toner. A mask every few weeks, and maybe some specific product for a specific problem(like wrinkle cream).

Here is a page from one of the oldest and ALL natural and organic U.S. companies, Aubrey Organics. This company uses absolutely NO chemicals ever:

"If you want natural products, you have to be willing to search them out, to learn to read labels, and to refuse to settle for half-natural hair and skin care. Below I've listed and described my "ten most wanted"- the ten chemicals I most want to see off the labels of so-called natural hair and skin care products.


continued...

1. Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea- These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis(American Academy of Dermatology). 2 trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals have a good antifungal, and must be combined w/other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10 degrees. These chemicals are toxic.

2. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Parabens- Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl Paraben combines benzoic acid w/the methyl group of chemicals. Highly toxic.

3. Petrolatum- I see this on lip products, which is humorous to me because they're usually advertised as protecting lips from sunburn, chapping, and so forth. Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil causes a lot of problems when used on the skin-it can produce photosensitivity(ie, promotes sun damage), and it tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. You are being sold a product that creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

4. Propylene Glycol- Ideally this is a vegetable glycerine mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Can cause allergic and toxic reactions.

continued..

5. PVP/VA Copolymer- A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays. Can be toxic.

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate- This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural products with the parenthetic explanation "comes from coconut".

7. Stearalkonium Chloride- A chemical usd in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic.

8. Synthetic Colors- The synthetic colors usd to supposedly make a cosmetic "pretty" should be avoided at all costs, along with hair dyes. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number, ie: FD&C Red No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents.

9. Synthetic Fragrances- The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "Fragrance". Can be toxic and cause allergic reactions.

10. Triethanolamine- Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH, and used w/many fatty acids to convert acid to salt(stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions and can be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

This is an important subject to me(obviously!) Most chemicals are derived from by-products(waste material) from the OIL INDUSTRY(ALL Petroleum derivatives). They use them as bases and fillers because they are cheap and easy, and because there's so much of it, it's a great secondary industry for the massive OIL companies.

i like to use watered down vegetable glycerin , and at night - coconut oil. just a tinnnny bit goes a long way

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?

You can moisturizer your skin from the inside out but taking some sort essential fat acid like Udo's oil or flaxseed oil.

Olive oil is a great moisturizer. Little greasy, yes, but you only use a little bit.

It also makes a great makeup remover!

Its expensive ($29.50 at Sephora) but worth every penny. Korres yogurt cream. Its natural and its made in Greece. It lasts me for about 3-4 months, you don't need a lot. I like all their products their olive oil one is good too.

Alrana

Just this weekend I was reading instructions for making natural moisturizer in my book [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Gladstars-Herbal-Recipes-Vibrant/dp/1603420789/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239941648&sr= 8-1]Amazon.com: Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family: Rosemary Gladstar: Books[/ame]. I adore this book and I LOVE that the author's name is Rosemary (Gladstar). I need to make a trip to the health foods store for some of the ingredients, but I'll report back after I've made and tried it.

norwex.com creates a wonderful day and also a night cream that has NO "junk" in it. It is absolutely the best stuff (and I've tried everything). Use the website to find a consultant near you. It also lasts a VERY long time. Each jar (~$35) should last 4-6 months.

My daily, basic skin care routine:

Homemade cold cream (also great for removing makeup, on the rare occasion that I wear it), followed by a spray of witchhazel water + tea tree essential oil, followed by rose hip oil.

Originally Posted by aasiyah

i like to use watered down vegetable glycerin , and at night - coconut oil. just a tinnnny bit goes a long way

Yes! I use coconut oil too and I love it. It feels really heavy at first, but it seems to quickly absorb and it smells wonderful.

Also, it's done wonders for my toes! They were so dry and beat up and the nails always looked awful! I've been using the coconut oil daily and I see a huge difference.

I also really like the Alba line.

Originally Posted by MelanieLA

I don't know if you are aware of this, so i wanted to post a list of synthetic cosmetic ingredients.
You say you are trying to make your way toward natural and non-petrol based products. But every ingredient you list for Pond's is synthetic. There are no natural "substitutions" for these chemicals. Your path to natural products is probably going to take time and a bit of money while you find what works for you.

Melanie, I think she knows that. That is why she is looking for a substitute. ..g.:

Here is my suggestion:

Unrefined shea butter. It is a solid plant fat known for its moisturizing and healing properties. It smells nutty and sweet to me.

I use it as a body and face moisturizer. For the face, I just take a little bit, rub it between my fingers, and pat it gently onto my faced, adding a little water at the same time. I let it soak in a bit and then if my face is too oily I just blot some off on a towel.

It is cheap too -- For about $20 bucks you can get a 8 oz tub which lasts me 6 months or more, even using it all over the body. A little goes a long way. My skin is very dry.

You can also use it on your hair.

Shea butter is awesome! I usually bring my tub in the shower with me in the morning to soften it up or I put it on the radiatorb before I hop in the tub. An 8oz tub lasts forever!

I know, sorry, I just really wanted to clarify the difference between actual natural and the half-natural stuff!
Sorry about the overwhelming posts!

I thought she was asking for some insight into the ingredients.....I love bringing awareness to the oil industry by-products, and I'm not sure how many of us know about it.

Again, apologise for reiterating the obvious........g.:

Jojoba oil. 2 drops, maybe 3, are all you need for face & neck. It's the closest thing to the skin's natural sebum. I also use some on a cotton swab to remove eyeliner & eye makeup; works wonderfully.

Originally Posted by MelanieLA

I know, sorry, I just really wanted to clarify the difference between actual natural and the half-natural stuff!
Sorry about the overwhelming posts!

I thought she was asking for some insight into the ingredients.....I love bringing awareness to the oil industry by-products, and I'm not sure how many of us know about it.

Again, apologise for reiterating the obvious........g.:

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

My gratitude to everyone~ I very much appreciate all of this information and suggestions.

Steffib, jetgirl, Azhia, mathkitty, mehnidancer, HalaJamal, LeylaFahada: You have all suggested a specific product/company -ie, Weleda, Aubrey etc.- why do you like them above others? Did you try them on a whim or were they suggested to you?

Emma: Where do you buy your ingredients? How long have you been working towards your perfect product?

Aasiyah: Where do you buy vegetable glycerin (Whole Foods?) and in what section?

Hubic: What is Udo's oil? Do you take this/flax oil and if so, how do you personally ingest it? (I've heard different suggestions so am looking for personal testimony.)

Yaalini: I haven't thought of olive oil as an eye make-up remover, thank you! I'm weaning myself off of baby oil and have been desperate for a way to remove my mascara that doesn't leave raccoon eyes in its wake. Is there a brand, clarity you prefer? Virgin, not so much?

Kiyaana: Please do report. I am going to have a look-see at your book suggestion, thank you!

Nat: How do you make your own cold cream? What is the purpose of rose hip oil- moisturizing? (That is what I think when I see oil, but I don't want to assume.) Where is it bought?

bdaddiction: Thank you for these links! On the MACI link, it suggests cedar chips should not be in the home; why is this? Would you mind posting information about the household products as well? That is the next area I'll be sorting.

SSipes: Is shea butter like cocoa butter? (PS: thanks for 'getting' me.) :)

Melanie: Thank you for all of the information! Sedonia was correct in that I realized everything in Pond's is a chemical and that is what I am trying avoid; however, I very much appreciate your passion because it has begat knowledge and that is what I need! :) Thank you for list of items to keep an eye out for; it is so helpful and I will be bringing it with me to the store. I am definitely trying to have patience during the adjustment- natural products don't give as instant a gratification as petrol based (like Burt's Bees lip balm is great but Carmex is more immediately satisfying) but I continue to do my best to those from my home/body. 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)

(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.:

Originally Posted by maranajla

Nat: How do you make your own cold cream? What is the purpose of rose hip oil- moisturizing? (That is what I think when I see oil, but I don't want to assume.) Where is it bought?

The method is a bit detailed - there's a great discussion over on the Long Hair Community website, but I think you have to be a member of the site to see it. The ingredients are distilled water or rose water, beeswax, any oil that's liquid at room temperature (I use a blend of jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, and extra virgin avocado oil), and a pinch of borax. Some people have experimented making the cream without borax if you're unsure about it as an ingredient.

Rose hip oil is moisturising - I find it absorbs very well and leaves my skin very soft and smooth and rosy (no pun intended). It is also supposed to help with wrinkles, scarring, stretch marks and pigment issues.

anything burts bees, shea butter!!

Originally Posted by maranajla

My gratitude to everyone~ I very much appreciate all of this information and suggestions.



Emma: Where do you buy your ingredients? How long have you been working towards your perfect product?

I bought them from Soaposh which is obviously UK based but I'm sure you can find a more local company to buy from. I've only been working on this for a couple of weeks but initial results are promising (i.e. what I'm making looks and feels like moisturiser from a jar!). When I've come up with my final formula I'll be happy to share, but it's really very easy to experiment on your own.

If you don't want to use borax as Nat242 suggested then beeswax has the emulsifying effect you need, but you then won't have a preservative in the mixture and will have to store your product in the fridge and be sure to sterilise your jar. My plan is to make small batches so they'll get used up before they go off.

i get vegetable glycerin from my pharmacy and you can also get it at health food/whole food stores. vegetable glycerin is better, normal glycerin can have animal by products ive read. you can tell because vegetable glycerin is edible whereas normal glycerin will have a warning not to eat it (for external use only). a little goes a long way..and you must water it down a bit when using or else its a bit sticky.

its also good for hair (esp curly hair!) in humidity.
coconut oil you can find in grocery stores (again food grade quality) or whole foods. i get mine at a lebanese grocery.

i also second the suggestion about jojoba oil! i use that sometimes too, although its abit more expensive than coconut oil.

for cleansing, you might also want to check out your local middle eastern grocery stores for olive oil soap. my mom (and I) uses nothing but that for washing her face and she looks about 20 years younger than she really is. im hoping to replicate her results!


for natural aphahydroxy creme : mix yogurt with chianti wine -

for an exfoliating scrub/moisturizer : mix sugar with grapeseed or olive oil

and dont get me started on hair!!!

Originally Posted by maranajla

bdaddiction: Thank you for these links! On the MACI link, it suggests cedar chips should not be in the home; why is this? Would you mind posting information about the household products as well? That is the next area I'll be sorting.

As for the cedar chips, I believe it has to do with the fertilizer they use, but there must be naturalones that don't use fertilizer somewhere. Too funny, I missed that one! And I just put some in my storage room.

Household Products Database - This has a list of every product you buy in the stores, it has everything. It will list each chemical that is in each one. Hope this helps. :)

,r:;