Minimalist Approach to Beauty Products

Idea

My husband asked me to write an article for www.ideas-smart.com because he knows that I like writing. He even suggested several areas and I have made my choice. This time I will write a story about how I gradually started to use natural and organic cosmetics, how I reduced the number of beauty products to minimum so that they occupy little space in my bathroom and in my suitcase when I travel while fulfilling my needs equally or even better than my previous arsenal.

My first step was that I started to use “healthier” cosmetics from Yves Rocher. In parallel, I read various articles (randomly or targeted), which took me further step by step. My sister Juliana in Vancouver, Canada did the same. There are more possibilities in Canada than here in the Netherlands. So she fed me with more information and supplied beauty products, which she had tested.

I stopped using cosmetics from Yves Rocher, which is in my opinion still one of the best among the innumerable brands on the market because it contains very little preservatives and harmful substances. I started to test various brands, which had one thing in common - they were 100% natural and organic.

So after some experimenting and testing, I ended up having a lotion for make-up removal, soap for washing my face and of course a face cream. Furthermore, I had a body gel, shampoo, conditioner and a body cream after showering because my skin is rather dry (including hands). I am not going to elaborate on make-up here. This is another category. These days also my make-up products are absolutely natural.

Not so long ago, I visited my favorite shop with cosmetics Lavendula in Amsterdam. I buy there slightly more expensive cosmetics from Dr. Hauschka (read more about Rudolf Hauschka). While talking to the salesperson I realized that it is enough to use lotion for make-up removal and the face cream. She showed me a sponge for make-up removal. It is enough to moisturize this sponge and put on the lotion. So now I use the soap only sporadically, when I feel like it. BTW: the soap can be replaced by shower gel. Occasionally, I also put on a face mask.

I use organic coconut oil as a body cream after showering. At room temperature, the oil has about the same consistency as butter. It is semi-solid and starts melting when exposed to body temperature. This oil can be also used for cooking and frying. Sometime ago, I have read that we should rub on our skin only with what can be eaten. I like this theory. If we cannot eat something because of its chemical characteristics we should not smear it on our skin and let it absorb. This oil can be also smeared on the face. I have greasy skin on my face and therefore I do not use it, only for around my eyes before I go to sleep. Skin is one of the largest organs of our bodies and it deserves our attention and good treatment.

So here is the summary of seven cosmetic products I currently use:

• lotion for removal of make-up and other impurities (before I go to bed)
• face cream
• organic coconut oil as a body cream (can be used for face as well)
• face mask
• shampoo and conditioner
• shower gel (can be used for face as well)

Next thing I am really eager to evaluate is an essential oil soap. It can be used can be used to wash the whole body, face and hair. If I like it and find it useful, my arsenal of beauty products will be reduced to five. The efficiency will be the same or higher, and without any harmful additives.

And what to add at the end? Not everyone will find the above mentioned products suitable. Not everyone will like to minimize the number of their cosmetic products. There are also many, which do not identify themselves with the idea of natural and organic products. The market is saturated with products, which seem seductive. Everyone has to make own choices. Perhaps this article appeals to you and perhaps not. I hope you will at least think about it or even try some of the products I mention here. In any case I wish everyone all the best. I believe you will make the right choices guided by your feelings.

One last remark. Whatever we use to beautify and nurture our bodies, the real beauty radiates mainly from inside.