Many of you are making strides in your efforts to replace chemical-laden products in your bathroom with more health- and eco-conscious versions. For a couple of years now I’ve been fielding questions from readers about the different products I use for my skin, hair, teeth, and so forth. I love sharing my routine with people who are looking for good organic products, and I’ve discovered that Jenni and Ted share that passion as well. So, below is a collective list of the stuff we’re all currently using on our skin and in our hair. We’re not all perfect, as you can tell by reading the Conventional Confessions, so we’ve put it all out there for you to see. We’ll keep making adjustments as we try new things and replace more conventional products in our showers and medicine cabinets, but for now, here’s what we’re all using:
FACE WASH
KERRY: Pangea Organics Facial Cleanser.
JENNI: Burt’s Bees Orange Essence facial cleanser.
TED: I just use water or Dr. Bronner’s lavender liquid soap.
FACE LOTION/CREAM
KERRY: I use Pangea’s Mandarin & Rose Facial Cream in the morning, and a mixture of coconut oil (Jungle Products) and shea butter (Alaffia) at night.
JENNI: Tropical Traditions Unscented moisturizing lotion or Pangea Organics Italian Red Mandarin w/Roses facial cream. I like to use Burt’s Bees Repair Serum around my eyes, mouth, etc.
TED: Pangea Chilean Red Clover lotion, Organic Apoteke Citrus body oil, or coconut oil from Jungle Products.
FACE MASK
KERRY: I don’t usually use masks, though sometimes I leave a thick layer of Jungle Products Red Palm oil on my skin for an hour or so.
JENNI: I don’t use one enough, but I love Burt’s Bees Pore Refining mask.
TED: Nope.
DEODORANT
KERRY: Aubrey Organics Men’s Stock Herbal Pine deodorant (though I do admit to occasionally reverting to using Dove, for shame).
JENNI: Tropical Traditions organic roll-on in frankincense (around the house or exercising), or Almay fragrance-free clear gel (for nicer situations where I’d prefer not to have sweat rings).
TED: Aubrey Organic Men’s Stock Herbal Pine deodorant.
SHAVING CREAM
KERRY: Alba Botanica Sea Mist Foam Shave.
JENNI: Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel.
TED: Aubrey Organics Men’s Stock North Woods Shave Cream.
SOAP/BODYWASH
KERRY: Juniper Ridge California Bay Laurel soap.
JENNI: Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap in tea tree oil or almond.
TED: Juniper Ridge Coastal Sage soap.
TOOTHPASTE
KERRY: Uncle Harry’s children’s toothpaste.
JENNI: Spry fluoride-free w/xylitol and aloe. I also use Young Living Thieves mouthwash.
TED: Dessert Essence Tea Tree toothpaste.
AFTERSHAVE
KERRY: I don’t use aftershave, but I do always use Jungle Products Coconut Oil on my legs post-shave.
JENNI: N/A.
TED: Jungle Products Coconut Oil.
SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER
KERRY: Aubrey’s GPB shampoo and Honeysuckle Rose conditioner.
JENNI: I alternate between Avalon Organics Biotin B-complex shampoo and ShiKai volumizing shampoo. I use Avalon Organics tea tree conditioner.
TED: Aubrey Men’s Stock Ginseng Biotin, no conditioner.
STYLING PRODUCT FOR HAIR
KERRY: Sadly, I still use Kiehl’s Styling Cream with Silk Groom.
JENNI: After I use lotion on my hands, I gently smooth down hair frizz.
TED: Nada.
ANYTHING ELSE?
KERRY: For cooking burns I apply Jungle Products Red Palm oil, and I also love Boiron’s Arnicare Gel for injuries and sore spots.
JENNI: I love Tropical Traditions Baby Silk moisturizing lotion for all-over body use. It makes my skin very soft and I love the scent (a combination of essential oils). I also use Burt’s Bees Citrus facial scrub 1-2 times per week. Oh - Pangea Organics Rosemary w/Sweet Orange facial toner is amazing - it smells SO GOOD.
TED: Sometimes I use Shea butter from Alaffia when I can steal it off of Kerry’s nightstand. I also use Boiron Arnicare Gel after traveling.
Now it’s your turn: What do you use for the above? Email us or leave a comment!
17 responses so far ↓
1 Christine // May 28, 2008 at 11:20 am
Oh, this is fun! This really helped me to see some other options. Great idea, Scoop staff!
I have to say that I love the SKIN by Ann Webb skin care line at Whole Foods. LOVE IT.
Face Wash: SKIN by Anne Webb Lemon Cream cleanser with SKIN Lavender Silk powder granules mixed in to form a scrub.
Face Lotion: (daytime) SKIN by Ann Webb Pomegranate Protection shade booster. (night) SKIN by Ann Webb Acai youth preserver
Face Mask: It’s cheap but good - Queen Helene Mint Julep mask
Deodorant: Sadly, I use Ban. BUT I’ve tried EVERY single natural deodorant and I’m still smelly! At least Ban has less chemicals than most others.
Shaving cream: N/A - I just use body wash…
Soap/bodywash: Sometimes JASON, sometimes Alba Organics. I am not really loyal to one kind.
Toothpaste: Desert Essence Tea Tree or Back to Nature
Aftershave: N/A
Shampoo/cond: This is a tough one, because I’ve tried SO MANY organic ones only for my hair to be gross and limp after a few washes. My hair is very curly and can look frizzy if I don’t use the right products. I’m currently trying Organix Coconut Oil Shampoo & Conditioner. LOVE the conditioner. I was sad to find out the shampoo has DEA in it, so I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do about that. And they both have fragrance. UGH.
Styling product for hair: Again, sadly, I use conventional. I can’t skimp on this part unless I want to look like Annie. Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Curl Creme for curly days, and Kerastase for straight days.
Anything else: I love Desert Essence Tea Tree facial cleansing pads.
2 Christine // May 28, 2008 at 11:21 am
PS. For cosmetics, I’m loving I.D. Bare Minerals lately.
3 Kerry // May 28, 2008 at 11:22 am
You’re in luck, there’s a cosmetics post going up tomorrow!
4 Johnny // May 28, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Lavender Dr. Bronner’s?!?! Butch up, Sally! Use the peppermint and embrace the burn.
5 Ted // May 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm
The burn…love it. I thought this post was about ideal situations. Usually I end up shaving with the Neutrogena bar soap at the hotel. Talk about burn.
PS - I showered once with non dillited peppermint bronner’s. That is not fun.
6 Jenni // May 28, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Sorry, Ted….
I love the looks of Alaffia - I’m gonna check ‘em out!
7 Jody // May 29, 2008 at 5:49 am
This IS fun, I’ve gotten some good ideas, too.
-Face Wash: I usually just use a hot washcloth. Occassionally I will mix up oatmeal, brewer’s yeast (crush tablets to a powder), wheat germ, a little honey and water and scrub up my face with it. Glorious.
-Face Cream: Miessence Purifying moisturizer. I love this stuff.
-Scrub: Miessence Garnet Scrub. Very mild, bergamot scented, and uses alluvial garnet as the scrubbing agent.
-Deodorant: Still using Degree. I haven’t moved on to deodorant yet in my Grand Switchover to natural products.
-Soap/Bodywash: I’m moving towards bar soap lately, and I have such a big stash that I think I’ll die of old age before I use them all. My latest purchase was a Hugo bar that smells like a creamsicle.
-Toothpaste: Miessence Anise toothpaste. This is a salt and baking soda toothpaste, it takes a while to get used to after sweet toothpastes.
-Shampoo/Conditioner: I’m using Hugo Lemon Myrtle right now and love it. I’ve tried about a dozen different natural shampoos and they have all stopped working after about 2 weeks, leaving my hair feeling greasy even after washing. I also like Chagrin Valley shampoo bar soaps, and use their Honey Butter bar as a conditioner occasionally.
-Styling products, Aftershave, Shaving Cream: I don’t use any of these right now.
Other: I also purchased Chagrin Valley dog shampoo bar for my little guy and it works beautifully for his dry skin.
8 Michelle // May 29, 2008 at 5:52 am
Thanks for the post! I am new to this site (I got here from Christine’s blog which I got to via a link on my friend Stephanie’s blog) and have enjoyed seeing all the great advice. I am also new to trying to go natural and it’s hard to find the right products. It takes so much time, effort and money(!!) to try so many different things.
9 Fig+Sage // May 29, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I’ll join in! This is fun as I love to discover truly pure skincare! It’s one of my favorite things & it’s neat to see what you’re using too
xo, S
Here’s what I’m using right now:
Cleanser: Suki Lemongrass Cleanser
Toner: Suki White Willow Toner
Serum: Suki Blue Chamomile Serum
Moisturizer: Benedetta Visibly Radiant Moisturizer
Mask: Bee Yummy Facelift Mask
Lips: Pangea Lip Balm-Fennel w/ Grapefruit & Sweet Orange
Deodorant: Lafe’s Natural & Organic Tea Tree Roll-on (although I’m still searching for the best)
Shaving/Soap/Body Wash: Trillium Organics Body Polish & Juniper Ridge Coastal Sage soap bar.
Toothpaste: At the moment Trader Joes’s Peppermint Toothpaste (but still on the lookout for a better one)
Shampoo/Conditioner: John Masters Zinc & Sage
Styling Products: Same as Jenni, after I use lotion on my hands (or balm or oil), I smooth down hair frizz.
Other: Pangea Body Lotion, French Chamomile w/ Sweet Orange & Lavender
10 Katie // May 30, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Thanks for sharing! Here are most of my staples:
- Cleanser: Pangea Organics/Suki Lemongrass
- Toner: Pangea Sweet Lime with Green Mandarin
- Moisturizer: Suki Complexion brightening cream in am, Suki Carrot and Sandalwood serum at night,
- Mask: Pangea Organics
- Deodorant: Herbal Magic (jasmine) or Lafe’s w/aloe
- Shower gel: Hugo Naturals (Lavendar)
- Toothpaste: Tom’s of Maine whole care (mint)
- Shampoo: Aveda Shampure
- Conditioner: Giovanni Smooth as silk conditioner (also really liked John Masters peppermint detangler, but it’s expensive)
-Other: Hugo Naturals Shea Butter and Oatmeal lotion, Hugo’s Egyptian Fennel scrub
11 Kerry // Jun 2, 2008 at 9:07 am
Ooh, I almost forgot about my winter favorite, Suki Lemongrass Cleanser. Thanks, Stancie!
12 Fig+Sage // Jun 2, 2008 at 11:21 am
No problem Kerry! I can’t live without my Suki
So glad you like it too. ~Stancie
13 Christine // Jun 2, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I’m excited to try Suki after so many of you have raved about it!
14 emma // Jun 2, 2008 at 2:54 pm
why “sadly” about the kiehl’s silk groom? I still use it. I haven’t checked it out on the ewg skindeep data base though. mainly due to denial.
silk groom is the only thing that works on my hair.
15 Kerry // Jun 2, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Hi Emma- Here’s a previous post about my use of Kiehl’s, and why it’s not so great. The post doesn’t go into individual ingredients, but the label speaks for itself: methylparaben, propylparaben, phenoxyethanol (which results in 1,4-Dioxane), and a number of other chemicals place this product well below good sustainability standards. But… it really works. I know. That’s why I keep using it! (I’m going to try Alba’s styling creme and report back about how it works in the next couple of weeks — stay tuned.)
16 emma // Jun 3, 2008 at 3:30 am
Kerry, thanks for your response. I read the previous post and now I’m conflicted too. I just bought a small bottle of silk groom after trying to wean myself off of it for several months. It seems to be the only thing that tames my ‘fro.
I’ll be interested to see what you think of the Alba creme.
17 Erin Ely // Jun 16, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Facial Routine, but I don’t do it every day, usually like every other day.
Miessence certified organic Rejuvenating skin care line
Rejuvenating Cleanser, Probiotic Skin Brightener, Rejuvenating Conditioner, Ambrosia Essence, Rejuvenating Moisturizer, Rejuvenating Facial Serum
Mask: Miessence Rejuvenating Mask
Shampoo: Miessence Dessert Flower Shampoo
Conditioner: Miessence Herbal Shine Conditioner
Toothpaste: Miesence Mint Toothpaste
Bodywash: Miessence Sunflower Body Wash
Deodorant: Miessence Ancient Spice Deodorant
Lotion: Miessence Intensive Body Cream
Lips: Miessence jaffa lip balm
Handsoap: Miessence Lemon Myrtle hand soap
I’m a certified organic fanatic, so that’s why I use all Miessence products, and I also sell them so I am somewhat biased I admit that.
Did not see any other products listed that are certified organic in anyone else’s posts so figured I would add my routine.
Regards,
Erin
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