What the Skincare Industry Does NOT Tell you…
Today I am doing a post on natural skincare, which is very important and dear to my heart. Many people do not realize that every single thing you put on your skin is absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
Another thing most people do not realize is that the FDA does not regulate the ingredients in both skincare or makeup products. Basically, manufactures can put a bunch of awful chemicals and toxins in their products, and you would never know. These products are advertised as being life changing, with headlines like: “Get beautiful skin! “Erase fine lines!” “Reduce wrinkles!” “Fight acne!” …And all of this is just marketing ploy to convince uneducated people to invest in products that are potentially dangerous. Most do not read the label on their skincare or makeup products, but if they did, chances are, they would not understand more than half of the ingredients on the label.
Most of the ingredients are unrecognizable, and common skincare products contain sulfates, fragrances, dyes, thickeners, and parabens. For example, the ingredients in Neutrogena’s “Rapid Clear” face wash for acne are “water, cetyl alcohol, petrolatum, zinc lactate, steareth-2, glycerin, potassium cetyl phosphate, acrylates/C-10, alkl acrylate crosspolymer…” The only ingredient I can recognize from that list is water!!! The worst part is, that’s not even everything in the product! I could go on but you guys get the idea. The problem with these products is that they destroy the acid mantle of the skin. The skin on your face is extremely delicate. When the barrier is constantly being broken down by harsh products, the skin will become more susceptible to inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, or hyperpigmentation. This is why it is so so important to be gentle with your skincare routine and cautious about the makeup you wear on a daily basis. All of these reasons is why I choose to invest in the luxury skincare company: Osmia Organics. The products from this company are literally my holy grail, and I will never use anything else. The owner, Dr Sarah Villafranco, used to struggle with a condition called perioral dermatitis, which I have dealt with in the past.
Using these products, combined with other lifestyle changes, has dramatically improved the condition of my skin. My skin is now more radiant, glowing, and doesn’t break out as often. I used to get small dermatitis patches around my mouth and nose, but now they are very minor, and only happen if I’m on my period, or if my diet is poor. In general, combining excellent skincare products with moderate exposure to sunlight, reducing stress, exercise, and eating well has done wonders for my skin, and I think it can help those of you out there who also suffer from skin issues. I know how debilitating they can be because I have been there. It is not the end of the world, and small changes can make a huge difference.
My Simple Skincare Routine
For starters, I do not wash my face in the morning. I only splash some cold water on my face to wake myself up a bit, but that is it. I find that over-washing your face can lead to increased dryness, sensitivity, and breakouts. I have dry skin to begin with, so it is unnecessary for me to wash my face more than once a day. A lot of people think that there is always dirt, or grime on their skin so they constantly wash their face after doing simple activities. Doing this however is quite damaging because the skin is constantly being irritated by cleansers or other products. It is often the best practice to leave your skin alone and leave it be so it can repair properly.
At night, I always be sure to take off my makeup before starting my routine if I’m wearing any. I do not wear makeup everyday, but if I do, I ensure to properly remove it first. I like using oil removing cleansers, such as this one by Vapour Beauty. It contains high quality organic oils like Sunflower, Jojoba and Castor to remove makeup gently. After removing my makeup, I wash with this soap. If I had to pick one product from the Osmia line to use forever, it would be this.
This product is seriously incredible. This is the soap that the owner recommends for people with acne or perioral dermatitis. I used it while I had the condition, and I still use it because it’s so amazing. I wet the soap with warm water, lather it a bit and then apply it all over my face, and rub gently with circular motions. I let it sit for about twenty seconds, and the sensation is slightly tingly. I then remove it with lukewarm water. I do not recommend using burning hot water on your skin because it also damages the acid mantle. I like to end the washing process with a few splashes of cold water because it feels very refreshing.
After washing my face, I dry it slightly, but I leave my skin slightly damp. The Black Clay soap doesn’t leave my skin feeling extremely dry or tight, which is another thing I love about it. The products you apply after washing will absorb better if the skin is still slightly damp. I first apply my Purely Simple Face Cream, another Osmia Product I absolutely adore.
The cream is so light, and smells amazing. It soaks in so easily into the skin and feels great. Since the cream is so light, I do like to add a few drops of jojoba oil onto my face after applying this. Doing this helps keep my skin very moisturized over night, which helps it repair fully.
If I feel like treating my skin, I use a couple drops of this Rose Oil. This oil is so luxurious and smells divine. It contains argan oil, prickly pear oil, rosehip seed oil, and others. Rosehip seed oil combats free radicals, and can improve texture, tone, and pigmentation. It is a very, very expensive product but the quality of it justifies the price. I do not use this every night just because it is so expensive and I want to make sure it lasts a long time, but when I do use it, my skin is visibility brighter and more glowing the next morning. You only need 2-3 drops to see the difference.
Another product I love is the Detox Exfoliating Mask. The mask has pink clay, cacao powder, and raw honey powder. Honey is known for being incredible for the skin because it is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Osmia even sends you a cute little bowl with a wooden spoon to mix the mask for yourself. You just take a few spoonfuls of the mask, which come as a powder, and combine it with some water. You apply this all over your face and let it sit for twenty minutes. This mask exfoliates dead skin and leaves my skin looking so much brighter and healthier. Since it is exfoliating and more harsh, I only use it about 1-2 times per week.
I use this spot treatment on any blemishes I have, and by the next day, the blemish is visibly reduced in both size and color. This treatment contains rosemary extract which is very powerful against acne.
Another thing I really love about Osmia is the integrity of their company and how they try to make a personal connection with every customer. You can tell because they include this little note in each of their packages, saying who it was packaged by and then a little message. This really makes you feel like your not just another customer to Osmia; they genuinely appreciate your business and want you to be happy with the products. I follow the owner, Sarah, on Instagram and she shows through her posts and Instagram stories how exactly they make each product, and I love how transparent she is with every ingredient and step that goes in creating Osmia products. She also has perfect skin, and is in amazing shape, and it’s incredibly inspiring that she not only is a mom, but owns a successful skincare company she started herself!
Overall, I give a Osmia 10/10 rating. I genuinely do not believe that I will ever use anything else on my face.
Other Important Things To Remember
Skincare is not the only component of having a healthy complexion. Diet is also another HUGE factor. Remember, that for many people, dairy can be a huge trigger for skin conditions such as acne. Another trigger for many people is gluten, and more specifically, wheat products. Lastly, I would recommend cutting out heavily processed and packaged foods such as chips, candy, soda, and even “healthy” products like granola bars. By eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole, unprocessed food, your skin will begin to reflect the goodness put into your body. Try to exercise and get active everyday because working out helps detoxify the skin through sweating, and blood circulation produces a healthier complexion. When you wash your face and apply products, remember to be extremely gentle. Never scrub your face or pick at it; this will lead to scarring which can be permanent. Treat your skin like royalty. Your skin protects you from the outside world; it is your barrier. Love it and it will love you back!
Let me know what you think!