For those beginning their natural and organic beauty journey or contemplating the transition, here are our top tips based on our own experience making the switch!
1. Ask yourself why...
Before you even start to make changes to your regime, it's important to really understand why you're wanting to change your current beauty regime. Is it because you want to use fewer synthetic ingredients on your skin, you're wanting to be more sustainable, or because of a particular skin sensitivity (we'd definitely suggest consulting your doctor before making any changes), or you simply just love the natural aromas of organic products. There are countless reasons out there for people choosing to purify their beauty regimes so really ask yourself what it is that you're wanting from this lifestyle shift. Because that's effectively what you'll be undertaking; using natural and organic products is a lifestyle choice.
Once you know why you're making these changes, you'll be able to narrow down what you need to change. This will help you know what to search for when making your first swaps.
If you're not sure where to start, we've written a blog on ethical beauty which might help to get clarity on what your own reasons might be.
2. Be kind to your skin...and the environment
We believe one of the most important things is to not dive in straight away and swap everything. It's wasteful and can wreak havoc on your skin.
We'd advise just swapping one thing at a time. You'll need to give your skin time to detoxify as well as get used to a new product so, as hard as it can be, do try to give your skin a break in between phasing out and introducing something new. Just like conventional products, not everything is going to suit your skin type so by trying just one new product at a time, you'll be able to determine very quickly if it's a match for you or not.
If you've not quite finished a product, don't just throw it away. Some chemical ingredients may not biodegrade and may then cause environmental damage once disposed of. Instead, use your current products up before swapping or gift them to a friend or donate to local shelters and charities.
3. Read the labels...carefully
Don't be swayed by the green packaging, or the words 'contains natural ingredients' stamped on the front of the product, you could be being greenwashed. Get used to deciphering the ingredients lists because they cannot mislead. They'll be listed in the highest concentration to the lowest and in the INCI format (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) which is recognised globally and provides both the scientific or latin name of the ingredient and then in brackets the English equivalent. If you're stuck, we describe every ingredient in the products we stock on our Ingredients page which you can use as a reference guide when shopping for new products.
Here's also a good time to check in with the reasons why you're making the switch as it will help you filter out the right, and the wrong, products for you. Some natural beauty shoppers will be happy with certain approved natural preservatives, purists may want a 100% organic product that is fully certified. Even certified organic brands can contain non organic ingredients like approved preservatives, clays and waxes so whilst many will advise you to only opt for certified organic products, if you want to use only organic ingredients on your skin you might need to look more closely at product labels to verify this is the case. Bear in mind that non organic doesn't necessarily mean bad, clay, for example is a fantastic skincare ingredient. There are different approaches for everyone so know your own reasons and take it from there.
4. Be shopping savvy
We know it can be hard to narrow down your choices so when it comes to figuring out which products you want to swap to, this can also generate a fair amount of waste, plus it can be very time consuming. This is why we started Blomma Beauty so that our customers could have a choice of reputable, tried and tested products without having to spend lots of money on trial and error or hours of ingredient research like we did!
Shop from places that will be able to advise you on which products might be right for you, particularly somewhere that will be impartial and specialises in natural products. We also recommend sampling as many products as possible whether that's in store or during a treatment, via a sample service like ours or through an online or in person consultation. Why not try our Skincare Switch service which is a one to one consultation where we unpack your existing routine and make suggestions on natural alternatives.
5. Don't be hard on yourself
Can't bear the thought of a natural deodorant, or hate the lack of lather in a sulphate free shampoo? Then don't swap it!
Beauty regimes are not just about cleansing the body or fighting the signs of ageing, they make you feel good about yourself. So it's important not to be scared into thinking that you'll be damaging your body forever if you don't completely overhaul your lifestyle or finding it unbearable using a particular product but you persist. Even just making one swap will still be reducing the number of synthetics you and the environment are exposed to on a daily basis which is a positive thing.
And lastly, be patient. It's about finding the right products for you and waiting for the results to appear, and that can take time.