chemicals. Olive and sunflower oils are suitable for almost every skin, while avocado and wheat
germ oil offer additional nutrition and protection. Sage, geranium, rosemary, and gentle citrus oils,
such as mandarin or bergamot, can be added. Read the labels carefully and ask for a complete list of
ingredients if you are unsure.
Organic plant soaps are based on saponified organic olive, jojoba, or hemp seed oils, and
sometimes contain crushed fruit kernels, seaweed, and oatmeal for exfoliation. Foaming gels or milky
cleansers are usually formulated with foaming agents derived from coconut oil, lauric acid, and plant
sugars. Such ingredients include cocamidopropyl betaine, cocoglucoside, lauryl lysine or sarcosine,
decyl glucoside, and glycolipids. Cleansers may also contain emulsifiers derived from coconut
(cocoglycerides), vegetable glycerin (glyceryl linoleate), and a few plant-based antimicrobial agents
to preserve the product, such as amino acids, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, plant-derived
potassium sorbate, citric acid, and grapefruit seed oil.
“Soap is my number-one beauty secret,” says Debra Lynn Dadd. “I use lots of different handmade
soaps to cleanse my face and my body. I can spend five or six dollars on a bar of soap. Some people
would think this is outrageous! These are not perfumed soaps. They don’t have anything toxic in them,
just wholesome, pure ingredients like chocolate and fragrances like lavender—it’s really
good!”When traveling, Debra buys unusual, exotic soaps in bulk and savors them as some may savor
wine or perfume.
We already know that choosing skin care products based on your skin type is very outdated.
Instead, look for ingredients that are helpful for your current skin condition. If your skin feels
congested and you have noticed tiny little bumps on the cheeks and blackheads around the T-zone
area, you can benefit from soaps containing green and white clays. As a double-cleansing technique,
use a soap or lightweight oil first, and follow it with a clay-based cleanser, which will absorb the
remaining oil as well as dark matter clogging your pores.
If you have noticed a few breakouts, use olive oil or glycerin soap followed by liquid cleanser
formulated with lavender, tea tree, geranium, or chamomile oil. In the morning, use a foaming
cleanser with essential oils or baby soap formulated with calendula, chamomile, lavender, or
geranium plant extracts.
Green Tip
Avoid using peppermint, balm mint, wintergreen, or any other “minty” ingredients that smell and feel refreshing but
can burn and sting. These extracts are better for deodorizing your feet than combatting pimples!
If your skin feels dry, use oil-based balms and milks for double-cleansing or pure plant oils
(avocado, grape seed, virgin olive oils) for a thorough massage before a second cleanse. For an
additional skin cell removal use mild abrasives such as jojoba granules, finely grated seaweed, or
oatmeal.
Sensitive skin needs an extremely gentle approach: you don’t want to go to bed in your makeup, but
you still hate all that itchiness and rashes. This is when baby body washes and baths come in handy.
Use organic baby oil as a first step of your double-cleansing ritual and follow it with an organic baby
body wash. In the morning, freshen up with a drop of foaming organic baby wash. There is no need to
excruciate your skin in the morning.
Virtually all naturally based skin cleansers on the market work quite well, depending on your
skin’s condition, but don’t expect expensive products to be more effective than those bought at the
local health food store. What’s most important is to find green products that you enjoy using and that