I realize I may be leaving myself open to a lot of debate with this topic, but it’s been on my mind for a while so I just had to post something.
There’s no doubt, absolutely no doubt at all that natural skin care products are better for you, your body and your skin. But do they work as well as cosmetic products?
Among the many things that I have to thank my mother for, one of them is a learned awareness of chemicals in foods and body products, and how they really should be avoided as much as possible. My mother caught onto all of this when my sisters and I were still quite young, so we grew up in a household full of whole foods and natural products.
My mum had read in the paper that chemicals in foods were really bad for you, so she cut out and laminated the then small list of artificial chemicals listed in the paper, and carried it in her handbag every time she went to the grocery store. I am forever grateful to my mother for doing this, and love how I now do the same, but with my more extended handbag sized ‘The Chemical Maze’.
My point is, I’ve been avoiding chemicals for many years …and my avoidance of chemicals in foods transferred to an avoidance of chemicals in my moisturizer, then cleanser, shampoo, deodorant, makeup and eventually toothpaste. I was so proud of the fact that not a chemical would pass my lips or sit on my skin. I hunted for new beauty products in health stores and on mail order catalogues made out of unbleached recycled paper. Everything was wholesome and ethical and it all just felt so right. I was known among my friends and family to be very disciplined when it came to the products I used, and they even came to me for advice on natural product recommendations.
That is, until the day my skin decided to throw a hissy fit and I got acne.
So I tried for a full year to treat my skin using natural products and following a holistic routine. And I have to say I was quite successful with it. I cleared up my skin within a few months by 95%, and got most of the redness and irritation to go away. Really, I should have been happy with that, but I wanted perfection. Unfortunately it was clearing up that last 5% that really got to me, and made me eventually move into the dark side of skin care - cosmetic products.
I am really sad to announce, that my cosmetic and comedonal acne have only cleared up because I started using cosmetic products. Do I think they’re better? Well no, not really. I think they are better at clearing up screwed-up clogged-up pores, and persistent comedonal acne, but I don’t think they’re better as a whole.
Natural skin care products will always be more nourishing to the skin, and there is never a danger of them from stuffing up something else in your body …like they won’t travel into your thyroid or your glands or anything. But in my opinion, sometimes they just don’t work as well as cosmetic products for certain skin care jobs, like refining pores and purging comedonal acne - if that’s what you need.
One day, if I happen to a have a zillion dollars …I promise you I will develop my very own natural skin care line that can do all of that purging and refining pores stuff. A miracle product that not only is 100% organic, but is also guaranteed to not clog your pores.
So what do we do about all of this for now? Well, sadly I’ve switched to cosmetic products for the short term, but I’m looking forward to easing back into using natural products soon. If you’re like me and you’ve been using natural products for a long time, the feel of cosmetics on the face is not that great. The chemical smell is always strong, they’re often not as hydrating, and somehow I just know it’s wrong. So perhaps it’s okay to step over into the dark side every now and again, knowing that we’ll be back soon enough.
I know there are many of you out there that have had a lot of luck sticking with your natural products. If you’re one of those people, I’d love to hear from you along with what products you’re using. Soon I’ll be looking for a new natural product line to choose so I’ll be after your feedback on what’s worked best for you. Now that I’m living in Canada, Miessence is no longer as accessible either so I’d love to try something local to Canada or America.
I’d like to finish this post off by listing what I’m currently using. I’d also like to start a thread in the High on Health forum which lists what products I’m using, and hopefully I’ll keep this list updated for you. I would also LOVE it if you could add a posting that lists what you’re using too, because it’s nice to see what others are using and what’s worked well for you.
So here are the products I’m currently using, and have been working really well. I only have two very small spots at the moment, and they’re brought on from PMT.
Morning
- Cleanse with Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple
- Moisturize with Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream
Evening
- Cleanse with Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple
- Moisturize with Dove Energy Glow Brightening Night Cream
- Every ‘other day’ apply Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel
And here is the post to the thread about it in the forum.
Thanks for reading,
Fran
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
25 responses ↓
It makes me sort of sad that you have given up on the holistic skin care routine… Although I am glad you have finally reached the goal of clearing your acne. I have found a great moisturizer that claims to only use organic products. It is called Weleda skin food moisturizer (I found it on makeupalley.com). I am also starting to use my paula’s choice 2% BHA as soon as I am done with the acne free in 3 days diet. Hopefully my skin will be fabulous as well… My hormonal acne had been really getting me down lately.
Yeah it is kinda sad, and for some reason I feel really guilty about it which is so weird. I’m going to go back to natural products soon though, since my pores are finally getting back to how they used to be before I abused them and totally clogged them up.
Weleda actually was one I was thinking of trying! They’re super expensive but all the products I’ve tried so far have been such good quality. I’ve used their lip balm religiously for years (I’m yet to find a better one) and I just bought the mens face moisturizer for my friend, and he loves it.
Don’t feel bad Fran. There’s a place for chemicals. As a person with bad skin, I go through rough patches when my skin just does not respond to my regular routine and I reserve the right to occasionally get a bottle or tube of something that will clear it up.
Hey Fran,
I love all the the info you have provided on your website. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences to help others. You just seem like such a kind hearted person and it’s great to read all your info.
I was wondering if you hade ever tried Dr. Hauschka’s holistic line of skin care or have any info on it. It emphasizes not using a night cream because that is when the skin is supposed to “breathe” and release toxins overnight. Anyways I just bought a sample kit of their products recently and thought I would give it a try. It seems very gentle and soothing. Oh well thanks for everything and I check out your website all the time!
Fran, Miessence is available to Canada. At least, if you get it from their website. So, there still is that option for you!
As for the “dark side”, well I have been there my entire life and I am thinking of finally going to the light side with the aforementioned Miessence which luckily ships to the U.S. too. Hopefully, it will be enough to get me to where I want but like you, if need be I will venture back to the “dark side” to get me over the hump. Course, this time I will choose much better products in that area, probably going with the products you use because if its helpful to you then I know it can help me.
Right now I’m using Burt’s Bees products. It’s not 100% natural, but I don’t think there is anything in them that is dangerous. I’m using the soap bark and chammomile cleansing cream and I use the peah and willowbark deep pore scrub once a week and have yet to see them cause breakouts. I seem to get breakouts during THAT time of month and it lasts for a week and then I’m left with red marks on my face, but otherwise I’m satisfied with these products. They haven’t made me break out, I guess I can’t ask for more at the moment….
I’m not sure whether they ship to Australia but i found a moisturiser from here http://www.pureessentials.co.nz and it is fantastic, and does not break me out. You can email her and i’m sure she will reccomend some things for you! You can also order trial sizes of products incase they are not right for you.
HI Fran! Okay I don’t know if its just me but whenever I would use stuff from health food stores my skin would just get the worst even when I would use the baby line. I don’t know if it is really just me or I just picked the wrong products but I doubt its me. So back to chemicals. I guess my skin just likes chemicals. So now I wash morning and night with Johnsons baby head to toe wash then moisturize with eurcerin calming creme its amazing! Its rich and thick but not really thick and it goes on matte. amazing huh? and neutrogena dry touch spf 85. Also I think I’m a product junkie but I am really tempted to try nivea creme I have read some really good reviews on M.U.A. but the one from europe not the us one.
Julia & Rachael- thanks so much for the product recommendations! I’m definitely going to look into both of them.
Zack- I’m a product junkie too
I have to hold myself back when something is working and MAKE myself stick to it. That’s interesting that none of the natural products work for you. Maybe you have a sensitivity to a lot of oils.
Fran,
I have found a 48-hr anti-perspirant and odor protectant that works better than anything I’ve ever tried, way better. It is by Adidas and it is called Intensive. What I’m getting at is that I did try your baking soad deodorant a while back when you suggested that. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that it works really great and the active ingedient is :
Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly 20%
it sounds like a scary chemical but it was made by human beings for our good
Hi Andy,
Yeah I won’t be using antiperspirant deodorants, because they block the pores under the arms which is essential for releasing toxins. It’s actually dangerous to block the pores in this area, and after using natural deodorants for years …I used an antiperspirant once and it actually made my underarms ache and I had to wash it off!
Hi Kat, let me know how the Dr. Hauschka’s goes please! That’s one brand that I’ve had my eye on, and I read the other day how they recommend you don’t use a night cream which I thought was very interesting. The only thing holding me back is the amount of oils that are in it. But I’m going to check them all up to see their comedogenality and then make a decision
Hi Fran, thanks for the honesty. I think your switch from natural to chemical just shows you are human like the rest of us! I’ve had acne all my life and am now approaching 40 ;-( In that time I’m absolutely certain I’ve tried more products than I’ve had birthdays. Lately I’ve been trying your recommendations: ie. Miessence cleanser and that moisturiser with eucalyptus oil in it (I’ve forgotten the name). I love both, but now one month on my acne is still the same as it ever was. I have about 6 spots on my face with various degrees of redness. Not life threatening I know , but it does get a little depressing that I always seem to have these breakouts most weeks of my life. I have a sneaking suspicion that although I love how the products feel & smell, the Miessence cleanser isn’t that great at getting my foundation off & the moisturiser makes for a great neck & decolletage cream, but it just seems to feed my blackheads and enlarged pores. Anyway I’m going to try some of the Paula’s choice products next - cleanser, moisturiser and AHA for some sun damage around my nose and for the old acne scars. How’s that for a radical switch. I’ll let y’all know how it goes.
I tried natural products for almost a year and they have just not worked to stop my acne. I think maybe the natural oils are not good for acne, at least in my case, in the long run. And you can’t really find a natural product without natural oils - the soaps, creams, etc. are all based in natural oils.
Anyway, just a week ago I started using Neutrogena’s Acne Stress control products and my skin has been clearer every day! I am happy this seems to be working, but I will feel really silly if this ends up being my miracle product when I have ordered so many obscure natural brands online for the past year and Neutrogena is just a few minutes away at the drugstore!
I do still use my Garden of Wisdom natural SA gel and Kiss My Face botanical acne gel on occasion though.
Hey Fran,
Just an update about the Dr. Hauschka’s line of skin care. I bought the sample kit for dry/sensitive skin and have used it for about 3 weeks now. It hasn’t broken me out at all but the moisturizers are quite oily feeling on the skin. They feel pretty soothing and you have kinda have to use them sparingly because of the oil content but I don’t like the cleansers as well. I found that they didn’t quite remove all of my makeup at the end of the day. So I may use the cleanser when I haven’t worn any makeup that day but have to use a diff. cleanser if I’ve worn makeup to completely remove it.
I probably wouldn’t recommend it for those with very oily skin though because the moisturizing creams are a little heavy. I’m 28 and have combo skin. Oh well hope this maybe helps a little- and I absolutely love your website!
Thanks for the review Kat! It sounds like Dr. Hauschka’s products are like most natural products, packed full of healing oils but still …oils so I’m scared of using it. I might look the oils up to see if they’re comedognic, because if they’re not then the oils is safe. It’s promising though that it hasn’t broken you out after 3 weeks
I can’t wait for that amazing natural skin care line!
i tried purity and it actually didn’t help my skin at all.
Paulas Choice just made me oily.
Im in a bit of a skin care limbo
trying a mildly scrubby clean and clear exfoliant which has worked well for friends acne, and im using a new product line for teenage skin with 95% natural ingredients called Amie as my moisutizer. Hopefully this simplicity will pay off, as i have differin and a zinc/clynamycin cream in their boxes.
Differin didnt do much for me, and the zinc/clinda gel ive been reluctant from, but ive decided to give it a go on my neck acne and see if theres improvement or not
Hey Fran! Thank you for putting up such a useful site and youtube vids - they really give me hope. I just joined your minicourse, simply cannot wait for my first newsletter XD. I’ve had acne for 8 years now and i’ve tried a lot of stuff too (proactiv, accutane, etc.) but they never worked longterm, now i’m just getting facials weekly. My facialist said that facials are the answer - she cleans my face by popping all my pimples and squeezing it outta me (the most painful ever). What do you think of facials? Do you think they’re a good idea?
Hi Renee, I think facials are great but I don’t like the idea of her popping and squeezing your pimples. This can cause permenant scarring and it can ’seed the blood’ and create more acne by pushing the bacteria back into the skin (think of a pipe, it has to go both ways).
My sister suffered from severe acne when she was a teeanger, she also went to these kind of facials. She was telling me the other day that she regrets going, because it was painful and did nothing for her skin.
On the other hand, I think gentle facials can be good.
I’m currently testing Paula’s choise BHA lotion (which is too heavy for my taste) and gel as samlpes. The tutorial says to use it after a toner and before a moisturizer, but I wonder I if doesn’t that spoil the effect.
How do you use it, Fran? Since you seem to have good results with this product.
Well I haven’t had a facial in around 3 weeks. And i’m just having medium sized break outs, except for this one giant pimple I have on my cheek (HURTS) and I’m a bit worried. Because I’ve been told by my facialist that pimples don’t go away, they just go back under your skin. So you have to remove them by popping them. Is that true? I’ve also seen a tramatizing YouTube video ( http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=GLxuJJYaHy0&feature=related ) with a guy popping a zit (I suppose) and there’s so much sebum in there even though you don’t see any redness or bumps on his skin and my gigantic pimple is red and 3D. Doesn’t it need to be popped to remove the sebum? If it’s not a good idea to pop your pimples, when they finally ‘disappear’ where does the sebum go? Does it just stay under your skin?
How do you get rid of the red marks that pimples leave after they go away?
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Nico- This review will help:
http://www.highonhealth.org/product-review-paulas-choice-2-beta-hydroxy-acid-gel/
Renee- That’s one crazy facialist that you go to. If every single pimple that I’ve ever had that wasn’t popped was still there, I’d have a ton of pimples under my skin! This is so not true. Especially with cystic acne which you can’t even pop! Unless you try really, really hard but it will just end in a scar, seriously.
I don’t care where the sebum goes, probably dissolves, or comes out in my sleep or something. I just know that it eventually does. Pimples can and will always heal when you just leave them alone, they do not need to be popped.
The red marks is something else altogether. The best way to get rid of them is to wait unfortunately. You can speed it up a little with exfoliation, or if you’re really worried talk to your dermatologist for advise.
Wow, thanks for the reply Fran. I was really worried for a while after my last facial since I’m still having moderate break outs. I’m so glad that pimples heal themselves =)
i want to believe in mieassence, it is helping and NOT helping, i’m still breaking out on my forehead and sometimes on my chin. When I used clinique i never broke out on my forehead, but i did still breakout on my chin sometimes. Miessence is really expensive and I don’t want to keep buying it and hoping that my face will stop detoxing if thats the case. maybe i should try low % of salicylic acid in my routine, something like stridex they have one thats 0.5% alcohol free with aloe
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