Alter/native Facial Cleansing Bars are an ideal alternative to plastic bottles of cleaning lotion, sold in most indie health stores (Suma is a wholesaler co-op with 200 staff but no bosses or shareholders) or buy online. These will not dry your skin out (just keep in the matching travel tin to drain and speed up drying, extending each bar’s life (aluminium ensures it won’t rust when exposed to water). The cleansing bars are plant-based and free from palm oil, sold in natural paper packaging.
Cleansing bars are scented with essential oils (choose unscented for pregnancy/nursing, medical conditions and high blood pressure). Avoid shea butter for latex allergies. Never use human soaps/shampoos on pets (read how to give your dog a bath).
Handmade in Yorkshire using olive and coconut oil, choose from:
- Pink Clay has a light floral scent, and is good for all over use on delicate skin, due to its rich and creamy formula.
- Activated Charcoal is a gently exfoliating soap that is good for tired skin, and also has a creamy lather.
To cleanse your skin naturally, means dumping all the chemical cocktails, and going back to basics. You may wish to use a simple bar of handmade soap. But if you prefer a cleansing cream or oil, here are nice plant-based zero waste choices. If you choose a good cleanser, you may not even need a toner or moisturiser.
Most skin cleansers are too harsh for the skin’s delicate PH, and throws the epidermis out of balance, to encourage you to buy more items to correct things! Instead, try using a simple cleanser for a month and notice the difference. Avoid rich creams for oily skin, or you’ll break out in spots!
Bristolmade is a small vegan skincare brand, founded in England’s greenest city. All items are handmade and packaged in zero waste containers. As these items are free from chemicals to keep them fresh, just use a clean teaspoon to blend items, if they show signs of separation (store below 25c and away from direct sunlight). Rose Geranium Micellar Water is a natural cleanser that does not strip skin of moisture. Made with organic witch hazel to tone the skin, it has a delicate scent that everyone adores. Use with a reusable makeup pad, no rinse needed
Cleansing Oil sweeps away dirt and dead skin, and can also be used to remove make-up and excess oil. Made with a signature balance of sweet almond, vitamin E and rosehip oils, it’s scented with lavender and geranium.
UpCircle Cleansing Face Balm is made from organic ingredients, in easy-to-recycle packaging. This everyday balm gently removes makeup and pollution, to leave skin cleansed, soothes and hydrated. The skin-calming balm contains shea butter, oils of blackcurrant seed, blue tansy (not for aster/daisy allergies) and sea buckthorn, plus the finely ground powder of discarded apricot stones, which are rich in antioxidant-rich vitamin E.
To use, just massage a coin-sized amount between your fingers, and onto your face in upward circular motions. Remove with a warm damp facecloth. Best used to remove make-up and impurities, follow if wished with a water-based cleanser.
I have tried many high-end cleansing balms, which left me with breakouts. This one leaves my skin feeling clean, with no irritation. I use it as a first cleanse, to remove makeup. The best!
