Natural Beauty Favourites

As someone who grew up with a mother whose beauty regimen consisted solely of moisturizer, cold cream, and a little bit of blush, I wouldn’t exactly say that I was exposed to skincare and make up at an early age. When I got into my teenage years and early twenties, I began experimenting – mostly with make up – but not really caring about the consequences of what I was putting on and in my body.

Nowadays, I prefer to focus on skincare as opposed to make up, and I’ve come to see it as a small but important part of self care — my skincare routine in the evenings has become one of my favourite ways to unwind. I’ve also been increasingly more conscious of using products with more ingredients that I can pronounce, especially as I get older and think more about long-term health. That being said, here are some favourite, (mostly) natural products that I’ve been using and loving lately…

Pink House Organics Pit Potion | Aside from the fact that the run-of-the-mill deodorant found in drugstores is terrible for you in so many ways, I’ve always hated the way it makes my underarms feel clogged and unbreathable. I’ve tried a few other natural deodorant alternatives in the past, but the performance on them sadly didn’t live up to what I was used to.This Pink House Organics Pit Potion is the best of both worlds, and I’m so happy to have found it: it’s natural, but it applies like a normal deodorant and it works. I also really love the way the Organic Mandarin scent smells — it’s not sugary sweet (it’s a little bit tangy, actually) and just feels really fresh both in the bottle and on the skin. As an added bonus, the brand is local to Vancouver and has a pretty great story – read up on it here.

The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Spray | I’m a sucker for warm, natural, and luxurious fabrics like wool and cashmere, and have had a few of you ask how I maintain these delicate garments in my wardrobe. One thing I’ve tried to do is to not wash these kinds of pieces unless I absolutely have to, and this spray has helped considerably with this. I’ve been wearing my Acne Canada scarves and the same 4-5 sweaters on rotation all winter and have kept things fresh with this musky cedar spray. The eco-friendly brand also has a Fabric Fresh spray and a Delicates wash, neither of which which I’ve personally tried yet but will probably pick up – it has great reviews and is versatile for all kinds of materials. Note: it does have fragrance in it, so those who are sensitive to that might want to approach with caution.

Peet Rivko | As a lover of good, simple branding, I have to admit that sometimes I let that be a motivating factor in choosing one brand over another. I always feel like I’ve hit the jackpot when I find something that’s both beautiful and effective, and that’s exactly the case with plant-based skincare brand Peet Rivko. I’ve been using the gentle cleanser every single day and it refreshes, cleanses, and softens my skin without irritating or stripping it.  As the final step in my PM skincare routine, I add a few drops of the balancing face oil into the moisturizer, and my typically dry winter skin has been much better than usual this year. You can buy each piece individually, get the Essentials Kit, or try all three without as large of an investment with The Travel Kit.

Herbivore Rose Spray | I gifted this spray to all of my bridesmaids when I got married in the summer of 2016, and have been keeping a bottle by my bedside ever since. There’s something about the smell of rose that feels so luxurious, and I like spritzing it on to refresh my skin both before moisturizer and after make up. I also love bringing it on the plane – it feels wonderful on parched airplane skin. This Seattle-based company is another aesthetically beautiful brand that uses non-toxic ingredients and recyclable, reusable packaging.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment | I can’t speak to how natural the ingredients that Fresh uses actually are, as I admittedly haven’t done a ton of research on the brand. Regardless, these little tinted lip treatments have been a lifesaver this winter: they make my lips super soft, provide SPF, and give my lips a sheer wash of colour. There are quite a few shades available, and they work both as a subtle, everyday lip colour and as a richer hue for a night out since the colour builds up so well. This box set has six minis in various shades for gifting and finding the right shade that works for you. My current favourite is Poppy.

Luna Nectar Moon Boost Eyelash Serum | The start of my work day changed from 9AM to 8AM recently, and that one less hour of sleep has made me a lot more tired than I’d like to admit. Naturally, I’ve been sleeping in until the last possible moment in the mornings, which means my make up routine has gone on the back burner. One of my favourite tricks for looking more awake has been the combination of a nightly eyelash serum and a lash lift from Bare Wax every 2-3 months: the serum makes my lashes long and thick, and the lift gives me the look of freshly curled lashes all day. I’ve used a few different lash serums in the past, but this all-natural option by Luna Nectar is my favourite, not only because it’s locally based and completely natural, but also because it actually works the best!

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I’m always on the lookout for more great natural beauty products, so if you have a favourite please share below!