Unless you have a chemistry degree and can decipher weird names like ‘sodium lauryl sulphate’, you’re not alone if you’re wondering just what’s in your cosmetics and toiletries. Unsurprisingly, more and more health-conscious consumers are turning to natural alternatives when it comes to personal pampering – and it’s not just the bohemian cool kids. From homemade skin scrubs to nature-made moisturisers, there are plenty of safe, cheap, all-natural alternatives out there.
So what are they, and how can they help us achieve smooth, beautiful skin?
Exfoliating
Any hair removal aficionado knows that exfoliating your skin, prior to getting your shave on, helps reduce the likelihood of bumps, burns, and ingrown hairs. What they might not know is that most people have all the ingredients for a top-notch exfoliator in their kitchen cupboard.
Grab a jar with a lid and mix up half a cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of honey – and hey presto! That’s all it takes. The olive oil will pamper your skin with moisture and antioxidants, the honey will help fight any bacteria, and the sugar will gently polish away the dead skin cells. Since the skin on your face is more delicate however, this concoction is better suited to your body.
Creaming
While there’s plenty of tried and true shaving foams, gels and creams on the market, there are some fantastic all-natural alternatives that you can make at home. A cup filled with 1/3 shea butter, 1/3 of coconut oil, and 1/3 olive oil creatures a luxurious shaving cream that leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and pampered. You’ll need to melt the shea butter on a hob first, before adding the olive and coconut oils. Then whip the mixture together with a mixer.
The best thing about this shaving cream is that you don’t need your legs to be wet to use it – making it the perfect go-to treatment when you’re shaving on the fly. If you want to make your cream extra special, you can also add essential oils catered to your skin’s needs.
Moisturising
There’s a huge choice of natural wonders out there that are perfect for some post-shave nourishment – it’s all about finding the one that works for your particular skin type.
Here are some of our favourites:
- Castor oil: Packed with fatty acids that help it quickly sink into the skin, castor oil is fantastic for hydration. The linoleic acid contained in it creates a barrier over the skin, locking the moisture inside to do its thing.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil also sinks deep into the skin with ease and without leaving a greasy feeling in its wake. As well as a great moisturiser, it also boasts some antibacterial, antimicrobial and collagen-boosting properties, making it fabulous for anti-aging too.
- Shea butter: Brimming with vitamins A and F, shea butter is an exceptional moisturiser. Because of its rich texture, it’s great for those with really dry skin, especially during the colder months.
Shaving
At Dorco, we’re pretty big on the all-natural thing too. Take the Dorco Eve 6: we’ve given it an advanced lubricating strip loaded with powerful natural extracts. There’s calendula, a flower-derived ingredient that helps soothe dry skin and shaving irritation, as well as argan oil, which nourishes both normal and sensitive skin types. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can go all-natural before, during, and after your Dorco shaving experience.