Be Kind to the Planet: Build a Plant Based Skincare Routine

Many of us are starting to realize that even if you can buy products at your local grocery store or pharmacy, that doesn't automatically make them safe or healthy. 

The US cosmetics and skincare industry only has eleven chemicals banned from use where the E.U has over 1,300 chemicals banned. That means that we are definitely interacting with chemicals that are considered unsafe in other parts of the world. 

Not only are the ingredients in these products harmful for our health, but they're also harmful to the environment as well. The chemicals that are hidden in our lotions and serums are washed from our faces and put into the drains that eventually lead to our oceans. 

Being kind to the environment can start with your skincare routine. Here's how to build a great routine using plant based skincare products.

Why Should We Use Plant Based Skincare Products? 

If you have ever bought beauty products, you may have noticed that there is a long ingredient list of chemicals you can barely pronounce or understand. Yet, we continue to use these products while assuming they're healthy and beneficial. 

An essential step into healthy glowing skin is a good diet. We know that whatever we consume affects the appearance of our skin meaning that skincare products should be held to the same standard. We should be able to consume our products if we apply them to our skin. 

Plant based skincare products are made using ingredients found in nature. This can be things like plant extracts and ingredients based on plants. Because all the ingredients are found in nature they are free from parabens. 

Our skin absorbs what we put on it, making it more of a filter than a protective barrier. This means that it absorbs pollution from our outdoor and indoor environments. This is why it is important to our health to make sure that what our body is absorbing from products are things you actually want in there. 

Plant based skincare products are the best option for the skin because they skip out on the cheaper and synthetic versions of natural chemicals found in natural products. 

Benefits of Plant-Based Products 

Because plant based products don't have harmful chemicals like parabens, phosphates, sulphates, and fillers, they are perfect for those with skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, dry skin, and sensitive skin. 

Other benefits include: 

• Plant based ingredients mean that these products are rich in antioxidants 
• The vitamins in natural skincare support cell repair and decrease aging 
• Healthy fats and acids calm acne, decrease oiliness, and helps fade scars
• Lipids in the products help smooth and protect skin by keeping it hydrated
• No toxic smells coming from harmful artificial fragrances
• Products will not harm the environment or your body 
• Free of heavy metals, artificial colors, talc, asbestos, and GMOs 
• Cruelty-free beauty where products are not tested on animals 
• Zero animal products used in plant based beauty (read labels to look out for honey or beeswax) 

Skincare that comes from plants is also more concentrated compared to regular products on the market because they avoid any unnecessary ingredients that dilute the product.  

How to Build a Skincare Routine Using Plant Based Skincare 

Now that you know what plant based beauty is and the benefits of it, now it's time to actually find the products you'll be using. 

Find the Right Brands 

Now that plant based skincare is all the rage, you will often find companies starting to label their products as "natural" when they're actually not. 

When it comes to the term "natural" in the skincare industry, it's not actually regulated. This means that companies who use 100 percent natural ingredients down to only 1 percent can technically use this label. 

This is called "greenwashing." This is a marketing ploy used by companies to trick consumers into thinking their products are plant based when they are far from it. 

Unfortunately, you can't just trust what you read on the bottles. It is best to look for brands that are certified so that you don't have to do too much detective work. 

If you want to make the switch to plant based beauty products but still have a lot of beauty products to finish, use websites that help decode the ingredients in products to see if these products are healthy or not. 

What Should My Plant Based Skincare Routine Look Like? 

After finding the right brand, it is important to build a full skincare routine to reap the benefits of your cruelty-free, eco-friendly products. The anatomy of a minimal skincare routine is a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer. 

For a more beneficial skincare routine, you're going to want to double cleanse if you use a full face of makeup. This assures that all of your makeup is washed off first, and then you use another cleanser to actually wash away impurities lurking underneath the skin. 

Next, you're going to want a toner to reset the PH of your skin so that your moisturizer can work better for you. Another important step to a fully beneficial skincare routine is an exfoliant. Exfoliants can be scrubs or chemical toners that help remove dead skin cells that lay on the top layer of skin. 

Now that you've cleansed the skin, you can apply serums. They penetrate deeply into the skin to bring ingredients for specific goals you have for your skin. 

There are many different purposes for serums such as oil control, antioxidants, anti-wrinkle, and moisture retention.

After serums, you should apply a moisturizer that will help boost your radiant glow and help seal in all your previous products. SPF moisturizers are available so you can protect the skin from the sun as well as nourish the skin. 

Ready to Make the Switch to Plant Based Skincare? 

Do good for yourself and the environment by adopting a plant based skincare routine. Say yes to ethical products and beautiful skin. 

Want to learn more about plant based beauty? Check out our page for more articles like this!