Inside Scoop: It’s time to get your best skin ever with these natural beauty tips and our favourite non-toxic beauty products.

So here’s something that’s incredibly common for us, as well as most of the people we know. Let us know if this sounds familiar at all:

Winter comes, and so do skin issues. As soon as the seasons change we notice that our skin isn’t as supple, it’s a bit dry and patchy, a little more pallor (although here in Canada there isn’t much of a sun to give us a glow), and uneven skin tone makes itself more present.

Then comes the holiday season- sugar, alcohol, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and a lack of focus on our skin and what it needs to remain soft and supple. By the new year our skin is literally shouting at us to take better care, and it does this in the form of the dreaded blemish. The holiday season is behind us and overindulging has not only depleted our energy levels, but our skin is like seriously, WTF!?

Your skin thrives with adequate nutrient intake, especially all of your macronutrients with an emphasis being on healthy fats. When your diet consists of excess sugar, dairy, and other inflammatory foods, it can wreak havoc on your skin. A poor diet combined with the harsh winter climate, is a recipe for breakout and uneven complexion, just waiting to be triggered by a lifestyle event, such as the holidays.

Luckily, we have some pretty awesome, and do-able tips for you to get your best skin ever, plus our hands-down tried and true favourite natural beauty products.

Here’s a list of our top 5 ways to take care of your skin to make 2019 the year of your best skin ever!

ALWAYS REMOVE YOUR MAKEUP

We know you know this.

We know you know because we used to know, but didn’t pay attention to it. Countless nights of feeling tired, overworked, or lazy led us to falling asleep with makeup on our face. We’ve heard (and said) ‘oh crap I fell asleep with makeup on my face’ countless times, so we know you know, because everyone does it!

Your skin collects bacteria throughout the day; your makeup and makeup brush, well they’re just a couple of hosts to bacteria, and sleeping with makeup on not only keeps that bacteria there (combine it with the bacteria from your pillow, your hands, your hair, and so on), but it doesn’t allow for the dead skin cells and oils to be removed, or for your skin to breathe.

Bacteria, dead skin cells, extra oils, these are all contributing factors to having pores blocked, and blemishes appear, and definitely do not help you get your best skin ever!

So, as obvious as it seems, removing makeup is one of those things that helps your skin breathe and allows for a cleansing nightly nourishment. Using a makeup remover like the ones from skincarejungle.com, as well as using a cleanser, toner and serum, can be a great way to clean your face.

So no matter how tired you are, let us be that little voice in the back of your head that says, ‘just do it, remove that makeup!’

Our Favourite Makeup Remover Brands:

Pura Botanicals Countess Cleansing Nectar

This cleanser is a gentle, lightweight, cleanser that has a combination of oils, vitamins, and nutrients to promote luscious, radiant skin. It also helps to fade sunspots and scars, diminish fine lines and tones and tightens the skin, without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier. High in essential fatty acids and Omega-3, this non-greasy formula is ideal for normal to dry skin types. It leaves the skin feeling clean, supple and nourished.

Boo Bamboo Skin Balancing Bamboo Makeup Remover Wipes

Wipes are the best for removing makeup fast! These lint free, unbleached 100% bamboo wipes do not require rinsing the of your face after use. They’re 100% biodegradable, contain antioxidants vital for the skin and are paraben, sulphate and DEA free.

Consonant Natural Foaming Face Wash

And if you’re looking for a 3 in 1 product that will remove make up, cleanse and tone then we’ve found you a true award winner. Don’t be fooled by this gentle cleanser, because it effortlessly removes makeup (even stubborn eye makeup). It’s packed with nourishing botanicals like tea tree oil and grapeseed oil that help to hydrate the skin, eliminate uneven skin tone and fight blemishes. And, it’s pH balanced so you don’t need a toner. WIN! WIN! WIN!

MOISTURIZE

Dry skin is a real bummer. It itches, it’s flaky, and no matter what you do, it always seems to return, especially in the winter months. Dry skin can lead to breakouts since the lack of natural skin oils lead to an excess of dry, dead, and flaky skin.

Having great, and different moisturizers for all areas of your body should be part of your beauty regime if you want to avoid the inevitable dry winter skin, and get your best skin ever. Look for natural moisturizers that are paraben and phthalate free, and according to menscience.com if you look for moisturizers that are classed as non-comedogenic, you may be able to avoid breakouts and further aggrivation with acne.

Our Favourite Moisturizer Brands:

Whole Body Moisturizer- CV Skin Labs Body Repair

This fast-absorbing, deeply hydrating body lotion soothes dry and inflamed skin, while immediately restores radiance to your skin. Ideal for dermatitis, eczema, radiation burns, and for soothing irritation from post laser hair removal, waxing and shaving. Skin is left soft and nourished with a healthy glow.

Facial Moisturizer- Pellu Passionate Beauty Moisturizer

This vibrant moisturizer brings back energy and radiance to the skin while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and brightening tone. It contains white tea, green coffee, vitamin E and Australian finger limes and has a very subtle scent. It’s best for normal to dry skin.

Facial Moisturizer- Osmia Brighten Facial Serum

This brightening botanical treatment was formulated to increase cell turnover and improve the texture of the skin. The oil sinks in almost immediately. Botanical actives such as Gotu Kola, Algae and Wheatgrass help soothe irritation and enhance tone. This sublime serum is also enhanced with Papaya, Pumpkin, and Mushroom Extracts to help the skin maintain a luminous appearance.

Hand Moisturizer- Weleda Skin Food

Skin Food for dry and rough skin. Intensely hydrates and cares for the skin. Ultra-moisturizing, pure Lanolin and anti-blemish, organic Pansy nourishes and soothes dry and damaged skin.

WATCH WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR HAIR

Did you know that in order to get your best skin ever you need to be mindful of what you’re putting on your hair?

The one thing about hair that a lot of people don’t know, is that hair is made up of keratin, which is essentially what the outer layer of human skin consists of. Within the hair bulb that forms at the base of the hair follicle, living cells divide causing hair to grow.

What you put on your hair can 100% affect the skin on your head, the skin on your face, and if you are allergic to your shampoo and conditioner, it might even end up affecting your entire body.

Not to mention, oily hair can lead to more oily skin, especially if your hair often falls on your face and it contains hairsprays or serums.

Being selective of what you’re using on your hair and scalp, and using products that are as natural as possible can not only make those strands silky and smooth, but can help keep your skin clear and free from breakouts. Aloe vera, and oil based products can be good for your skin as well as your hair, so it’s possible to look for hair products that contain both.

Here’s a couple of our favourite natural shampoo’s and conditioners:

Rahua Classic Shampoo

This 100% natural, organic and light-lather shampoo creates and maintains healthy, bouncy and lustrous hair. It works for all hair types and is especially effective for color-treated hair. A natural cleanser derived from Coconut Oil cleanses gently without removing color pigmentation, while Rahua Oil molecules penetrate deep into the hair shaft, strengthening and fortifying weak, damaged strands while regenerating the scalp and hair follicles.

Josh Rosebrook Nourish Conditioner

A combination of botanical extracts, oils, fatty acids and vital nutrients work in perfect synergy to create a rich and effective deep nourishing conditioner that leaves hair soft and healthy. We love how our hair felt super silky after just one use.

FEED YOUR SKIN

Remember the Proactiv ad with the man who had friends that claimed his breakouts were due to eating too much chocolate?

So that’s been debunked through and through. Many experts agree that eating too much of one food, like chocolate, isn’t going to be the only pimple culprit. However, nourishing your body with the right kind of nutrients, and limiting your intake of foods that can contribute to unhealthy gut bacteria, and inflammation can help you get your best skin.

Try to skip the sugar, pre-packaged foods and greasy takeouts as much as you can. Be sure to have a colourful diet filled with fruit and veggies, as well as whole grains rather than refined grains. Refined foods, especially those with refined sugar and dairy, are pro-inflammatory foods, and look like they can be one of the top causes of acne.

So put the brie and gummy bears on the back seat for a while, and see if there are any changes in your skin. You might notice instantly, or you might need a couple of weeks to see a difference.

Aside from healthy and nourishing food, there are some supplements out there that can help clear up skin, give skin elasticity and increase the strength of the connective tissue, causing moisture to be held in better.

Supplement with Hydrolized Collagen to help with skin elasticity and moisture, and take Omega 3 Fatty Acids to reduce inflammation an help manage breakouts.

EXFOLIATE

This one is something that we’ve started doing religiously over the past couple of years, and we’re going to tell you right now, that if there is one thing that you can do in the comfort of your own home that will change the way your skin feels (especially in winter) it’s exfoliating on a regular basis.

Depending on your skin type, exfoliating needs to be weekly or numerous times throughout the week. If your skin is naturally dry and sensitive, finding an exfoliator, or an organic bamboo cloth to exfoliate with, will create an instant improvement to your skin.

Buy an amazing exfoliating brand, such as Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator

Or get this gentle Pellu Konjac Sponge that helps with exfoliation and deep cleansing for your pores without all the redress. It’s also suitable for sensitive skin.

And if you’re looking for some amazing DIY skincare products that you can make in the comfort of your own home, be sure to download our DIY Home Spa Kit, with recipes for bath bombs, bath tea, moisturizers and more. 

Download your spa kit here:

Good luck on your noble quest for your best skin ever. Make self-care a priority!

*This post is a collaborative post and contains affiliate links. Although we make a small profit from the products we promote, we wouldn’t promote a product that we haven’t tried, tested and truly believe in.