Skin is the body’s largest organ. It is a protector and has the amazing ability to heal, even after sustaining extensive damage from severe wounds. Although the skin is tough and resilient, like a gladiator, it still has a sensitive side that must be nurtured and cared for.
Like the sun, harsh chemicals can still cause damage to skin. Chemicals, again, like the sun, can make the skin look older, tougher and unhealthy. For this reason, among others, one of the best approaches to skin care is a natural approach, particularly, a vegan or vegetarian approach.
Vegans and vegetarians are usually very careful about the products they choose. If at all possible, individuals that follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle will choose products that are cruelty free (not tested on animals), all natural and organic. Products such as these typically contain less chemicals than other products. This means, your skin will absorb less of the “bad” stuff and more of the “good” stuff.
Believe it or not, vegan skin care can be found in just about any drug store, beauty supply house or spa, and even at stores such as Target and Wal-Mart. All you have to do is read the labels. In an effort to avoid isolating themselves from different types of consumers, many skin care and cosmetics companies do not prance around waving a “cruelty-free” or “vegan” flag. However, many of them will use the terms “organic,” “all natural” or “naturally” quite frequently. Look for products such as these at your local drugstore or beauty supply house and you are likely to find out that these products are also vegan and vegetarian friendly. Chances are, these products contain few to no harsh chemicals.
If you want to skip all of the reading, consider shopping at your local health food store. Once you have found the right skin care products for your own individual skin type, here are some general healthy skin care tips to use each day.
- Always use the correct type of skin care products for your own individual skin type (oily, dry, combination, normal, sensitive, acne-prone)
- Purchase a regular face and body cleanser and a gentle face and body cleanser (two separate cleansers)
- Use the regular cleanser at night (this will help eliminate dirt and oil that have accumulated on the skin during the course of the day – this is especially important during the hot summer months)
- Use the gentle cleanser in the morning (there is no need to super cleanse in the morning. Accumulating dirt and oil on the skin is not an issue while sleeping!
- Always use a moisturizer to help keep skin soft and supple. Using a moisturizer also prevents dryness.
- Try to avoid taking extremely hot showers. “Too hot” water can cause severe dryness which can lead to itching and scaling.
If you are interested in learning about some of the most popular cruelty free companies in the world, continue reading to learn about Beauty Without Cruelty and Almay. These vegan and vegetarian friendly companies have been around since the late 1800s to mid-1900s.
Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) was founded in 1963 in England. The trustees of BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization, came together for a common goal – to manufacture and distribute natural, color cosmetics that were not tested on animals, and products that did not contain any animal ingredients. Beauty Without Cruelty offers a full line of cruelty-free vegetarian, skin, body and hair care products made from natural ingredients and organic aroma-therapeutic essential oils. Beauty Without Cruelty’s full line of color cosmetics reaches across all lines in order to meet the beauty needs of all women.
Beauty Without Cruelty Products may be purchased from your local natural foods retailer, and at some drug stores and vitamin shops. You can also purchase BWC products online directly from the Beauty Without Cruelty website at www.BeautyWithoutCruelty.com.
Almay has been in business since 1931. Even back then, Almay used pure, hypoallergenic ingredients that were safe for even the most sensitive skin. Almay was the world’s first hypoallergenic cosmetics brand, and the first brand to make 100% fragrance-free products. It was also one of the first cosmetics companies to disclose all ingredients used, the first brand to perform safety testing for allergy irritation, the first brand to formulate for contact lens wearers, and the first brand to create cosmetics regimens for specific skin types.
Almay does not test on animals and it uses natural ingredients such as soybean, rosehips, licorice, milk thistle (plant derived) and aloe, to name just a few. These products are safe for vegetarians and vegans alike. Almay products can be purchased online through the official website or at any beauty supply house, cosmetics retailer or drug store. www.Almay.com