Take a hard look at your beauty cabinet. You may not know it, but chances are you have products that use harmful ingredients, increasing your exposure to possible toxins and parabens that can possibly lead to health problems down the road. Deodorants, soaps, toothpaste, face wash, lotion… The list of products you use daily that can carry harmful ingredients goes on and on.

Take toothpaste, for example. Some are filled with synthetic colors, fragrances, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. Do you really want toothpaste that may clean your teeth but also delivers harsh ingredients, polluting your body?

Get educated about your natural options and live a cleaner, healthier lifestyle! We love natural grooming and beauty options that leave us naturally fresh and clean. Here’s how to revamp your daily grooming routine with natural products:

Toothpaste: Brighten your pearly whites with toothpaste free of harsh chemicals and preservatives, to limit your body’s exposure to chemicals. There are a number of natural toothpastes in the market today that replace synthetic chemicals like sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) with natural abrasives like calcium carbonate. What’s the plus side? No unnecessary side effects! Natural cleaning agents are less likely to irritate your gums and disrupt the natural order of moisture, acidity and other elements inside your mouth, which can lead to bad breath, cavities and gum infections.

Deodorant: Can a deodorant effectively work without aluminium compounds or chemical antiperspirants? Yes it can! Based on the traditional remedies of bicarbonate of soda, natural mineral salts, ammonia alum and similar compounds to eliminate odours, and natural herbs and fragrances such as rosemary, clove, sage, patchouli and lavendar, natural deodorants work just as well. These are a must have for the summers especially for those with weather and chemical related sensitivities.

Soaps: Beware of soap labels because unlike other skincare products, the FDA does not regulate soap labeling. Organic soaps are made from plant based natural hydrating ingredients like coconut milk and retain higher levels of glycerin making the soap more gentle and skin-friendly. One of the basic and most important advantages is that organically produced soaps do not contain chemicals that get absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin. Look for natural soaps that leave little residue.

Skincare: Enhance your skin’s natural radiance with products that do not unleash harmful chemicals on you. Most fragrances used in skincare products are known to be carcinogenic and mineral oils, once applied, prevent the skin from “breathing”, and alcohols dry out skin. Instead switch to natural products that leverage the hydrating properties of natural oils such as argan, jojoba, walnut and avocado. These natural oils will moisturize the skin and provide vitamins, which operate as antioxidants and eliminate those free radicals, which cause skin to age.

Your entire body needs extra love during the summer. From the humidity to pollution and sun damage, summer can exacerbate previous skin conditions and blemishes. Add to that a busy social life with too much sun, not enough water, and long nights sipping cocktails. But with a more summer friendly beauty regime you can give your skin the TLC it needs to look its finest.

Face

Dehydration and over-exposure to sun causes your skin to dry out and become flaky. Moisturize your skin liberally with a high quality hydrating moisturizer, preferably after shower, at night and after sun exposure, to lock in moisture and keep skin soft. Zinn Revitalizing Anti-Aging Cream with the rich hydrating properties of Argan Oil and inflammation reducers from essential fatty acids is a great summer skin option. It not only soothes irritated skin but also reduces the appearance of scars, blemishes and hyper-pigmentation.

Sweating in the sun increases your sebum production that gives the appearance of an oily-slick on your face. Don’t over cleanse your skin but rather incorporate a cleansing routine that maintains your skin’s natural oils. That way your skin doesn’t over react for the lack of moisture and produce too much oil. Back up your face care with Zinn Velvet Cleansing Facial Milk to replenish skin oils and raise a protective barrier against free radicals unleashed by the sun. Be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and skip alcoholic beverages in the hot summer heat.

Body

Even with the best intentions, sunburns happen. What can you do to cool the burn? To soothe irritated skin, try natural oil remedies such as coconut oil, Argan oil and glycerin to nourish your skin, bring moisture back and leave your body refreshed. The Zinn Smooth Body Milk with Moroccan Argan oil, rosehip oil and soothing shea butter works wonders for sunburned skin. For a natural remedy, heat a cup of regular oatmeal with one-half cup whole milk until cooked. Let cool and apply to burned skin to soothe and gently exfoliate to remove dead cells.

Sweaty workouts and humid days can cause body acne, especially in hard-to-reach areas like your chest, upper and lower back, and everywhere in between. Cleanse those areas and rid your body of blemishes with salicylic acid-based body washes regularly and moisturize the skin to create a protective barrier. I make sure to hit the shower soon after my workout to get rid of the excess oil. Avoid wearing too-tight clothing or clothes made of synthetic fibers that tend to aggravate sensitive skin.

Hair

Take a quick look at your hair. Are the ends dry? Are the strands frizzy? Chances are the sun and hot temperatures are doing a number on your hair, not to mention the additional styling you do on a daily basis. Give your hair the nourishment it needs with Zinn Argan Oil, certified organic and rich in nutrients that will replenish your hair. Rub in a dollop of oil to the ends and smooth through hair, paying special attention to the dry areas.

Nails

Cuticles looking haggard and dry? Summer is no time for this with our nails peeking out of our peep-toes and summer sandals. Give your nails some much needed loving with the super hydrating properties of Zinn 100% Moroccan Miracle Oil. Thanks to all the Argan oil and vitamins, cuticles are left naturally conditioned and softened, just in time for a fancy summer soiree.

Make sure to pay close attention to your skin during the summer months, that way when fall comes, you are still as gorgeous and glowing from head-to-toe!

If you were to look over your vanity, how much would you say you have spent on beauty products? Excessive expenditure on beauty holds true for most of us until we discover that beautiful skin is nature’s gift to women and can be extracted very simply from natural produces, be it from leaves of lavender to cure acne or drops of honey to exude a dewy glow. Looking to nature for skincare dates back to ancient times in many cultures, and a few modern skincare brands now draw upon that knowledge to bring beautiful skin to you in elegant jars and bottles.

More and more people are turning to natural beauty fixes because the best of artificial beauty products today house tons of synthetics, artificial colors and acid compounds….the list can go on with cancer-inducing parabens used as preservatives in cosmetics, and albumins used in anti-wrinkle treatments. Learning to make facial masks and cleansers from you pantry essentials not only save serious money but also help you stay away from harsh artificial ingredients that irritate your skin, and enhances your skin’s radiance naturally the way it was meant to be. Try and green your skincare routine for a change with these clever tricks and feel the difference:

• Try this anti-aging and skin tightening egg white and carrot juice mask that is packed with the collagen building properties of the egg whites and the super anti-aging power of carotenes. Mix together 3 egg whites and 3 Tbsp of carrot juice, apply to your face with a cotton wipe, let it dry on your skin for about 15 minutes and wash it off. (Recipe sourced from Dr. Oz)

• Follow this up with a natural moisturizer. Use100% organic pure certified honey, which acts a natural exfoliant and moisturizer. Apply about a tablespoon over your face; gently rub with fingers to spread it. If the honey is too tight especially in winter, leave the bottle in a tub of hot water to loosen it up. Leave it on for 5 minutes and was away.

• Known to be Cleopatra’s beauty secret, dairy products like milk and yogurt have enzymes that naturally exfoliate dead skin cells. Mix up 2 teaspoons of yogurt with a bit a mashed papaya and apply this pack for 15 minutes a part of your daily cleansing and toning routine. Besides leaving your skin smooth and soft, this routine is beneficial for treating blemishes, pimples and freckles.

• For wrinkles try this pineapple and olive oil mask: mash up 1 cup of pineapple chunks, preferable fresh or rinse off the canned juices, add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and apply to your face, neck and chest. Leave on for 20-30 minutes, rinse well and pat dry. This mask will help reduce fine lines, exfoliate dead cells, plump up the skin and is strong enough to break-up and dissolve dead skin cells and dirt and has anti-inflammatory properties to soothe acne. (Recipe sourced from www.naturaloldhomeremedies.com)

There are many more natural skincare routines to choose from but the trick lies in maintaining your skin before damage and aging sets in. And as some skin experts say feed your skin what you would eat. Make sure that what you apply to you skin is pure enough for you to eat.