The best natural beauty products to add to your routine

Did you know about some of these commonly used natural products?

natural-beauty-products

by Samantha Price |
Updated on

While the idea of cosmetics seems relatively modern, natural beauty products have been used for centuries all around the world. From skincare to hair treatments, these organic remedies certainly have their benefits in giving you glowing skin and healthy hair. If you're wanting to make your own, they're also relatively easy to make.

At Spirit & Destiny, we've put together our favourite products from some of our favourite brands. From The Body Shop to Holland and Barrett, we've made sure to include only the best. We've also created a guide to the best natural ingredients, as well as some tutorials if you're interested in indulging in a little self-care.

What are the best natural ingredients to use in your beauty routine?

From Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, India, China, and the Middle East, we owe a lot to these civilisations for the development of modern-day beauty products as we know them. While some of the ingredients were toxic, there are still some resources that were used thousands of years ago that are safe to use to this day.

Here are some of the best natural ingredients that have stood the test of time to incorporate into your beauty routine:

Honey: Brightens, hydrates and prevents acne breakouts

Oat: Soothes inflamed and irritated skin

Coconut: Hydrates the skin and hair

Tumeric: Calms inflammation and prevents acne breakouts

Aloe: Relieves inflamed and irritated skin

Shea: Moisturises the skin and hair

Jojoba: Protects the hair and hydrates skin

Witch hazel: Reduces acne breakouts and tightens the skin

Rosehip: Regenerates the skin

The best natural beauty products

Including some of the ingredients from the list above, here are our favourite beauty products that are organic in nature. From lip balms to face masks and hair oils, take a look at the best that we can find.

best-natural-beauty-products

Rrp: £6.89

Price: £5.97
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Ulta$2.79View offer
Kohl's$3.99View offer
Scheels$3.99View offer
Lowe's$5.28View offer

Burt's Bees are some of our favourite natural lip balms. Made from nourishing beeswax, enriched with vitamin E, and infused with peppermint oil, this all-natural balm can help to soothe, hydrate and moisturise dry lips.

Pros:
• All natural
• Fantastic reviews
• No animal testing

Cons:
• Not suitable for vegans

Review: "Only chapsticks brand I use. Keeps lips moisturised and doesn’t have to be applied all the time. Clean ingredients and comes in a variety of flavours."

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £11.86
Alternative retailers
Walmart$15.59View offer

Ideal for burns, scars, and stretch marks, aloe vera gel can help to provide a cooling and calming sensation on the skin. Free from synthetics, this organic aloe vera gel can also be kept in the fridge to soothe with its anti-inflammatory effects.

Pros:
• All organic
• Free from parabens
• Vegan friendly

Cons:
• May not be suitable for the face

Review: "This is honestly one of the best Aleo Vera gels I have ever purchased, super soothing and amazing after being in the fridge! Would highly recommend paying the extra price for this, as it is truly worth it. My partner had sunburn and this worked so well for this!"

Amazing to use on the hair, Argan oil is deeply nourishing. It can help to reduce damage, breakage, and split ends while promoting healthier, thicker hair. A small amount can be used on the skin to reduce sebum production, which in turn, reduces the likelihood of acne.

Pros:
• A source of vitamins
• Ethically sourced
• Vegan friendly

Cons:
• Excess amount may make hair and skin too oily

Review: "This is my fourth bottle which I use as a face, body and hair oil. A lovely velvety oil with no smell."

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £19.89
Alternative retailers
Walmart$19.99View offer

Whether it's your hair or your skin, shea butter can work wonders in introducing moisture, hydration and vitamins into your beauty routine. Simply use it as a hair mask or as a moisturiser for your skin when you're in need of a boost of hydration.

Pros:
• A source of vitamins
• Sustainably sourced
• Suitable for all skin types

Cons:
• Expensive

Review: "I bought this to start making my own lotions/ointments. Works wonderfully & is very smooth & softening to the skin. Blends well with all of my recipes."

Rosehip Oil is a fantastic regenerative oil that can help to rebalance, nourish and soothe the skin. A great source of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants, this Rosehip Oil from Face Theory is highly rated by reviewers who claim it helps to brighten the skin, as well as improve texture and elasticity.

Pros:
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Ethically sourced
• A source of vitamins

Cons:
• Some reviewers said it had an 'earthy' scent

Review: "On my second bottle! I use it at night though I could even use it during the day if I'd mix it with my face cream. Adds amazing moisture to my skin and leaves it glowing."

A bestseller from The Body Shop, this highly-rated Himalayan Charcoal face mask is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves, and Community Fair Trade tea tree oil. It can help to purify the skin by cleansing it of impurities, exfoliating dead skin, and unclogging the pores. The cooling sensation will leave you feeling fresh and invigorated.

Pros:
• Gently exfoliates the skin
• Sourced from the foothills of the Himalayas
• Unclogs pores

Cons:
• The smaller 15ml pot was too small for most

Review: "Excellent product, leaves skin glowing and feeling extremely clean. Skin feels soft to the touch and pores appear minimised"

This highly-rated body polish is enriched with nourishing Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils, Mango and Papaya Enzymes, antioxidant vitamin E, smoothing Apple Stem Cell extracts, Coconut Milk, and real Orange, Lemon, and Tonka Bean essences. You won't just fall in love with the scent, but also with how it leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.

Pros:
• Suitable for all skin types
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Citrus scent

Cons:
• Doesn't work as well on wet skin

Review: "This is the best body scrub I’ve ever used. It has the perfect blend of oil and scrub, smells good and leaves a nice sheen on the skin. I then had to purchase the body cream, but this product is enough to leave your skin feeling and looking hydrated."

Made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, this cleansing balm from UpCircle is made from apricot powder, blackcurrant seed, blue tansy, and sea buckthorn oils. It can help to remove makeup, pollution, and impurities to leave the skin feeling moisturised. Housed in a fully recyclable glass jar with an aluminium lid, even the packaging has our approval.

Pros:
• A multi-award-winning product
• Dermatologically approved for all skin types
• Vegan and cruelty-free

Cons:
• A few reviewers claimed the scent was too strong for them

Review: "I have tried many high-end cleansing balms which left me with breakouts. This one leaves my skin feeling clean, no irritation. I use it as a first cleanse to remove makeup. Melts makeup instantly and no breakouts. The best!"

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £32.30 (was £38)

www.boots.com

Known for preventing breakouts, it's no wonder turmeric is a common ingredient in face masks and skin care. This mask from Kiehl's which contains both turmeric and cranberry seeds can help to even the skin tone, brighten the complexion and smooth the texture of the skin.

Pros:
• Gently exfoliates the skin
• A source of antioxidants
• Suitable for all skin types

Cons:
• Expensive

Review: "I love this product! It applies and works just like a clay mask, but because of its Turmeric and Cranberry Seeds, exfoliates AND brightens my skin! After doing this mask, my skin literally looks so bright and radiant - I am so happy with this product! It smells so subtle and good too!"

This almond and oat mask from The Body Shop works wonders for sensitive skin. By soothing, nourishing, and moisturising the skin, this face mask may relieve the sensation of irritated and inflamed skin. It's enriched by organic aloe vera, almond milk, and shea butter from Community Trade, and packed full of vitamins.

Pros:
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Inspired by ancient Roman recipes
• Suitable for sensitive skin

Cons:
• The smaller 15ml pot was too small for most

Review: "Love, love, love this product!! The mask smells so good and leaves my skin soft, clean and nourished."

With moisturising properties, Jojoba Oil is fantastic for protecting the hair from breakage, promoting healthy hair growth, and strengthening the hair. It also has benefits for the skin, which include introducing vitamins such as vitamin C, B, and E. It also controls sebum production, is hypoallergenic, and is anti-bacterial.

Pros:
• All organic
• A source of vitamins
• Is an antioxidant

Cons:
• Excess amount may make hair and skin too oily

Review: "Love love LOVE this product! You can't go wrong with Jojoba oil. It's healthy for your skin and amazing to use for about anything related to skincare. There’s a HUGE misconception that oil-based products are highly comedogenic and will clog your pores, but since Jojoba oil is BASED on your skin’s natural oil production, it’s actually really good for your skin!"

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £5.35 (was £7.04)

uk.iherb.com

Similarly, the multi-purpose Coconut Oil can do wonders in keeping your hair and skin moisturised. Due to the essential fatty acids and antimicrobial properties in this oil, Coconut Oil can help to treat wounds, acne, and protect the skin from harmful bacteria.

Pros:
• A multi-purpose oil
• Vegan friendly
• Antimicrobial properties

Cons:
• The taste was not to all reviewers' liking

Review: "WOW! Amazing product, I’m so in love with this oil. Quality is excellent, I use it on my hair and it stops the frizziness, I also use it on my skin and it makes my skin feels super soft."

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £11.99 (was £14.99)

www.boots.com

Made from 98 per cent natural ingredients, this facial toner containing aloe vera, witch hazel, and rose petals can help to soothe, even, and moisturise the skin. Free from parabens and alcohol, it has a gentle floral scent and is suitable for all skin types.

Pros:
• Free from alcohol
• Balances skin pH
• Suitable for all skin types

Cons:
• We can't think of any

Review: "I really like this product. I purchased it to replace the Witch Hazel I had bought in a local store that had alcohol in it which I didn't want.....no alcohol in this product & it smells so nice."

From Holland and Barrett, this daily conditioning treatment is made from three organic seaweeds, Dead Sea mud and pure coconut oil can help to soothe the scalp and hydrate the hair. With 97 per cent natural mineral-rich ingredients, this treatment is infused with essential citrus oils for a divine smell.

Pros:
• Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
• Silicone free
• Sustainable

Cons:
• May apply heavy on the hair

Review: "As I suffer from sensitive skin, with my scalp prone to becoming dry and delicate I was interested to see if this range would help me. I have been using this product alongside the Shampoo from the same range and I think that it works, making my scalp feel clean and fresh and my hair looking very glossy and healthy, I really enjoyed using it. Overall I like it and would get it again."

High in vitamins and antioxidants, this lip balm made from raspberry seed extract is deeply nourishing and can stimulate the skin renewal process and protect against moisture loss. If your lips are feeling chapped or cracked, this soothing balm can help bring some hydration back to your skin.

Pros:
• Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
• A source of vitamins
• Free from parabens

Cons:
• Expensive

Review: "Best lip balm I have tried. Really moisturising and hydrates for hours. You only need a little to work it's magic 🙂"

best-natural-beauty-products
Price: £5.95 (was £7)

www.etsy.com

Infused with lemon essential oil, this Cocoa Butter and Lemon Hand Cream will leave your hands feeling heavenly. Handmade from a small business in the UK, their packaging is made from 95 per cent recycled aluminium and their ingredients are vegan-friendly.

Pros:
• All handmade
• Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
• Nourishes the skin

Cons:
• We can't think of any

Review: "Absolutely incredible stuff! I'm a 34-year-old male with extremely dry skin on my hands, and this cream is amazing! Very soothing, and really quick to sink into the skin. Will definitely be buying again!"

These artisan honeycomb soaps are made using vegetable oils and natural ingredients, enriched with essential oils and fragrances from around the world. Their unique design would make a thoughtful gift, or be a lovely addition to your bathroom.

Pros:
• All natural
• SLS free
• Subtle scent

Cons:
• Smaller than expected

Review: "These soaps are absolutely beautiful and have a pleasant subtle scent. Washing my hands has never been this enjoyable! I'll be ordering more in the future."

The best natural beauty products: Our verdict

In our opinion, the best natural beauty product from our list has to be the Cleansing Face Balm with Apricot Powder from UpCircle. It's made with 100 per cent natural ingredients, has won multiple awards and is also a highly-rated product.

DIY: How do you make your own natural beauty products?

Making your own natural beauty products from home can be achieved as long as you have the right ingredients. We love these tutorials that show you how to make your very own face masks, hair masks and lip scrubs using organic ingredients. As some involve products we've already mentioned, getting started has never been easier.

DIY face masks

DIY hair masks

DIY lip scrubs

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