Anyone familiar with my beauty writing and routines will already know that I am a huge advocate for using all natural products. It’s simple, if you care about what goes into your body, why wouldn’t you care about what goes onto your body? If it’s not already obvious to you then here’s a newsflash: all of your products are absorbed by your body, even if you’re not prone to chewing on your chapstick at snack time.
If you can get passed the fact that quality products that are good for you (and good for our earth) cost more than popular and easily accessible products, the next feat is figuring out which ones are best to use. Because natural products are made with, well, natural products, their performance can be a bit iffy at times and require a bit more research and test driving to figure out what works best for you.
A lot of people think that natural products are just a bunch of hippie potions and not relevant to their modern lifestyle and needs. Obviously this is quite the opposite (especially nowadays) and while I do a lot of my product shopping at my local health food stores, it would be nice to be able to explore more products and variety more easily.
Lo and behold FreshFaced.ca, a Canadian e-tailer that is a one stop shop for all things beauty, natural and awesome. The site only carries brands made without toxic or harmful ingredients, and smaller independent brands that can be harder to track down, especially in Canada. Fresh Faced carries everything from body scrubs and lotions to mascara and concealer, it’s literally an online mega world for all the best products you could ever want or need.
The first time I shopped Fresh Faced, I got so excited and overzealous that I didn’t know where to begin. I mean, if I could have bought everything I would, but a girl has got to keep her credit card in check. So, instead, I called upon the master of natural beauty (aka the Fresh Faced founder), Sally Glover, to tell me about her Top 5 Picks from Fresh Faced and why she loves them so much. Here’s what Sally had to say:
Pai Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator:
UK-based Pai Skincare is a top contender for my favourite skin care line. I’m not usually big on manual exfoliators, but the Kukui & Jojoba Bead Skin Brightening Exfoliator’s micro-sphere system is designed to protect as it polishes—perfect for someone with sensitive skin like me. And because it’s oil-based, my skin feels smooth and hydrated but freshly sloughed of dead cells and impurities after use.
Suki Tinted Active Moisturizer:
I love a good tinted moisturizer, and this one stands up to the best high-end ones out there, with the added bonus of 100 percent pure mineral pigment. It provides just enough natural-looking coverage to even out my skin tone and lasts well throughout the day. It’s short ingredient list (13!) includes willow bark extract, a natural form of salicylic acid, which speeds cell turnover and soothes inflammation.
As a marathon runner, let’s face it—I need a serious smell eliminator. And Soapwalla’s is the only natural deo I’ve tried that really works. Like, really. The smell (a blend of peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils) is light and clean, and it forgoes the usual nasties like propylene glycol, aluminum, triclosan, and BHT in favor of vegetable powders, shea butter, and clays.
Kahina Giving Beauty Brightening Serum:
Kahina Brightening Serum is a new addition to the Fresh Faced collection, and I’m obsessed. With white lily, Japanese wakame seaweed, green tea, and argan oil, its claims to reduce discolouration, boost radiance, even skin tone, and fight free radicals had me at “Hello.” And I love that Kahina sources its certified organic argan oil from women’s cooperatives in Morocco, paying them a fair wage and donating a percentage of profits to the Berber women of the region.
Revolution Organics All-Over Body Balm:
Confession: I was a Vaseline addict. For years, it was my go-to beauty product—I used it on my lips, my hands, my feet, to remove eye makeup, to soften cuticles, on minor scrapes and cuts… The list goes on. In my new, improved, all-natural beauty routine, Vaseline wasn’t going to cut it. Enter Revolution Organics All-Over Body Balm. It’s the best thing since…well, since forever, considering I no longer reach for that little tub of white jelly the minute I feel a chapped lip on the horizon. Only seven organic ingredients make up this wonder balm: cocoa butter, shea butter, beeswax, olive oil, coconut oil, an essential oil blend, and apricot oil. Super simple and super effective. Plus it smells delightfully soft and lemony.
Editor’s Note: I have tried each and every one of Sally’s Top 5 recommended products and can say that they are all extremely high quality and so nice to use. They have most definitely upped my natural product game and I highly suggest trying out your own selection from Fresh Faced as soon as you can. Keep up with Sally’s monthly product picks HERE!
Love it? Hate it? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!