Living Chemical-Free: Bye, Bye Moisturizer

I recently looked up all of the cosmetics I use on Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s database of safety reviews. I was surprised and horrified by how toxic all of my products were, even the ones that I’d bought at health food stores labeled “paraben-free” and “organic.” I decided to make some changes. My first one? Give up the moisturizer.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had terrible skin. It’s always been the one thing I wish I could change about myself. I have large pores, and when I say “large” I mean “vast caverns of crater-like pockets covering the surface of my face.” I’ve also historically been prone to breakouts. I thought the latter was something I’d grow out of, but the joke was on me. I didn’t.

In my quest to have smooth, poreless skin, I’ve tried just about every moisturizer on the market, with mixed, but mostly underwhelming, results. When I first decided to go 100% natural, I tried both aloe and coconut oil. Both helped with the breakouts, but did nothing to improve the look of my skin overall.

In Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen by Ani Phyo (I am such an Ani Phyo fan-girl), she mentioned using hemp oil as moisturizer. I was intrigued. After scouring Brooklyn and asking for help on Facebook, I found a health food store within walking distance that had one bottle left that they couldn’t move and would give to me at a discount.

When I opened the bottle, I was skeptical. Hemp oil is thick, green and smells like freshly-cut grass. It seemed way too heavy for the skin on my face. But I applied it, and within minutes, the wrinkles around my eyes diminished. I decided to apply it a couple of times a day and see where it took me.

It’s been over a month now, and my skin has never looked better. I haven’t even been wearing foundation, because I don’t need it. My skin tone is even, my face is clear, and some sun-damage spots have lightened up. Evan has remarked on the change in my skin several times, and when I went to my brilliant hairstylist Amy Gerber for a haircut last week, she exclaimed “Your skin is glowing! What are you using?”

It’s pretty safe to say that I’m never going back to store-bought moisturizers again. And as an added bonus, it’s done wonders for the psoriasis I have on my elbows.

Some fun facts about hemp oil: (Well, fun if you’re a nerd like me and get into that sort of stuff) it’s the only oil that has the perfect balance of Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. Plus, it has a natural SPF of 6, which I discovered after a day out in the sun sans sunscreen, when I burned everywhere except my face. It should be bought in small quantities and stored in the refrigerator, because it only has a shelf life of about three months once it’s been opened. You can even eat it, and while I have yet to do so, the Internets tell me it’s very good for you. I’ve been meaning to make a salad dressing with it — when I do, I’ll post the recipe.

Next up: Later, Shampoo.

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