Natural beauty products are those which contain pure ingredients, derived from nature.

Natural beauty products do not contain any synthetic chemicals.

There are lots of products available which are all-natural or contain mostly-natural ingredients.

Natural shampoo, natural face creams and natural soaps are all available to buy from Holland and Barrett, to add more natural elements to your daily routine.

Although sometimes the terms “natural beauty” and “clean beauty” are used interchangeably, there are some subtle differences between the two.

While natural beauty products use ingredients derived only from nature, clean beauty products can be either natural or made in a laboratory.

However, the ingredients contained in clean beauty products should all be proven to be safe to use on the skin, hair and body.

Clean beauty products usually do not contain ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulphates and petrochemicals.

There are lots of reasons why you might choose to use natural skincare products.

The main benefit of using natural skincare products is that you are only putting natural ingredients onto your skin and into your body.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and it is also absorbent. This means that whatever you put onto it will eventually be absorbed.

Some skincare products contain ingredients such as parabens, emulsifiers and oils to increase the shelf life of the product or to give it a particular fragrance.

These chemicals are often included to improve the texture or the look of the product, rather than having benefits which will specifically help the skin.

The chemical phthalates are used in the production of non-natural skincare products.

This chemical harms our ecosystem as it gets into our rivers and oceans, and threaten both sea life and the food chain. When you choose plant-based natural skincare, you are helping to reduce this.

When a beauty product is certified organic it means that at least 95% of the product’s formula is made up of organic, plant-based ingredients.

These ingredients were grown without any chemicals or fertilisers which could otherwise be harmful to the environment.

The ingredients in the product must also have been farmed using organic farming methods, which promote biodiversity and recycling.

Those following a vegan diet will want to avoid eating anything which is derived from animals. The same is also true of the beauty products they use.

Vegan beauty products do not contain any ingredients that are derived from or produced by animals.

For example, beeswax, honey, lanolin and collagen are some of the ingredients which are avoided in vegan beauty products.

Eating a vegan diet and living a vegan lifestyle has become very popular over the last few years with over 600,000 people in the UK in 2019 being vegan.

This represents 1.16% of the population.

As a response to its growing popularity, there are lots of vegan beauty products (https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/natural-beauty/vegan-beauty/) available on the market and so it is relatively easy to make the switch to vegan skincare.

Products available to choose from include vegan moisturisers, cleansers and toothpaste. You can give your whole beauty regime a vegan makeover!

It is possible to argue that one of the most beautiful things on the planet is nature itself.

Nature brings us the most fantastic array of colours and materials, and yet in the last hundred years we have spent much of our time trying to synthesise alternatives to the things that nature has already provided.

These days, we have started to become more aware and so a new movement has begun to take us back towards a more natural beauty routine that can make us feel as good as it makes us look.

The best natural beauty products

What you put on your skin is important, as we can react to products and ingredients in different ways.

This applies to all of the products you put on your body, including everything from your natural shower gel to vegan makeup, so choosing the right one is important.

Body wash

The Faith In Nature Lavender and Geranium Body Wash is made with 100% natural fragrance.

It also comes in completely recycled and recyclable packaging to ensure that it is not just your body that is clean - your conscience is too. 

Shower bombs

If you are looking for a more luxurious experience, then turn your shower into a spa with the Amoorra Breathe Shower Bomb.

Just pop it in the base of your shower and let the soothing mist surround you. The carefully selected combinations of aromas will mix with the steam, to create a sanctuary of tranquillity and wellbeing.

Body wash bars

The Ethique Lavender & Peppermint Bodywash Bar is one of the vegan beauty products that is taking the world by storm.

Formulated with coconut and olive oil, this solid bodywash bar begins to form a creamy lather, that will leave your skin feeling cleaned and moisturised. 

Natural haircare

Natural beauty products are not just aimed at the skin. There are typically a lot of products that go into your haircare that many people are now keen to be rid of too.

Shampoos and conditioners

The good news is that there are all sorts of shampoos and conditioners that now do just that, including the Australian Native Botanicals Ultimate Gloss & Shine Shampoo.

This uses some fabulous native Australian botanicals to gently cleanse the hair, leaving it fresh clean and rejuvenated. The Finger Lime extract both conditions and nourishes the hair, whilst lemon myrtle extract helps protect the hair from negative effects caused by external factors.

Once your hair is clean, you might need to condition it, and the Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Conditioner is a great way to do this naturally.

Blended with biotin, keratin and zinc, it moisturises and conditions hair, to get it looking and feeling thick and shiny for a whopping 30 days!

Shampoo bars

Another way to make the best natural choices for your hair is by using a shampoo bar.

Opting for a solid bar like the Earth Kind Bergamot & Sage Shampoo Bar might feel strange at first but it works beautifully.

Simply hold it under the water for a few seconds before rubbing it across wet hair and it will begin to work like a normal shampoo. Its highly moisturising organic oils and natural conditioning agents will work their magic to nourish hair and work with the vibrancy and intensity of coloured hair.

Nature is a clever and wonderful thing that has helped us to survive for thousands of years. Its power cannot be ignored, which is why so many of us are returning to it for our beauty needs as well as our ethical ones. By doing so, we can simultaneously protect ourselves and our planet, and with the range of products on offer, we can have some fun while we do it too!