How to Choose Truly Natural

How often have you found yourself standing in the grocery store, pharmacy, or beauty supply store with a natural hair or body care product in one hand and your smartphone in the other, perusing reviews and researching ingredients? For myself, too often! With so many natural products on the market, it's not unusual to become overwhelmed with selecting THE right product for your skin or hair, to the tune of seemingly impossible.

Don't fret! It is indeed possible to select truly natural products for your hair and skin type that you will not only feel good about purchasing, but you will feel better about using. Whether you have become especially interested in a particular ingredient or a specific brand, here are some tips to help you along your journey to investing in products that are right for you. 

Tip #1 - Identify YOUR  hair or skin care needs and goals.

No one size fits all here.

On a normal day, does your skin have the tendency to be more oily, dry, etc.?

Are your goals to have healthier hair, softer skin, a more even tone? Or, you may be more interested in maintenance. Whatever your goals, keep them at the forefront when scouting out new products.

Tip #2 - Select products that contain a considerably high content of natural key ingredients beneficial for your hair or skin type.

As a rule of thumb, I generally look for products that contain at least 90% of what I need for my hair or skin, as this allows an opportunity to make a fair conclusion as to whether or not the product is effective.

Tip #3 - More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.

I'm sure you have heard the adage "quality over quantity". I believe that it is definitely true here, however, I don't believe that price always equates to quality. Factoring the cost of the product versus its content saves you time and money.

Tip #4 - Be patient and consistent. 

In a society where "instant" is the ideal choice, the truth is, genuine results take time. Avoid the overnight ideals and cliches and pay attention to any noticeably good or not so good changes in your hair or skin. While there are a number of factors that contribute to the time it may take to see improvements, especially the severity of a condition, the 4-week general rule is a great place to start. If you do not see any signs of improvement after consistently using the product for a month, you may want to consider discontinuing use. 

Tip #5 - What's on the inside WILL come out.

It took me a while to get this! After years (and hundreds of products later) of focusing on striving to treat only my outer appearance, I learned that what I put inside my body is just as important, if not more important than "covering" up the outside. Honestly, the change in my diet in conjunction with exercise, after some time became the "light bulb" for me, as it was then I noticed my hair and skin looked and felt healthier. 

Ultimately, Wherever you are in your journey, be optimistic! You are not alone.