Simple Skincare & Haircare Hero Products I Love and Swear By!

I have been meaning to do this blog post for ages now. It has been saved in draft forever and I have finally finished it. I am sharing my favourite hero products, as well as mentioning some interesting facts and recommending better alternatives that are more eco-friendly and good, not just for you, but also for the planet too!

1. BIO OIL

My Absolute hero of all times! And I mean it when I say it! The one product I have used religiously for the past 14 years (you have my word for it), is the one and only Bio Oil! I first started using Bio Oil when I moved into the UK all those years ago and I have never stopped using it since. It is one of those products I use day in, day out, yet I never give it enough credit. I think that for my age, considering how much I have tanned my face over the years, not using sun protection, my skin looks ok. Whether it is down to the skincare I use, I have no idea but Bio Oil is just one of those products that I feel I see results from.

Dark pigmentation runs in our family and although we are all very lucky to have olive-toned skin, any discolouration therefore shows up even more prominently. My mum has dark spots, my grandad used to have them too and even my brother has some.

Although my skin used to be pretty oily in my teenage years, it had started getting drier as I started getting older. In my early twenties, I only used to use Bio Oil as a night care but over the past year or two, I had also started using it in the morning after washing my face as my skin seems to be able to take the extra hydration, especially in winter. If my skin ever feels less dry, I simply mix my Bio Oil with a moisturiser.

Bio Oil seems to tackle all the factors I look for in a product and it is so versatile! You can use it all over your body as well as your face and I have even heard people using it on their hair, which i have never tried myself. It is rich in natural ingredients and it doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients and is not tested on animals! There aren’t many products that wow me but this is just everything I wish for in one bottle!

Bio oil is also known to treat and heal scaring which has helped me with any scars left after picking spots in the past. I also use it all over my face, including the eye area and my lips! It’s just amazing!

Apart from helping with dryness, it helps to restore hydration, lighten dark spots and pigmentation and fight signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles. If you haven’t tried it yet and are in search for a great skincare product then definitely give it a try!

2. AVEDA EXFOLIATING CREME CLEANSER

Aveda is one of my latest discovered brands. The more I read about this brand, the more I love it! From ingredients sourcing to manufacturing, from packaging to charity work, there is nothing not to love!

The reason I love this product is because it is a great combination of a cleanser and an exfoliator in one, suitable to be used on daily basis. One tube does the job of two products which is therefore more sustainable and eco-friendly. I have known of Aveda for years but I have never really tried their products until I started using this cleanser. I love Aveda’s other products too which I will do a separate blog post for as I use many.

I also use their eye cream which you can see on the main photo of this blog but I have recently run out and have none left at the moment.

3. LACURA MOISTURE BOOST

Lacura Moisture Boost is a gel like moisturiser from Aldi’s cruelty-free range of products. It is the spitting image of one of Clinique’s hero products called Moisture Surge. But is it really that good? Guys, it’s in my skincare top 5 and I am writing a blog post about it, so YES, ABSOLUTELY!

The reviews of people that have had tried this product are 5 out of 5 stars and it is always out of stock which is why I stocked up when I came across it on Aldi’s website last time and bought three tubs.

4. LUSH SHAMPOO BAR

And here we are on another “hero” product of mine which is a product I will NEVER replace! I mean, why would I?

Cutting out all plastic out of your life is, let’s be honest, practically impossible! Trying your hardest, however, to use as least plastic as possible, is another thing. Remember, it’s the little things that matter that can make a huge difference!

This plastic-free, zero packaging shampoo bar by Lush is absolutely genious! It lathers up like a dream but at the same time, it doesn’t take you forever to wash out. It’s portable, perfect for home or travel and it can be used all over the body too.

I switch between Soak and Float and Jumping Juniper which are not only my two favourites because of their smell but they also fit my hair type. My scalp can be very dry and itchy and almost flaky at times. And Soak and Float bar targets just that!

On those days, that I feel like I need a proper deep cleanse, I use Jumping Juniper!

I honestly can’t rave about this product enough. I remember all the plastic packaging I used to get through just to wash my hair and body with, and there is honestly no need for that. Some items might be more difficult to get and I admit there is still some work to be done on many but, if you are looking for a fantastic shampoo bar then the ones by Lush are the ones to try! There are so many more to choose from as well, totally depending on your hair type.

One advice I would recommend, is to remove the bar out of your shower room after you use it. Don’t leave it to sit in water! It can easily melt and that way you could not only disform the shape, but also waste a lot of it.

I also use their conditioner but if I am being completely honest with you, as much as I love the fact it is, yet again, package-free product, it just doesn’t really work. It is too hard and doesn’t melt, even if you leave it in the water for a few minutes, like it was recommended to me by one of the Lush members of staff. For me to be converted, it will need some further development. But as I said, I am a huge fan and without a doubt I am sure they will soon launch an updated version. I hope so, anyway!

You can also purchase suitable containers to keep your bars safe and protected. I use their cork one as well as their metal one.

5. FACE HALO PADS

Make-up/baby wipes! Oh dear! Where do I even start?! Those cheap wipes that might seem so great to you for wiping literally everything with, are one of the biggest enemies of our environment! I honestly can’t stress enough how lazy people have got over the years. With most of them still not being biodegradable, do you know how long they take to decompose? 100 years! They actually outlive pretty much every single one of you! If they don’t end up in the landfill, they are likely to end up in our rivers and our seas. Being made of plastic materials, such as polyester or polypropylene they aren’t as fragile as we think.

Another piece of item that gets used and abused aren’t just make-up wipes, but also cotton wool pads. Without even realising, we can get through so many. Not only they are bad for the environment, but also harmful to our bodies. You probably wouldn’t believe it but cotton is the most peaticide-doused crop on the planet. Pesticides used on cotton are super toxic and extremely long-lasting. And so it’s likely that your cheap cotton pads have harmful pesticide residue on them and can get into your body through your skin.

Long story short – I was shocked when I found out how much harm I was causing by simply taking my make up off every night. I was therefore on a hunt for a good quality replacement that I could reuse instead of throwing it away after every use.

Then I came across Face Halo pads which are non toxic, reusable AND recyclable! Hurray!

These come in packs of 3 and all you need with them is JUST water! They don’t require make-up removal, but I have to admit that sometimes at the end I use a little small amount of my favorite B. Pure micellar water to be a little softer around the eyes.

You simply soak the pad in water and wipe your make up off, including your eyes and lips. There is no need to rub, just use it as you would a make-up wipe or a cotton pad. After use, I recommend to wash the pad immediately, using a bit of soap and warm water or you can also wash them in the washing machine too. I bought 2 packs just to make sure I have spare ones if needed.

They do cost more, in comparison to wipes or pads but, in the long term, they are a good investment and most importantly they are kind to our planet 🙂

6. B. PURE MICELLAR WATER

As mentioned above, I don’t use a lot of make-up removal anymore. If, however, I ever feel that my eye make-up is a little heavier than usual, I want to make sure all of it is taken off and I use a little bit of B. Pure Micellar water onto my Face Halo pad and go over my eye area again.

I buy this product at my local Superdrug store. Superdrug are great for their own branded cruelty-free and vegan products which is the main reason why I use it. It’s also great because it is ideal for all skin types and suitable even for those with sensitive skin, which is me.

Altough it comes in a plastic bottle, it is 400ml and it lasts me forever, plus – the type of plastic made for this product is widely recycled.

You may or may not know that at the bottom of most plastic containers you can find a small number inside the three arrow triangle recycling symbol. This number is a reference to what type of plastic the container is made of. Each plastic is composed of a different molecule or set of molecules and number one means it is the best type of plastic to recycle. Let me know in the comment if you knew that!

7. CHILD’S FARM BABY MOISTURISER

Before I start going into a detail about this product, I would like to mention that it isn’t what got rid of my eczema. It improved my skin dramaticaly, yes, but only temporarily. Would I recommend this to someone who is desperate to find an instant relief for eczema or psoriosis? ABSOLUTELY! But, please bear in mind that the only thing that got rid of my skin condition completely, and for good, was changing to plant-based diet and cutting out all dairy products ( I will do a full blog post about the struggles I had for years with my eczema).

So, now! Last but certainly not least, I must mention a product that made a huge difference to my skin when it was at its worst.

Possibly the best, cheapest, most effective product for irritated, eczema prone skin. My absolute life saver! A product I used 3 years ago when I my eczema was at its worst and a product I recommended to loads of people who are still thanking me today.

I first discovered this super cheap, very mildly fragranced baby lotion in February 2018. My eczema back then was getting worse and worse, day by day and NOTHING was helping. By that point, I tried everything! I can’t remember who told me about Child’s Farm but since it cost only a few pounds, I thought I had nothing to lose. Plus if you suffer with eczema, you will know exactly what I am talking about.

After using it for only a few days, I could feel the relief and I noticed the redness was going down. After a week, the difference was incredible. I even took pictures to show my progress.

If you suffer with eczema yourself, here is my advice to you. Go to your nearest Boots pharmacy, purchase this lotion which will hopefully have the same effect on you as it had on me and cut out dairy products ;-). If not forever, at least try it, because if youbarevas desperate as I was, you will do anything!

I might have sold this as an eczema product only, but that certainly isn’t the case. This lotion is amazing to use all over the body regardless of what type of skin you may have. Made for new born babies, it is absolutely safe for anyone to use!

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And this is it guys! These are my daily must have’s that I love and cherish and am grateful for. If you have any cruelty-free and vegan product recommendations yourselves, please let me know in the comment section below as I would love to check them out!

Thanks for reading! Lenks x x