Natural Vegan Beauty Products – Veganuary Series

A review of the natural vegan beauty products I regularly use for my hair, mouth, and body. Part 2 of my Natural Vegan Beauty Series for Veganuary. Check out Part 1 to read about my facial skincare.

HAIR

My hair has always been pretty low maintenance. It is Asian, so generally it is quite straight, sleek, and prone to get oily – though I can get the occasional curl.

I used to shampoo and condition my hair every single morning. Then, about four years ago a friend mentioned to me how washing your hair everyday can strip it of its natural oils and she was training her hair to wash it less. At first I thought I could never follow suit, but I decided to give it a go. Since then I have read about the ‘no poo’ movement (from Madeleine Olivia), and oil training (from Lee from America), and slowly but surely been training my own hair to go from daily washes, to now washing it 2-3 times a week. If you’re interested in more natural haircare, these are the products I use and recommend:

Shampoo and Conditioner

• Maui Moisture – I discovered this brand through Naturally Stefanie and have been using their hair products since March 2018. Using a blend of aloe vera juice and coconut water, their shampoos and conditioners are reasonably priced, smell fantastic, and leave my hair soft, smooth, and moisturised.
• Faith in Nature – These shampoos and conditioners use natural ingredients, smell lovely, and work well with my hair. If you’re based in the UK, look out for them in Holland and Barrett’s Penny Sale, where you can often buy 1, and get another for 1p (perfect for buying a shampoo and conditioner set).

Coconut Oil Hair Mask

I like to do a coconut oil hair mask every couple of months or so – it leaves my hair so soft and nourished! Lee from America has a fantastic explanation of the process on her Instagram, but here is a quick run-down of what I do:

1. Take about ½ cup melted coconut oil and lather it into hair, making sure to cover from the roots to the ends.
2. Pull hair into a bun and leave it (the longer the better, I aim for 12-24 hours, depending on what I’m doing that day).
3. Wash it out in the shower; I’ll often shampoo twice to make sure the coconut oil is all washed out of my hair, and then condition as normal.

A quick note on Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil is good for much more than just cooking and baking! I tend to keep a jar in my bedroom for beauty use, and a jar in the kitchen for cooking and baking. Some of my favourite coconut oil brands are Coconut Merchant and the Coconut Company – I try to get organic extra virgin coconut oil.

Dry Shampoo

I don’t use dry shampoo too often, but sometimes it’s a real lifesaver in a pinch.

• Colab Dry Shampoo Spray Active – I started using Colab’s dry shampoo, after seeing Rebecca from @thezestylime recommend it. I personally like the smell, and it gives my hair a great refresh.
• HASK Argan from Morocco Dry Shampoo – My sister gave me this dry shampoo to try out just last month, and so far I have been loving it. It has quite a neutral, pleasant smell, and again makes my hair look fresh and grease-free.

MOUTH

Toothpaste

I started using a natural toothpaste a few years ago, when I learned about the chemicals, preservatives, and fluoride in most commercial toothpastes. There are a few differences I noticed after making the switch. Most notably are that the natural toothpastes I have tried work up less of a foaming lather while brushing; and also leave less of a strong aftertaste (which I really appreciate!). I have tried and liked using the following three brands, all of which leave my teeth and mouth feeling clean, and give me peace of mind knowing they’re made from natural ingredients:

• Taylors 32
• Kingfisher
• Sarakan Toothpaste

Tongue Scraping

About a year ago I bought a tongue scraper on Amazon. I started using it and have not looked back! When I first heard about tongue scraping, I thought the concept sounded quite strange. After reading up on it, I thought it couldn’t hurt, and now my mouth doesn’t feel truly clean without it. There are many benefits to tongue scraping, many of which are outlined in this article. The convincing factor for me was learning that almost half the bacteria in your mouth lives on your tongue, and tongue scraping is proven to significantly reduce that bacteria. You’ll want to invest in a copper tongue scraper since copper is antibacterial.

• Arista Ayurveda Copper Tongue Scraper

BODY

Deodorant

Many commercial deodorants can contain chemicals, including aluminum, which studies have linked to potential health issues. Fortunately, there are a number of deodorants on the market that use natural ingredients that I have found just as effective.

• Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant – These deodorants are lovely! I personally love the smell, and for me they’re effective and long lasting. You need to hold the stick against your body for a little bit before applying, so that your body heat softens the stick. If there’s any white residue left after applying, you can easily rub it in by hand and it quickly disappears.
• Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant Stick – The first natural deodorant I switched to, Tom’s of Maine is still a favourite of mine. These sticks are non-greasy and non-sticky, with a neutral smell that applies very easily.

Body Soap

My main criteria with body soap/wash is that it has to smell good. The cleaning part is an added bonus! I have tried out a few body soaps/washes over the years that all work well for me:

• The Body Shop British Rose Exfoliating Soap and The Body Shop Fuji Exfoliating Soap, Green Tea – Both of these soaps smell wonderful, plus the rough texture is very exfoliating!
• Schmidt’s Lavender and Sage Natural Soap – Lavender is one of my favourite scents, so this soap is an automatic winner for me.
• Original Source – These shower gels use essential oils and result in a tingly feeling that really wakes you up in the morning.

Body Lotion

Coconut oil – Coconut oil is both antibacterial and deeply moisturising, so I like to use it as body lotion. After a shower, I’ll rub coconut oil over my whole body, except for my face. If the oil needs to be melted (i.e. in the winter), simply rub it between your hands and it’ll melt from your body heat straight away.

Hand Soap

My sister kindly gave me some vegan foaming hand soaps to try out last month, and I am loving them! My hands get very dry in the winter. I have found using these natural soaps are much gentler on my skin. Plus, they smell amazing!

• Bath and Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soaps, Vitamin Boost
• Bath and Body Works Purely Clean, Peach Bellini

Hand Lotion

As I mentioned, my hands can get extremely dry in the winter! So a good hand cream is a must, and this one from The Body Shop is my favourite. The lotion has a lovely scent, and sinks deep into the skin, leaving it very moisturised.

• The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream

Lip Balm

I am also quite prone to chapped lips (especially in the winter months – are you sensing a theme?). These vegan lip balms keep my lips feeling nourished for hours on end. I never leave the house without a stick in my pocket or bag.

• The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture-Protection Lip Care
• Hemp Heavy-Duty Lip Care