Transitionary skin routine, 6 months.
- leslydesirerivero
- Sep 13, 2018
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 14, 2018
I made the switch to mostly vegan hygiene products about 6 months ago and there's no looking back! I initially began this journey through my love for Lush Cosmetics a few years ago and then coming across Bomb'd Aesthetics on Instagram at the beginning of this year. After suffering from allergic reactions caused by mainstream soaps that irritated my skin, I decided to stick to strictly vegan soap. Read below for short reviews of the products I've been using since March:
Gynecologists recommend using either just water or an unscented soap to wash your Yoni. For years, I used Dove's unscented body wash for sensitive skin and I still came across some issues. My Yoni began to retaliate through its strongest tactic and my ladies know what I'm talking about. Besides, I realized Dove uses a bunch of ingredients I can't even pronounce and it started to gross me out. I switched to strictly the Rose Yoni Bar in my private area at first because the name drew me in -- I love roses and yes, there are rose petals in this bar. This soap also contains Olive Oil, Basil, Rosemary and Oregano herbs to promote proper hormone function. It's also infused with Apple Cider Vinegar to balance our feminine pH. This makes me feel so great and I have never felt any irritation, so it's a definite must recommend to all my friends who have labias! I refuse to use anything else down there. Please note that this is only for external use, but that's a given.
This was the first body soap I started using during my transition to vegan hygiene and it was the best one to start off with. At first, it was difficult since I was used to body wash and it only took a bit to get used to. It smells so great as it mixes with my skin and the Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Butter, and Essential Oil mixture. The Blood Orange scent is made from actual peels from the fruit and you just can't get anymore authentic with that! I paired this soap with a loofah in order to make it easier to clean my skin. This was great for my morning showers before work and it definitely uplifted me.
I initially bought this soap since I noticed it was supposed to help with hyper-pigmentation, which is quite an issue for me on my back and a mild issue on my face sometimes. I love adding turmeric to my food and have always heard how great it is for your skin, so I decided to give it a try. The ingredients are self-explanatory and wanted to point out that they use coconut milk rather than cow milk, which makes it still vegan. I can't imagine putting cow's milk on my body since I'm dairy free, but to each its own. This soap definitely made my skin glow and people began to compliment on how clear my skin was getting just a week in! If you want fast results without the pricey visits to the dermatologist, I would recommend giving this a try!
Revitalizing Lemongrass Poppyseed Bar
This product has been discontinued, hence the lack of a hyperlink. I absolutely loved this product and hope they bring it back! It was made with lemongrass and poppyseed, so the smell was amazing. The best thing about this bar was that it had poppyseeds on the bar, which made it work as an exfoliator. I used it directly on my skin and it always felt so amazing after a long day at work. During this time, I would use the Blood Orange Bar in the mornings and the Lemongrass Poppyseed Bar in the evenings. I loved this pairing and would definitely recommend to try this routine at least once!
This was another soap I used exclusively at night, hence "dreamy" in the name. Chamomile is known to be anti-bacterial along with promoting healthy skin and preventing acne. Chamomile is soothing, moisturizing and mild enough for baby’s skin -- so it's perfect for anybody! The detail in this bar was the actual flowers that was just super cute since I didn't expect it and no lie, right after I used it I would go straight to sleep.
Mocha Latte Coffee Scrub Bar
My love for scrub bars is definitely endless. Similar to the Lemongrass Poppyseed Bar, I used this soap directly on my skin. The bar I used smells just like coffee and chocolate mixed together, so I used it in the mornings before work. The exfoliation comes in with all natural coffee grounds, which is just intoxicating for me (I love everything about this)! I think they discontinued the Mocha Latte Coffee Scrub bar, which is sad for me, but I linked the Coffee Scrub Bar above since I assume it will be pretty similar.
Sweet Almond Pretty Ugly Bars
This product also seems to be unavailable, but I would recommend checking out their website for updates since Pretty Ugly Bars work as a clearance option (see the general link above). I love the entire idea behind selling two for the price of one since they aren't as "pretty" as the rest, but they work just as great. It saves money on both ends and prevents from wasting resources, which is always a plus. Sweet Almond is a scent that is a bit common to this company since it's also in their Lip Scrubs and Shea Butters, but I can't find a link for the soap bar so it may be discontinued at this point. The smell is great, but it is definitely scented. Tip: be careful using scented soaps on your body and keep it away from your Yoni, I wasn't careful once and it definitely caused irritation.
This bar is made just for oily skin, which is exactly what I have on my face, chest, and back.
The mix of activated charcoal and tea tree oil is scientifically proven to help with acne and hyper-pigmentation. Prior to buying this bar, I used charcoal face masks and tea tree oil is still a part of my facial care routine. I use this soap strictly on my problem areas mentioned earlier once a day. If you haven't used a product with tea tree oil before, keep in mind that it has an effect similar to when you eat peppermints. It may feel tingly at first, but it is definitely refreshing and helpful to restore your skin's balance. This is something that definitely works for people with mild acne and oily skin -- and this is coming from someone who was faithful to a Dermatologist and used strictly Mary Kay for an insane amount of time. Try this before you waste a bunch of money on prescriptions that are completely not necessary and can actually do more damage.
My first lip exfoliator was from ELF, which is another brand I absolutely love. ELF's lip exfoliator comes in a lipstick form, which was super easy to use. However, I definitely prefer the ones from Bomb'd Aesthetics since they have flavors. I have both the Strawberry Shortcake and Peach products -- not only do they smell amazing, they also taste great. In fact, I have to stop myself from applying the lip scrub just to keep eating it! One thing's for sure, it's definitely safe to eat since it only contains sugar, almond oil, and the flavor blend. I use this max once a day to make sure all the dead skin from my lips are removed, I'm all about not having chapped lips.
This is the go-to bar for seriously sore muscles since it's specifically molded with bumps to apply pressure. In addition, the jojoba oil, cocoa and shea butters melts into the skin for sensual experience. The vanilla provides skin-softening properties and the warming black pepper and ginger oils provides a spicy fragrance to really get you going. Since it's an oil bar, make sure you keep it in the fridge because it can melt. I used it on my bae once and he's not a fan since it's cold out of the fridge, but that means more for me!
This is another body butter bar that can even be used in the shower for its moisturizing effect. This saves time for those days where you don't want to dry yourself before you moisturize since it can all be done in the shower! The ground almonds mixed with shea and cocoa butter along with honey (nonvegan product due to bees) provide both exfoliation and intense gratification.
This soap was actually a sample I decided to try from Lush since it was so pretty. Since it was a sample, it didn't last that long and I actually just left it at bae's since I leave some little travel sized items for when I sleepover. The scent is just great and fairly unique since I'm not exposed to Elderflower on the reg. Although I liked this soap, I'm sticking to Bomb'd Aesthetics.
This was another sample I tried from Lush since I was interested in seeing what their facial soaps are like. This one is specifically for sensitive skin and includes some ingredients that we all know and love like: roses, chamomile, tea tree oil, lavender, and calamine. This soap is meant to keep your skin clean and clear of oil and dry patches. Calamine powder also keeps the troubled skin away. This was another soap I kept at bae's and it was okay, I guess. I wouldn't really spend my bucks on it and would prefer to sticking to Lush's facemasks.
I don't typically use bath bombs, but I made an exception for an insanely stressful day where I was ugly crying throughout the day. It contains one of my favorite items, cocoa butter and smells intensely of vanilla. I filled my bathtub with warm water and got lost in the music. I was definitely feeling better by the end of this bath.
I know, a mainstream product. I got this from one of my friend's as my birthday gift and she got me the lotion too! I used to be in love with Bath and Body Works -- Japanese Cherry Blossom will always be my favorite scent. Although the scent is to die for, I'm gonna keep using my vegan non-commercialized soaps since the ingredients I can't pronounce always puts me off. If you're getting me Christmas gifts, please be mindful of what products work for me. You can never go wrong with Bomb'd Aesthetics and Lush.
Last year I worked at a school in Harlem where I found out that my coworker and now friend makes her own products from home! I've been using this soap from her Etsy shop for months and I've seen a positive change in my skin. It no longer becomes dry and I can go all day without re-applying lotion. One thing to note is that you should never use African Black Soap directly on your skin since it may contain peels that can cause abrasions. I pair this product with her handmade washcloth in order to follow the product's instructions and it scrubs just enough, but it's also soft to your skin. African Black Soap is a gift from Allah since it's great for sensitive skin, fading blemishes/scars, treating acne/eczema/infections, and can even be used as a shampoo!
This product is also made by QueensOnPurpose and was given to me during the time where Martina was still trying it out, but it's now available for sale! This smells so great and some may compare it to Tootsie Rolls. The Cocoa and Shea Butter mixed with Jasmine Essential Oil is so moisturizing, all you need is a small portion and you're good for the day. In addition, this can be used to treat eczema and scarring. Not only is it great for your physical health, but also your mental health since it reduces anxiety and we all know I've got loads of it! The best thing about this is that it's a natural SPF and it helps regulate and relieve discomfort during menstrual cycles, so this is a plus for all my friends of color who also have vaginas. Speaking about vaginas, it also enhances libido (wink, wink).
This must be my favorite product from QueensOnPurpose and I own all of them. The Shea and Coconut Butter is whipped perfectly with lavender. Hence the name, it definitely releases my stress after a long day at work. Not only is it a stress reliever, but it also improves circulation and relieves achy joints and muscles. I gifted this to my friend's mom after she was suffering from depression and she applies it as she used a meditating app -- she told me she also loves it and it has reduced her symptoms. One thing I haven't tried yet, but definitely need to is applying it directly to my scalp since it combats hair loss. Not only am I a curly head, but I also have progressive alopecia -- I'll make sure to post an update once I start using it for this purpose!
This is another favorite and is definitely competing with the Stress Relief Body Butter. This product contains apricot seed oil and mango -- two of my favorite fruits! It soothes inflamed, itchy skin and definitely put me at ease after getting one too many bug bites while out on summer nights. A plus of this product is that you can use it all over as the title implies, so feel free to go crazy on your skin and hair!
This product is a seasonal product, so get it before it's gone! It's a natural sunscreen and utra moisturizing, so it's great for eczema and dry skin treatment. It's also infused with Jasmine and Honeysuckle Oils, so just smelling the aroma enhances my mood. If you have broken skin, have no fear because this butter will repair it. That one time I got sunburnt in Vegas, this product came to my rescue. This is one of the products I definitely want to eat, but will not because I'm an adult and I know it goes on my skin and not in my mouth lol.
Tom's Coconut Lavender Deodorant (for women)
This is a bit pricey, but it honestly lasts forever. It always kept my pits dry and protects against sweat. Although some people think it may not do the job, I used this all summer and it definitely did. It also has olive oil, which works against germs. I love its 100% natural fragrance and that it's free of artificial preservatives and animal ingredients.
When I didn't run out of the Coconut Lavender Deodorant, I used that one in the morning and this one at night. I love this since it doesn't have the damaging effects of deodorants with aluminum that can actually cause cancer. It also has tea tree oil, which is basically my favorite essential oil. As always, I love that it's free of artificial preservatives and animal ingredients.
This is actually the first product I returned to Lush since it did not work for me. It was so hard to use because it completely came apart and I was just put off by the situation. But, it's okay because not everything works for everyone.
After my dissatisfaction with T'EO, I received this product for free. I love it so far since I can squeeze some product from the bottle into my hand and just pat it on my armpit. It smells great and provides a powdery feel that keeps me dry throughout the day. I usually use this in the morning and it's something I would definitely buy with my bucks since it has proven that it's worth it.
I know this post was super long, but this sums up the last 6 months of hygiene products in the categories of soaps, deodorants, and body butters. Although most of these products are vegan, some of them aren't. In addition, these are my personal reviews and may not have the same effect on you. The companies that I swear by would be Lush and Bomb'd, so prepare to see more posts featuring their amazing products. Stay tuned for how I got my skin back after a horrible break out due to stress and hormones!
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