What is Drying Your Skin?
Washing hands literally saves your skin in more ways than one, especially when healthy skin is often our first line of defense. But are you paying attention to what is aggravating your skin other then the act of frequent hand washing?
Few years back, I had a spell of skin break-out from using a new laundry detergent. I got better after switching back to my old detergent but I noticed my hand washing and dish washing soaps also caused tiny blisters and persistent dryness despite the constant application of lotion.
I went through various products until I found these three natural/organic items and have been using them more than a year.
Happy You, Happy Skin
And of course, when you take good care of your mind, body, and spirit, your skin bounces back faster. As I recovered from the break-out, I’ve eliminate certain food and used various methods to heal myself.
And now, unless I am washing my hands or dishes from cooking all day long, I only need to put the lotion on my hands once before bed.
Hand Washing Soap
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Baby Unscented Liquid Soap
[Unscented] If you have any kind of skin or respiratory issues, always start with a clear, fragrance free version.
[Customizable] The beauty of the unscented soap is that you get to make it yours by adding essential oils you already have. This way you get to change it up as often as you like.
If you are like me, you’ll need this list of trusted and not too expensive brands recommended by a friend experienced in using essential oils. All three companies list the country of origin, a good thing!
- Mountain Rose: large organic selections
- REVIVE: free shipping, free return for all orders to USA, Canada, Australia
- Rocky Mountain Oils: free shipping over $25 (USA only)
[Money Saving] One 32 oz bottle will last you a while because you really need to dilute it. I didn’t knew about this the first time I tried it and it took me a while to wash it all off. So, check their dilution cheat sheet before first use.
You can adjust the ratio to your liking. I do 1 part soap to 5 part water, only pump out a few drops each time so I don’t have to refill as often. Again, it may feel very watery but it foams up well.
Dish washing Soap (for washing by hands)
ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid, Fragrance Free, Sensitive Skin, Hypoallergenic
The colloidal oatmeal is the key ingredient that keeps my skin happy. I also noticed that I don’t need to use extra amount just because it’s an “eco” soap.
I had a sticker shock when I first saw it on Amazon. So I tried using Dr. Bronner’s for dish washing for a while but I didn’t like it and it dried my skin out more than I expected though it did not cause blisters.
Out of desperation, I bought one bottle to test. Lucky for me, I like how my skin was not nearly as dry as using other products. I then ordered direct from Attitude (Canada) to get it at the actual price. I also bought in bulk to save on shipping and get the discount.
If you are new to Attitude online shop, you can get $20 off and I get 10% off after you completed a purchase.
Or, if your skin is not as “princessy” as mine, you might consider other options they offer. These have a more reasonable prices.
[ UPDATE 4/30/21 ] ATTITUDE no longer produces “ATTITUDE Sensitive Skin, Hypoallergenic Dishwashing Liquid, Fragrance Free” that I recommended. Instead, I have replaced and tested the “Baby Bottle & Dishwashing Liquid” under their Sensitive Home Cleaning line. The image shown is the latest look which may be different from it’s Amazon product page.
Hand Lotion
Gabriel (White Seaweed) Healing Hand & Body Lotion
- Fast absorption, not oily
- A drop the size of a dime covers both hands and wrists. a little goes a long way.
- Keep skin moisturized longer (no frequent application needed)
- “Gabriel Green” recycle program: send empties back and get a free product
Find Your Own Combo Set
Even though these products work for me, they may not be for you. In this case, a safe start would be to search on EWG.org (The Environmental Working Group) in Skin Deep guide and Cleaning Product guide.
P. S. Want more USA made goods? See what else I actually use or shop at my Made in USA Amazon Store.