Welcome!

Eco Chic.

That’s what I wanted to call this blog.  But the name was already taken. The Natural Lady sounds more like an older woman, but I’m frequently referred to as an “old soul” so I suppose it fits, huh? 

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m the Natural Lady. Or with all of the talk of the royal baby this week, maybe I should go by Lady Natural. Anyway, I’m just a 27-year-old woman who works full time, attends grad school part time, and cares deeply about her body (skin included) and the environment.

I started this blog with the intent of sharing my experiences with “natural” personal care products (I used quotations because there is no official definition of what “natural” actually is in the personal care industry – but fear not! I will post descriptions of what I am referring to when I deem a product “natural”, “organic”, or “eco-friendly”) because I think the personal care industry can be a tricky one to navigate and so many people just don’t realize what harmful ingredients they are slathering on their bodies  on a daily basis. 

You may be wondering what authority I have to speak about natural or organic cosmetics and skincare products. Officially…I don’t. My bachelor’s degree is in psychology (and no, I won’t try to analyze you…bah dum tssss! Yeah, can you tell I’ve heard that one a few times?), I’ve never worked for a skincare formulating company, and I’m most definitely not an aesthetician or a makeup artist. I did take coursework on environmental science as an undergrad, though, so I’m very familiar with the impact of most of my purchasing decisions on the environment, and I currently work for a company that is somewhat related to the personal care industry. I won’t get into specifics, but I’ve picked up bits and pieces over time and what I learn at work really sparks my interest to do more research on my own, and my background in psychology has enabled me to think critically about everything I read including “highly scientific studies” and before I come to a conclusion about a product, I make sure I do some research myself – not just accept what other people tell me. If you are ever curious, I’ll gladly post my sources. I’ve also been wearing cosmetics since I was probably 5 years old. Dance Moms? Toddlers and Tiaras? Pshhh. I’ve been wearing eyeliner since before Mama June even thought up Anna, let alone Honey Boo Boo. In all seriousness, I’m really just interested in taking this little natural skincare/cosmetics obsession I have to the next level while I help others to find their natural “holy grail” alternatives to skincare and cosmetics products that may not necessarily have been good for them. 

Okay so maybe I didn't have model head shots like this as a child, but I was pretty damn cute! I'll work on posting some photos in the future.

One last note, I don’t preach. Girlfriend (or boyfriend! Hey, I respect a guy who wants a healthy skincare regimen, too!) if you want to moisturize with vasoline, tan with baby oil (though I wouldn’t recommend it as that was likely a contributing factor to my mom’s squamous cell carcinoma) or think silicones make your look like Jennifer Aniston’s: I’m not gonna judge you. I don’t know if there is a product – natural or otherwise – that will make my hair look that fabulous, but you can bet I’ll keep testing until I find it! This lifestyle (and yes, it has become a lifestyle) works for me. It is in line with my values and helps me to feel as though I am doing something good for my body and for the environment. It may not be best for everyone and I understand that and have nothing but the utmost respect for the decisions that all of my readers make about their skincare routines. Nobody knows you better than you (except maybe your mom. Moms know everything!)

 I am not suggesting that we all grab some plants and use only our own herbal skincare ;)

You can expect 1-2 posts a week from me (though if I stray from this frequency at first, I apologize. I am in grad school year-round in addition to working full time so at times I end up accomplishing less than I had hoped or anticipated because I simply don’t have the time to do everything that I thought I would) and I will highlight products that I’ve had the opportunity to try. I will discuss packaging, ingredients, and any facts about the companies that I think may be helpful to know. Oh, and I will most definitely discuss how the products worked on my skin – pictures will be included as possible! Until then…

Warm wishes for a healthy life,

The Natural Lady