When it comes to what we put on our skin, our scalp, nails, and so on, less is more.

I know it can be discouraging when you read everywhere that you can’t use this chemical or that ingredient, and so on. It’s easy to get bogged down by all this information and it can be very stressful trying to figure out if you are using the right products or not.

So I challenge you to simplify your routine and go back to the basics. Meaning, buy more products with ingredients you actually understand and want on your body, and get rid of all the other products that have confusing ingredients that strip your skin and scalp from its normal functions.

As an example, most women feel the need to put lotion on after a shower. Well let’s ask ourselves why our skin is feeling dry. Perhaps the shower is too hot, or more likely, perhaps you’re using a harsh body soap that depletes the natural moisture in your skin. Next time you buy body soap, go to your local farmer’s market and opt for a homemade bar soap with a few ingredients. You’ll find that the soap will clean your body without stripping your skin, allowing you to ween yourself off of lotion on a daily basis.

The same logic applies to mostly everything else you use on your body. Think about the cleansers, the creams, the makeup, the hair care, and so on. A good rule of thumb is you should be able to understand all, if not most, of the ingredients without looking them up on Google. Imagine that you can go shopping and not get annoyed with the labels you don’t understand, but instead look for ingredients you want your skin to soak up or your hair to benefit from. Below are a few examples of products that I personally use that have understandable ingredient lists.

1. Mama’s Merlot bar soap (via Sweet Harvest Farms)

2. Sow Your Wild Oats organic grain cleanser (via Brooklyn Herborium) – combine this with raw honey and it makes a great mask!

3. Sacred Lip Shine (via RMS Beauty)

4. Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil (via Evan Healy)

5. The Youth Dew facial serum (via Spirit Beauty Lounge)

6. Rose Water facial mist (via Amazon)

How are you going to simplify your beauty regimen?