Body butters, without parabens / too many chemicals?

[marksandsparksgal]

Hi everyone,

I'm changing my skincare to things that are more simple and with less chemicals, as I suffer with quite sensitive skin.

Can anyone recommend me a body lotion, or preferably, a body butter with no nasties in? I seem to remember a while back reading about one from a supermarket which fitted this description, (Waitrose or Tesco for a baby, but adults were using it?)

Thanks!

m&sgal xxx

[Beenie]

Yes, it was Baby Bottom Butter. Costs £2.99 for a smallish pot, but pure ingredients. Saw loads of it today at my local Waitrose.

[yenners]

Naked Bodycare (http://www.nakedbodycare.co.uk/body-cid220.html) available from Boots have natural products. I've used their shampoo for over a year now and can't be happier with the results. I've also used their body lotion and liked it as well

[marksandsparksgal]

Thank you! :)

[suep]

Have you tried any of the products from www.greenpeople.co.uk (http://www.greenpeople.co.uk) ? Ive heard they are very good and keep looking at the site, but I havn't ordered anything yet.
sue

[3tabbycats]

Or how about Lush?

https://www.lush.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=494&Itemid=80

[AliceGrainger]

Purity Project (http://www.purity-project.com/) is the first European brand to have all product formulations officially evaluated and declared safe and toxin free by the Cosmetic Safety Database (www.cosmeticsdatabase.org (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.org)) . They've also got a special offer on at the moment for all internet sales: 50% off
http://www.purity-project.com/pages.php?cmsid=22

[marksandsparksgal]

Or how about Lush?

https://www.lush.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=494&Itemid=80

I love Lush stuff, but some of their stuff does have parabens in (Lemon cuticle butter, helping hands hand cream, sympathy for the skin body lotion). Really miffed actually, as if Waitrose can do it, why not Lush?!

[Beenie]

Lush warning! Lots of their stuff has very bad skin irritants in the formulations - see Paula Begoun Cosmetics Cop on this topic.

[beautyscientist]

Lush products are great fun and they are marketed with great elan but I certainly wouldn't recommend them to someone with sensitive skin.

I know the OP is probably looking for something a bit easier, but the skin is quite complex and there are perfectly natural materials that are going to upset it. Synthetic materials used intelligently can be more suitable. I haven't seen it for ages, but there used to be a brand that used its lack of natural ingredients as a selling point. (I will remember its name as soon as I have posted it.) I was talking to the technical manager of a high street chain recently who told me that she wanted her suppliers to stop using so many natural products because they get more irritant complaints back from them.

Having said that the Waitrose Bottom Butter is probably a good choice, it is not all that natural in reality but it is very simple which means you have fewer ingredients that might cause you problems. It doesn't contain any water so it doesn't need a preservative, and it is fragranced with a single (synthetic) material, vanillin, which happens to be one of my favourite chemicals. I wish that they would do it without hydrogenating the olive oil though.

You could also try using olive oil as a cleanser. It may or may not work for you as a cleanser but it would definitely not harm your skin and would work out cheaper than all but the most bargain basement cleansing products.

The cheapest thing to try might be to simply drink a lot more water. There is a study that suggests drinking 2 litres of water a day is beneficial to your skin.

[marksandsparksgal]

Thanks beauty scientist! I didn't actually put my problem across very well. My skin is sensitive in the fact that loads of stuff seems to bring it out in spots (and I'm nearly 24!) My skin was never too bad, but hen I moved to Germany for a year, and ever since then (I've been back home for 3 months now in the uk) my skin has gone mad. Diet and exercise don't seem to do much to improve it, I'm getting spots everywhere, where before they were concentrated mainly on the T-zone of my face, now I get them on my cheeks, back, have even had a couple on my legs. For my face I've switched to Liz Earle (which is brilliant) and am in the process of changing my makeup to mineral (but try to go without as much as poss). As for diet, it's pretty good, I drink loads of water, don't smoke and don't drink alcohol very much at all. I could probably do more exercise, but again, I don't do badly.

I just hope it's something I'll grow out of, with the right skincare, as I don't want to get to the point where I have to go to the docs for medication for it, which as *touches wood* yet it's not gotten that bad.

If anyone can think of anything else, I'd welcome advice.

Thanks again for all of your input!

xxx

[beautyscientist]

If you are having trouble with spots you might experiment with cutting out large helpings of carbohydrates at a single sitting. My reasoning is given here in a long blog post I have written on the effect of the diet on acne. (http://colinsbeautypages.co.uk/can-your-diet-cure-acne/). Basically I have a notion that high blood sugar levels can lead to inflammation of the glands in the skin.

[marksandsparksgal]

Thanks very much or the tip, thinking about it, I do eat quite a few carbs. I will definitely give that a go, if only for the healthy eating part. I love your site by the way, it makes for very interesting reading.

Thanks once again. :)

[treliac]

Yes, it was Baby Bottom Butter. Costs £2.99 for a smallish pot, but pure ingredients. Saw loads of it today at my local Waitrose.

I have some - lovely stuff for smoothing and softening the skin and inexpensive too. Highly recommended.

[marksandsparksgal]

Thanks for your input treliac, I had the boyf pick some up the other day, and shall be testing it tonight. Will let you all know!

xxx

[Dollymop]

I use Ren - it has no nasties in and is especially good for sensitive skin.

It is quite pricey £16 for Rose shower gel and £24 for the Damask Body Cream - but you can get it on ebay. I just won both products for £16.

If you don't want to go for Ren try Liz Earle.

Hope this helps - and it's fab that you're taking a more natural approach to skincare, after all your skin is your largest organ :A

[Dollymop]

and am in the process of changing my makeup to mineral (but try to go without as much as poss).


xxx

Try Chantecaille Future Skin.

It contains seaweed Apparently seaweed controls the production of excess sebum while "charged" water increases the skin's moisture level. This foundation reduces the appearance of flaws, using light reflective pigments, and leaves your face glowing and looking dewy.

I must say I stopped using this and went to a chaper one, but I always go back to Chantecaille because I get spots if I use anything else.
Have never tried mineral based powde ones yet though, although I will try and get round to it.

[marksandsparksgal]

Hi Dollymop,

Thanks for the recommendations. I've been using Liz Earle shower gel (bought a kit from QVC a few weeks ago) which is also lovely! Sadly I ran out of the body lotion, and was just looking to see if there are any other nice things out there before I put a giant order into Liz Earle.

Where did you get the Chantecaille from? I'd like to use a brand that has an outlet / branch, rather than just online, as I'd like someone to tell me which colour I need (I am rubbish with choosing foundation shades), and then buy it online after that.

And as for my skincare, to be honest, I am just sick of the spots! I am a teaching student and I have more of them than some of the kids in my class, not the best job to be in with bad skin lol.

Once again, thank you.

[the devil made me do it]

Although I try to use as many natural products as possible, they tend to be very expensive. If anyone can direct me to cheaper products, I'd be more than willing to check them out :)

[the devil made me do it]

Naked Bodycare (http://www.nakedbodycare.co.uk/body-cid220.html) available from Boots have natural products. I've used their shampoo for over a year now and can't be happier with the results. I've also used their body lotion and liked it as well

Decent price, shame about the delivery charge :rolleyes:

[treliac]

Thanks for your input treliac, I had the boyf pick some up the other day, and shall be testing it tonight. Will let you all know!

xxx

Another thought, m & s gal, I've also got a jar of coconut oil, bought in Boots. However, have just looked at it and it's full of chemicals as well :o
It is solid in the jar and melts as you scoop some into your hand - it does smooth into the skin well. I'm disappointed that it's not as pure as I had imagined though.

Good luck with the BBB tonight.

t x

[anguk]

Although I try to use as many natural products as possible, they tend to be very expensive. If anyone can direct me to cheaper products, I'd be more than willing to check them out :)
I think Pure Nuff Stuff (100% natural) is pretty reasonably priced.
http://www.purenuffstuff.co.uk/

Or have a look at Pure Skin Care, they sell lots of different brands.
http://www.pureskincare.co.uk/index.html

[judgejaq]

You might be interested in an offer the Telegraph has on Saturday, for a free Spieza organic moisturiser - it's a facial oil rather than a cream:

Spieza offer (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?view=CAMPAIGN&grid=A1NoGoogle&pg=/ETHtml/content/promotions/2008/10/24/spiezia_organics/spieza_organic_offer.jhtml)

I should imagine you'll have to pay postage (it doesn't give any details yet) but it's cheap way of trying out a more expensive brand.

[marksandsparksgal]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Well I used the baby bottom butter last night, and it's wonderful. It took a while to get used to, as I thought it'd be more fluid than it is (akin to body shop butter), and this is more waxy in texture, but it's excellent. A smallish pot, but you really don't need much at all, and I have lovely, lightly scented skin. Kudos to whoever found out about it!

[nesssie1702]

I've been using Waitrose's Baby Bottom Butter for about a month now - it's great stuff and is brilliant on elbow skin (my DH's elbow's have never been so soft!)

I normally get very dry skin on my face at this time of year, and so far using the BBB, there's no sign of it. Couldn't use it during the day though, as it's very greasy, but great as a night cream and lip balm rolled into one!