When I was given the chance to write a post about Neutrogena Naturals, an eco-friendly skincare line, I was extremely excited. I am very much an advocate for being eco-conscious, and I love everything outdoors. When it comes to my skin, going as natural as possible is one of my biggest concerns. Our skin is delicate, and often times skincare with harsh chemicals and preservatives in them can irritate our skin with or without us knowing it. This Neutrogena Naturals line is a fabulous alternative to products with harsh dyes, chemicals, and preservatives in them, and the line has something for every skincare need. I am going to be taking you through seven of the products in this line, giving you my thoughts on each. Also, these products came in an amazing goodie bag, and I want to share the other pieces that came with it, and my thoughts on those, too. For plenty of eco-friendly yummy goodness,
The Neutrogena Naturals Skincare Line contains no harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, or dyes, and is dermatologist recommended. Each product, on the back, contains a percentage of which that product is naturally derived from. For instance, some of the products are 97% naturally derived, whereas one is 90% naturally derived. All of these products are cruelty-free and packaged in 100% recycled paper. One thing that Neutrogena does with this line that I greatly appreciate is that they break down how natural the product is, what the ingredients in the product are specifically, and the source of that ingredient (i.e, vegetable product). It can be so confusing to navigate “all natural” and “organic” products these days, both in the supermarket and in the beauty section, because the definition can be so ambiguous. Neutrogena makes it extremely easy to see what each product contains, where it derives from, and how natural it is.
Notice above that Neutrogena makes no qualms about what is inside of the product and where it comes from. It makes it really easy for the consumer to pick and choose their products based on ingredients.
Neutrogena Purifying Pore Scrub gently scrubs away at your skin, removing dead skin cells and exfoliating impurities. If there is a single favor that you can do for your skin, it would be to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Your skin cells turnover and if you don’t remove them with a scrub, they will build up on your face and clog your pores. Not only can they clog your pores, but they can make your complexion look really lifeless and dull. By exfoliating, you are keeping the top layer of skin clean and healthy, and you will notice a difference in your “glow.” This scrub has Jojoba beads in it, which are quite tiny, making it a “fine” scrub, which I like. I prefer my skin scrubs to have small, fine granules rather than large ones, so it doesn’t irritate your skin more than necessary. This pore scrub has a very light scent to it, and it really leaves your skin looking refreshed and glowing. I typically use this product 3-4 times per week, and I love to do it before I put on a face mask, because then the face mask is deeply penetrating my outermost layer of skin. This is a wonderful, effective scrub that gets rid of the dirt and grime on your face without irritating your skin.
Neutrogena Purifying Facial Cleanser is the “other half” to the previous pore scrub. It’s a really gentle cleanser that also contains Willowbark bionutrients, which is essentially a natural form of salicylic acid, making it perfect for acne prone or oily skin. I use this product in conjunction with the pore scrub above, making sure to cleanse my face with this product first. This has a really light, clean scent to it, and it is extremely gentle, which I was pleasantly surprised at, considering it left my skin feeling very, very clean. I enjoy cleansers that allow me to “feel” my skin after I use them, rather than feeling like they leave a residue. This left my skin with that “squeaky clean” feeling, which is perfect for after a workout, or a day wearing makeup.
Neutrogena Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer is a fantastic daily moisturizer for your face that is fortified with skin-perfecting vitamins like B, C, and E. This moisturizer is absolutely lovely, and I have made it my new morning routine! It has a light citrus scent to it, and it is extremely light and fast-absorbing, making it perfect to apply before your makeup. It leaves my skin feeling really smooth, like a baby’s bottom! I cannot even begin to tell you how important it is to use a moisturizer with Vitamin B, C, and E in it, no matter what age you are. The vitamins will help to restore vibrancy to your skin, but they also help to repair your skin cells. I focus this moisturizer onto the outer parts around my eyes, and around my mouth, because it will help prevent signs of aging. I realize that I’m only twenty-seven, but it’s not too early to think about anti-aging products. Prevention is key.
Neutrogena Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream is your perfect night cream. Your skin, and your body, in general, does most of its repairing while you are sleeping at night. This cream is much more dense and thick than the previous moisturizer, making it the perfect product to slather onto your face, neck, and chest at night. This moisturizer also has Vitamins B, C, and E in it, and it smells very similar to the previous moisturizer, leaving a hint of citrus behind. I love using thicker creams at night because it creates a barrier for your skin to really “drink up” all of the nutrients and antioxidants from the product. I have already noticed how smooth and beautiful my skin looks in the morning after using this product. My husband even commented that I had a “glow” to my skin!
Neutrogena Lip Balm is fortified with Vitamin E to protect and soothe your lips. Your lips are one of the most important parts of your body to nourish and protect. Your lips can easily become sunburned, and as you age, the skin there easily loses collagen and becomes thinner. Vitamin E is basically a “magic potion” for your skin and lips, so the fact that this has Vitamin E in it is really important to me. The lip balm is really soft and smooth, and stays on your lips. I wish this lip balm had SPF in it, which is the only thing I could possibly want more for in this product.
Neutrogena Fresh Cleansing & Makeup Remover is a lovely multi-tasking product for those busy days when you need a product to take off your makeup and cleanse your skin. This is a super gentle cleanser because it also removes your makeup and is especially good for around the eye area. The skin around the eye area is very thin, so being gentle with it is key to preventing wrinkles. This allows you to work with the product and not have to “scrub” away at your makeup. The very light, clean scent was pleasing, and it really got off all of my makeup and cleansed my skin, leaving it feeling very moisturized afterward. This product actually kind of reminds me of those old-school “cream makeup removers” where you apply them, and then tissue them off to remove your makeup. With this product, you wash it off, but it leaves behind that super hydrating feeling afterward.
Neutrogena Face & Body Bar is a multi-use soap bar that can be used on your face and on your body. It contains avocado and olive oil, which means that it has the “good fats” in it that will leave your skin feeling very hydrated and smooth. I’ve actually used other Neutrogena body bar soaps in the past and I love them. It’s great to take with you when you’re traveling, and it makes your skin feel extra luxurious. I have issues with the skin on my body being very sensitive to any kind of dyes, scents, or chemicals, and I will often break out in a rash just from something simple, like the wrong laundry detergent. This product really soothed my skin and left it feeling better. I also love that it is a two-in-one product that you can use for your body and for your face.
Overall: The Neutrogena Naturals Skincare line is here to stay in my bathroom. I loved every single product and I appreciate that Neutrogena is able to put out natural, eco-friendly products that are available to everyone in drugstores nationwide.
The Rest of my Eco-Friendly Goodie Bag:
Bobble Water Bottle: I actually own a pink one already, but I am glad to add another one to my collection. These Bobble Water Bottles not only look cool, but they filter out your water for you as you drink it. That colorful contraption at the top filters out all the yucky stuff for you so you’re drinking clean water. These are all BPA-free, which is extremely important, especially for us ladies who are susceptible to breast cancer and hormonal changes. Drinking out of plastic with BPA in it is not only dangerous for your health, but it’s bad for the environment. Purchasing a one-time, reusable, BPA-free water bottle is the best thing you can do for your health. I am constantly refilling my water bottle up because I drink water like a fish! You can purchase these online, but I’ve also seen them in stores like Target.
Natural Luffa Sponge: This one I was super excited about! I’ve never seen anything like this before, but it is actually an all-naturally grown luffa sponge, grown from heirloom seeds. It is softer than traditional luffa sponges, and it is completely non-abrasive. Grown in California, this can be used to scrub pots and pans, stoves, cars, and bathtubs! All you do to clean it is throw it into any load of laundry and allow it to air dry. How cool is that?! Seriously, I had to show this to my family right away because it’s the coolest “grown” beauty tool I’ve ever seen! I’ve been using it on my body, and it’s incredibly soft and makes my skin look so much healthier. I’m just sad that I don’t live in California so I could physically go visit this farm because I find it extremely neat. You can browse their website to purchase online.
Benefit Yoga Fan: is a roll-up glossary of yoga poses! It contains over fifty yoga postures with step-by-step illustrated instruction. This is really cool because you can literally pull out your yoga mat with this product and do your own yoga poses anywhere, anytime. I’ve been testing out some of the poses myself, and I find it to be really clear and well-illustrated. To see more instructional fitness fans, visit their website.
Crate & Barrel Organic Bamboo Tool Set: Oh, how I love thee! I cook with bamboo sets all the time, and I love them. They are my all-time favorite tools to cook with in the kitchen, so I was extremely stoked that this set was included in the swag bag! Crate & Barrel is an incredible home store, and if you ever get a chance to go into one, I highly recommend it. This particular set includes two spoons, one slotted spoon, and two spatulas. You can purchase this exact set online at their website.
Simple Squares Organic Snacks: These sound so delicious just by reading the outside of the packaging. One is nuts, honey, and sage, and the other is nuts, honey, and rosemary. These are wheat, gluten, dairy, and soy-free, with no refined sugar. These are chewy and delicious, and slightly sweet, which is totally great for an afternoon snack, or curing late-night sugar cravings. Not only do they taste amazing, but you can easily bring them with you to work or to class, in case you get hungry, or you want to eat between meals to keep from feeling ravenous. You can visit the Simple Squares website here.
- Use a reusable, BPA-free water-bottle. This reduces your use of plastic and helps your health, this way you are not exposed to any possible BPA in the plastic.
- Plant, plant, plant! It doesn’t matter if you have the smallest space to plant in, you can still plant some flowers or greens. You can easily create an indoor herb-garden in pots and keep them in or near your kitchen!
- Turn off your lights. This seems like a no-brainer, but it not only helps your electric bill but saves energy for the earth. I’m usually the one telling my husband to turn off the lights after he is done in a certain room, and while it may drive him a little crazy, he does appreciate the sentiment behind it.
- Shop at farmers markets, buy local. Produce can get expensive, but if you shop at farmers markets, you can often find a lot of fruits and vegetables priced very fairly. You can even negotiate with the seller! Buying locally when possible will also create less burden on our earth by reducing the need to travel and ship that product. Also, very often, local fruits and vegetables come from small, family-owned farms and will be completely pesticide-free (organic).
- Recycle. Besides recycling the obvious, such as soda bottles and cans, you can also recycle almost everything you own. Many beauty companies now have policies where if you bring back empty containers of product, they will give you free product as incentive to recycle. Some companies that participate include LUSH, Origins, and MAC Cosmetics.
What do you do to be more eco-friendly and green? Share your eco-friendly tips and tricks below!
[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]
NEUTROGENA® Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer is a daily lotion that replenishes essential skin nutrients while providing continuous moisture throughout the day for healthier, younger-looking skin. It contains no harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or phthalates.
NEUTROGENA® Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream replenishes essential skin nutrients and is fortified with vitamins B, C, E and anti-oxidant omega bionutrients. This nourishing cream is clinically proven to boost skin’s defense against dullness and roughness, leaving it naturally radiant, healthier and younger looking today and in the future. It contains no harsh chemical sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or phthalates.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Neutrogena via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Neutrogena.
Erin says
I really appreciate that Neutrogena listed each product’s ingredients, along with their sources, on their packaging. So many skincare lines list ingredients that trying to read and pronounce just make your head spin! I’m using Simple skincare right now, but when it runs out I may give this stuff a shot. It sounds fabulous!
Annabella Freeman says
I’m putting a few things on my US shopping list!