Sigh. If only I could give up lip balm. My lips are naturally chapped. Something about the angle of my lips and the angle of my nose creates a perfect storm of constantly chapped lips year round. I have switched to Burt's Bees or other natural lip products. But I can't use nothing or else my lips crack and bleed.

I've tried all the tricks on this one, but in the end still have to use shaving cream (not gel etc.) or my legs end up looking like they have leprosy because of the way my skin is. Anyone have better shaving suggestions for super sensitive eco-friendly alternative options besides the ones above? (P.S. Not shaving is not an alternative. Gross.)

If you have severe nasal allergies and breathe through your mouth (feel free to insert jokes here) then, no, your lips cannot maintain their own moisture. If I don't use medicated lip balm as a preventative measure before bed in the winter I wake up with bloody, cracked lips. Plus, lip balm tastes better than smearing sunscreen on my lips.

I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind some of these. Am I correct in thinking that lips literally have no moisture glands and that the skin is extremely thin?

And not everyone's skin or body is the same, so people have to choose what works for them personally. Athough it's good to think about these issues with a contemplateive eye towards one's own medicine cabinet, one person's silly luxury is another person's basic hygiene necessity.

@veronicainla

I wax with homemade sugering. It's like Nads, but you just cook up the sugar yourself. It's the only thing I've found that works on my sensitive skin with no issues. I can't shave.

I live in Colorado and yes, while my lips can maintain their moisture just about anywhere else, even WITH lip balms in Colorado they are always a peeling, bleeding mess.

Sadly, the only product that keeps them soft and supple is Vaseline. Bag Balm, with its lanolin, is less petrochemically, but until I find something that keeps moisture in as well as Vaseline, my lips will be like a mini Gulf of Mexico.

Hear, hear on the rest of it! I do not shampoo or use body wash. I use conditioner, but only to shave (works as well or better than creams, gels, and foams). Most of the bottles in my bathroom involve acne treatments - and please do not talk to me about Vaseline and breaking out; I've had awful skin for sixteen years now and have only been using Vaseline for two. NOT RELATED.

*petrochemical-ish? I don't know.

When winter hits, I can NOT live without my lip balm. Believe me, I've tried.

I'll have to look up the homemade sugaring, my legs are super sensitive too.

There's a blogger I follow called Karol Gajda. He sort of travels for a living, and lives out of a backpack. So one of his considerations is always space. He swears by shaving oil for shaving and uses Dr. Bronner's not only to wash but for brushing his teeth. Haven't tried it out myself yet, but Dr. B's is on my shopping list.

@ copperwire, I always wondered why I couldn't live without lip balm! (Fellow allergy-sufferer and mouth-breather here.) Thanks for clearing up the mystery.

I can't imagine giving up conditioner, but at least I don't use two. I just shampoo and then put and leave in the "deep grapefruit conditioner" from Burt's Bees, or the Yes to Cucumbers conditioner, in after I towel my hair dry. I suppose that I could try some kind of olive oil concoction or something, though. Does anyone have a recipe?

In a effort to cut down on the number of products I take camping, I've always taken Dr. Bronner's soap. I use it as a shampoo, body wash and 'tooth paste." I like the peppermint. It is an acquired taste. It doesn't taste
good' but it gets the job done. Lately though, I've just purchased a travel size tube of toothpaste. That should tell you how 'good' it taste!

I try to use all natural cleansers and stuff that I make myself... but I can run a little short on time. But I'll say that I really enjoy the oil cleansing method for washing my face, eliminates the need for moisturizer (just a little more time consuming than soap). But I found that using jojoba oil on my lips and other dry areas generally works better than moisturizers in general; sesame, olive and coconut oil also work pretty well too.

We buy a natural bar soap for in the shower and I just cut off a small chunk of that for brushing my teeth, I've been doing this for about a year and my teeth feel great.

The only products I have in my bathroom are aforementioned soap and a bottle of baking soda water for my hair, My boyfriend has shampoo and body wash but he's been trying to work through those for about 2 years now(Short hair doesn't need a whole lot)

I'm curious about the sugaring, does it hurt like waxing? I have sensitive legs too and shaving HURTS.

QChan and others curious about sugaring: it's just like waxing in that it pulls out the hair, so it can be painful. It also takes some practice to spread the sugar thinly enough to be effective, and to make your sugar in the first place.

That said, after a while, it stops hurting, and you don't even notice it, and, for me at least, the hair has grown back thinner and thinner each time. I have hardly any hair on my legs any more. I would never go back to shaving them.

I would not, however, recommend sugaring for underarms or bikini line; that hair tends to be very strongly rooted, and is best left to a professional.

I use V05 shampoo (it isn't tested on animals and comes in lots of great scents) for all soap purposes (hand soap pumps, shampoo, shower body wash, shaving "cream", but not dishwashing). It can even fill in for laundry detergent if necessary.

Lip balm is my one and only on this list. I was somehow blessed with very fine body hair and can even dry shave without any issues. My armpit hair is about the same thickness and density of that on my legs and I can go without shaving either for quite a while. My shampoo doubles as soap, but we use Dr. Bronners anyway.

I find I don't use a separate facial wash and toner… I just use witch hazel and have had blemish free skin for years.

But lip balm? Oh, you can pry that from my cold, chapped Canadian lips. Trust me, spend any time waiting for a bus in the cold winter air, or in a dry building with a head cold and you'll have a hard time believing that lips can maintain their own balance without a little assistance…

i think most folks drink less water in the winter because they don't become as dehydrated as easily as in the warmer months. If you drink 1/2 a gallon/day or so of water in the winter, you probably won't get bleeding/chapped lips (except in cases of extreme skin conditions, of course).

i don't use any of these products. instead, i use a wash cloth, dr. bronner's baby soap, and almond or avocado oil if i'm in need of moisturizer. these oils have TONS of natural vitamin E and they help retain skin moisture like none other!

Ditch face cleansers all together! I haven't tried it yet (no money) but I plan to switch to the oil cleansing method to wash my face. Use a blend of castor oil and another oil which you may already have (like olive oil) to cleanse your face.

Yeah, Dr. Bronner's is great until you use it to clean your nether regions.

My shampoo, conditioner cost way more than shaving cream and honestly nothing makes for a better shave than my shaving cream. I'm all for using an all over body moisturizer on my feet -- as soon as I get out of the shower I lather up with moisturizer while my body's still wet. It works wonders!

As far as toner goes, my skin still needs it, however I sometimes replace face wash with honey. Oddly enough it works really well.

On yet another note I won't switch to regular bar soap because it leaves more of a soap scum film in my shower. I'd rather pay a little extra to use bodywash and not have to use as much elbow grease when I clean.

carrya1rose...
It's not that we don't drink enough water. I too am a mouth breather...(and get lots of crap for that!)...and have to have lip balm with me at all times. Dr. Bronner's makes a great peppermint lip balm. Also, lips burn very easily and spending a great deal of my time at the beach and in the ocean, I have to use a balm that also has suncreen. I have seen the effects of lip cancer and it is not pretty. You put sunscreen on your face, how can you not put it on your lips?

I can not agree with the leave in conditioner. For my curly hair, even with a sulfate free organic shampoo, I use a leave in that detangles like nothing else. As for using something natural, that can't be your guide. Lemon Juice, Apple Cider Vinegar and Dr. Bronner's are all natural, but are all too acidic or alkaline to use without changing or damaging hair. For me, even diluted Baking Soda was too drying for my hair and scalp. We are all so different, there is no way a sweeping classification like natural or organic can tell you what will work for your skin or hair.
I love Dr. Bronner's for shaving my legs but not on my hair.
I do love coconut oil and olive oil on my skin and hair!
A great moisturizing deep conditioner for me is:
3 tablespoons of honey
1/2 avocado
3 table spoons of olive or coconut oil
1/2 a banana (remove the seeds)
puree and leave on hair for 30 minutes
rinse well and do a quick conditioner wash after - I only do this because it does smell a little like salad, but it leave dry hair feeling amazing!

I am no-poo and my hair has never felt softer! It doesn't get that grease smell anymore, no more dandruff, and I only wash 2-3 times a week (baking soda every week or two, apple cider vinegar/cinnamon stick every few days, water only the rest of the time). I had to give it some time to work though - at the beginning, my hair was super-greasy! My hair is wavy/curly and super thick (4.5"pony tail).

I'm also OCM, so I wash my face with water-only for the most part, use rosewater or witch hazel as toner and coconut oil to moisturize (with a jojoba steam once a week). I use Aubrey Organics deodorant, which is basically a blend of oils (though, since simplifying my routine/going vegan, I don't feel like I need deodorant as much as I used to). And I use very basic, organic soap off etsy or from the health food store. I do enjoy letting my body regulate itself, instead of, for instance with shampoo, stripping the naturally oils then adding artificial oils back in with conditioner. Eating healthily, exercising and simplifying my beauty routine have worked really well for me! (Though, of course, every body is different).

I guess some of these things, I *do* use, but I make them myself or just use kitchen ingredients. body scrub = brown sugar coconut oil. leave-in conditioner = coconut or jojoba oil. toner = rosewater or witch hazel.

But, I should add, I am never giving up my lip balm! I love Avalon Organics Vitamin C or Crazy Rumors! :)

I've never managed to use anything different for shaving cream, it never works how it was supposed. Aftershave is important not to close the pores, but also do clean any nips that might result from the shaving (the alcohol in the aftershave, that is).
Don't know in colder countries, but in a hot one a lip balm might be extremely necessary if you are outdoors for a long part of the day.

shana: what if your lips have just become addicted to balm? After all, if you manually apply moisture to your skin, why would your skin bother to make its own oil? Wouldn't it stop altogether so when you stop applying the balm, your lips just... dry out?

But I don't know. The "angle" thing doesn't make any sense either.

I have been using Kirk's castile soap for body and hair...incredible suds! But rinses out easily. And I use organic coconut oil for conditioner which I put a very small amount (short hair) in my hair and leave it in. No build up - I have been using for a year. My hair has never looked better and so very shiney. I too use olive oil or the coconut oil for dry skin...my feet really need an oil treatment!!

If you have babies...please think about using Kirk's Soap and the coconut oil so baby doesn't absorb chemicals.

I brush my teeth with baking soda/salt. Brushing with seaweed is good for the gums too.

I sometimes do an avacodo or oatmeal mask. Also, baking soda can be used for whitening grey hair..use as a mask on the hair. There is baking soda without aluminum.

Save money - don't buy chemcials. Blessings to all of you!!!!!

I started an experiment a few months ago and gave up face wash and toner and moisturizer - I just use a small loofah with no soap on my face and my skin has never looked better! Also I must be saving a fortune there.

Also, Dr. Bronner's is the best - I use the eucalyptus soap for my body with a washcloth. Smells like a spa!

My all purpose product is Dove beauty bars (note that Dove is a detergent, not a regular soap). I use it to clean my skin via a loofah, shave, and wash my hair. I have very fine, very oily hair. Dove does a great job of cleaning it while still leaving enough oils to control the fly-away strands (no conditioner needed!). It probably isn't a good fit for everyone, but it has been a god send to me!

Re lip balm, that is one item I'll never judge or debate with people about... because severely chapped lips really hurt!!!! Maybe it is like training your hair to clean itself and eventually your lips will learn to hydrate themselves. However, greasy hair for a few weeks doesn't hurt. Lip balm is cheap and minor indulgence to avoid major discomfort. I really don't like pain. :-D

"Recommendations for shaving cream replacements include shaving oils, conditioner, or even simple soap, which can work just as well without the harsh chemicals."

I dont't know about leg shaving, but people with sensitive skin or those prone to acne should try to stay away from using soap to shave their face, and body wash is a lot less messy in the shower than soap is (leaves less residue). Truth is that soap has a lot of harsh chemicals and is a drying agent which removes dirt and oil from the skin - which is great if you're washing your hands, but not so great for your face. Using a gentle shaving cream infused with moisturizer is just a lot better for your skin. It keeps the glands in your skin from having to produce excess oil when agents such as soap wash it all away.

I don't use aftershave anymore, instead I use a basic over the counter moisturizing cream. I would not recommend leaving your face bare after shaving. Sunblock would also be good.

carrya1rose: ahahahaha.....ya, you don't know what you're talking about. I like in the Canadian north with extreme weather, and I have allergies. I probably drink more water than you, and I still have chapped lips. Just because YOU are fine doesn't mean everyone else is.

I would love to let my body self-regulate, but it's just not practical when I have to get up and be at work around other people 8 hours a day, you know? How long does this usually take? Maybe one day when I'm a stay at home mom or self-employed I will be able to do this.

Um, no way I'm giving up lip balm. I smear on a thick coat of one with SPF when I'm going ot be outside. I like my lips, I do not want to have them mangled up due to skin cancer.

@nouns

Yeah, clearly the conditioner advice is for people with straight hair and not for those of us with curly or naturally dehydrated hair.

I could NEVER get rid of conditioner (regular or leave-in). I have, however, replaced shampoo with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. All natural, gently clarifying, and leaves my hair super smooth!

It doesn't make any sense for the article to mention things we have too much of and don't need, in particular Shaving Cream, then note a substitute of Shaving Oil! That's just another option in its place, not a reduction of products.

Also, conditioner is a poor, poor substitute of shaving cream. I'll only use it in dire straits.

I don't think I NEED any of these things. I think that they are small and not unreasonable WANTS that make my life more comfortable. We use Dr. Bronner's in the shower, at the kitchen sink, for cleaning, etc. But, I'm sorry, I'm not brushing my teeth with it. I've tried it and no. And, no, I don't *need* for my curly hair to be anything but a pile of dry, uncomfortable, snarly knots, but, frankly, I'd prefer that it not be, so I use Deva Curl, which is sulfate (and other junk)-free. My husband could live, just fine, with his poor face and neck cut daily into bloody ribbons from shaving with soap, but I'm not willing for him to have to do that. It's possible to live frugally and even eco-consciously without living like you're camping 100% of the time. This is excessive.

never needed lip balm before i started using it at 18. but have you ever tried wearing lipstick on dry lips?

i have super sensitive skin, and always get really bad razor burn & ingrown hair. the best shaving combination i have found is a thick layer of liquid soap, and splash my legs with rubbing alochol. most people can't take the sting, so you can dilute it half and half. it works wonders- no redness or bumps.

also for those without sensitive legs- my sister's friend shaves her legs outside of the bathroom by coating them in lotion, and swishing her razor in a cup of water occassionally. saves a lot of water and her legs are silky smooth

I can survive without lip balm most of the time, but in Texas the weather likes to drop (or increase) 20 degrees over a few days, and my lips always get chapped, so I keep a stick around for when that happens.

Agree that you don't need toner or foot cream. You do need something to shave your legs with - I use hair conditioner, works great.

Dr. Bronner's in the nether regions is no problem. It should be diluted for best results and best economy anyway.

And I use it for everything when I camp, including the dishes.

I will never, EVER give up chapstick. Some say that they have something in it that makes your lips crave more and if that's true, so be it. If I don't have some after a few hours my lips go red and it hurts like there's no tomorrow. I'm addicted - I guess there are much worse things to be addicted to, right?

Toner is a huge scam. I've never understood it and I never will. I don't think I could ever give up shaving cream - the few times I run out and use soap instead it just doesn't get as smooth. I always use brands that are eco-friendly anyways and never test on animals, so I sleep pretty well at night.
http://www.abbeycatchat.com

Oh, and at home I wash with Ivory soap in the bath. Since when is soap full of chemicals? I think Ivory is just fine.

A great shaving alternative is an epilator. They're essentially a mechanical set of rotating tweezer heads that pull out the hair by the root.

I know that sounds like a torture device, but it's actually less painful than waxing; hair has to be a bit long to wax it, but an epilator can easily grab a millimeter high stub of hair. It's like the difference between a baby tugging at the ends of your hair vs tweezing a just-emerging eyebrow hair. When the hair is short and you're pulling very close to your skin, the tugging is braced against the surface of your skin.

I've had this Braun epilator for almost 5 years now and love it. I've had the same shaving cream and bag of disposable razors that entire time. I still get a few ingrown hairs and red bumps, but nothing compared to shaving because I think it ends up exfoliating your legs a little as it pulls the hairs out.

If you're interested in trying one, I definitely recommend that model. Shave first, wait a day or two until there's some noticeable stubble, and then start somewhere less sensitive like the front of your shin. I'm so used to it now that I can do my armpits without wincing :)

I also live in Northern Canada. and I could NOT do without my chapstick. Oh, I love my chapstick. It's either windy and freezing here, or hot and dry... crazy weather. We camp and fish and hike and all that, so we're out in the elements a lot. I can do without shave cream (I use conditioner after I do my hair). Actually, the only thing on the list above that I DO use it chapstick/lip balm. The rest I don't bother buying- I never end up using it. I use Freeman Organics facewash and moisturizer, and that's it for skin/body care... oh I do use toothpaste and deoderant, obviously. I like Kiss My Face stuff for that... sooo yummy smelling. But yeah... on the list, I am addicted to #1, and don't use the rest of it. :)

At first I thought this was a bit of a ridiculous article but it has garnered so many interesting comments I have to throw a few of my own in the ring.

Lip balm: yup, canadian and with "nasal issues" too but using a Neti pot to clear the nasal passages REALLY helps copperwire. You should give it a try at least. I have a friend who suffered terrible allergies and started using the neti pot and has found that it has made her chronic allergies not as severe. Can't say it would do the same for you but it is worth a try. Inside the tip of my nose has been chronically sore for years and my recent use of one has really helped eliminate this issue for me.

foot cream/toner: Some times heavier creams like Glysomed used just general cream on the feet and working the stuff in helps when your dogs are really tired. And in the summer when you are in sandals more, one's feet can really dry out and crack. What I have found works better than any pumice stone on my feet is just the black drywall mesh they use to sand down drywall. If your feet are fresh out of the bath it is the best time to rub them down. My dad made me a very handy one with the meshy stuff wrapped around a wooden paint stick and affixed with flat topped thumbtacks! Having that long handle made doing the feet a dream which is especially helpful if you cant reach your feet for being pregnant or overweight or just plain stiff and not very mobile. A chunk of that mesh is really cheap.

Scrub: I make my own sugar scrub with olive oil (or whatever other carrier oil of your choice: almond, grapeseed...) and berry sugar (finer than regular sugar and not as coarse) plus with a few drops of essential oil if needed. I think it is a 2:1 ratio of oil to sugar - make it pasty and keep it in a jar. I get keratosis (fine dry like pimples on the skin that can bleed if you scratch them) and while I haven't eliminated them exfoliating with this and a loofah . Also I am moisturizing when I get out of the shower with plain olive oil when my skin is still damp. Here too you could add your favorite essential oil if you choose if you need a bit of scent. Lack of chemicals in all of this also a boon to the fact that it is just a great economical alternative. Also works great as an alternative to auto mechanics Fast-Orange hand cleaner as the oil and the sugar works in a similar fashion.

With curly hair too, I love the leave in conditioner to help define the curls and not leave myself all frizzed out so I confess to indulging in product to ameliorate this. Once however, I managed to get a whole bunch of oil-based paint in my hair and my the eight year old step daughter rubbed olive oil into my hair to get rid of it all. Overall the effect was much like a leave in conditioner and my hair was luscious for days afterward.

I wax my legs also and some waxing kits contain an oil called Azulene oil which is really great in preventing ingrown hairs...but so would a sugar scrub in the day or two following the waxing process. Some waxing products are better than others depending on the individual. I have tried a bunch and for me the Persian wax is the best for my skin.

Toner replacement: healthy diet, lots of water, rest and sensible exercise.
Hair rinse replacement: a tea made of rosemary and vinegar for brown hair. Sub in chamomile for blond hair.

I dont use any of these but lip balm and you can have that when you pry it out of my cold, dead fingers. Sunscreen AND protects from super dry air? Sign me up.

For the record, I never needed it when I was traveling in humid areas (used it anyway for SPF) but in lovely desert-dry California, it's not optional any more than lotion is.

Who'da thunk this would be such a hot topic?! Don't know how many commenters come back to check responses but since a few were addressed to me...

First, mouth-breathers unite!! :-)

@krl2876 - It's the continuous passage of air over the lips that's the problem and god forbid you accidentally lick your lips - vicious cycle commences.

@propellergirl - Yep, I rock the neti pot. It's upholstered furniture (read: dust mites) that causes most of my problems now and I'm too cheap/broke to zip everything in plastic.

Water - I drink about a gallon of water per day. I absolutely notice worse cracking on my lips if I'm dehydrated but even fully hydrated water doesn't solve all the problems (and doesn't block the suns rays either).

My lips are more kissable with lip balm! Southern California's very dry Santa Ana winds make it hard to keep your lips moisturized. No, I'm not a mouth-breather either...
Dr Bronner's Peppermint soap has been one of the best soaps/body washes for my skin. Plus, the peppermint tingles and will really wake you up on a cold winter morning. It works great as a face wash too. The wacky writing on the bottle can also be entertaining.
Loofas are a great and cheap way to have soft skin.
When I had long hair I would leave extra virgin olive oil on it overnight (I would sleep with a shower cap on) to extra condition it. People always asked me how I got such shiny, straight and strong hair and I would tell them I'm just lucky.

Dry winter climate and no lip balm makes a gross scaly pair o'lips.

They will have to pry my Carmex out of my cold dead lips.

Another Canadian here, and I am a believer in lip balm. I don't think anyone or anything could ever convince me that I don't need it. On the rare occasion that I rush out and accidentally forget to grab a tube of lip balm, I suffer a terrible pang of regret as I know that I will soon suffer for my mistake. I have big fat lips and battled chapped, bleeding lips all throughout my childhood. It wasn't until I discovered Lipsmackers that my lips stopped being a constant source of pain. Now I swear by Nivea (previously Labello) HydroCare. It isn't greasy and never slides or melts off, and isn't sticky either so I'm not constantly picking strands of hair off my lips. It's lip balm perfection.

I really like Burt's Bees natural shampoo and conditioner. The Pomegranate and Soy one is awesome for my fine, limp hair. It has never looked thicker or healthier.

Maybe I'm gross, but I only use body wash every week or so. I still shower every day or every other day as needed and exfoliate with a loofah and moisturize with lotion every few days as needed. I feel pretty clean.

Like akay, I epilate my legs but I can't stop shaving my armpits and bikini region. I tried epilating those areas a few times and not only was the pain horrific, I got the worst ingrowns too. Having ingrown hairs in my armpits was disgusting. It looked like I had a hundred angry blackheads in each armpit. Never again!

I've commented already but came back to check on more comments. Lots of great ideas in here. I have like 4 or 5 unused cans of shaving cream in my closet because I am lazy and don't shave my legs for most of the year. I should give them to someone else!

I want to switch to no-poo for my hair and start using OCM, as soon as the products I have run out. I live in Canada too, but really the only time my lips get really chapped is when I don't drink enough water or when I chew my lips (which is often).

I really think most of us probably have the minimal intelligence to notice on our own whether our lives are unpleasant without lip balm and make corresponding decisions. Sheesh.

About soap being harsh: some soap is. A lot of soap isn't. Soap with superfat, which is to say it has extra fats beyond what the lye needs to combine with to create soap, can be super gentle and moisturizing. Because I have soft water I use nothing but gentle handmade soap, especially on my sensitive, acne-prone face. But folks with harder water might not get the same good results from it.

Also, soap is a chemical. Water is a chemical. Pure vegetable and seed oils are chemicals. Let's not get paranoid about the whole "chemical" thing.

hygebeorht--try using the oil cleansing method for your face. My acne and huge blackheads cleared right up using this. It did take some playing around to find the right oil mix, but my skin has looked wonderful ever since...and several nasty age/sun spots are vanishing!

MelissaA: I bet you have olive oil in the kitchen, right? That what I used to start the oil cleansing method. I added cold pressed castor oil about a week into, once I got to the store. It only cost $4.99 at a San Fransisco Whole Foods, so I can't imagine it'd cost more where you are but I understand wanting to use up what you've already bought! Also, call a few preschools to see if they'd want the shaving cream. My aunt told me some use it for the kids to play in for sensation stations.

I use either conditioner or lotion to shave my legs. I like lotion and a razer dipped in hot water.

I use a lot of Lush products, which are vegetarian/vegan, often free trade and/or supporting worthy causes -- and Lush takes back their containers (bring in 5 pots = free fresh face mask), so I don't feel bad about it in the slightest.

Dr. Bronners soap to brush your teeth? Really??? (shudder) I'm sorry I just can't do it (that goes for baking soda too, it makes me gag). Give me a tube of Toms of Maine any-day.

As someone who frys like a vampire in the sun, I am not giving up my lip balm with spf. If you have ever had a sunburn on your lips, you'll understand.

I tried shaving with shampoo and hand-soap today and OUCH. Just not the same as shaving cream.

I don't use any of the products except for conditioner, I have a curly afro and conditioner makes detangling much easier, I also use regular conditioner as a leave-in conditioner.

I make my own 100% olive oil based castile soap which is much milder than Dr. Bonners. I use that to wash my hair, body wash, baby wipe solution, brush my teeth, and an all-purpose cleaning spray.

I use oils for a moisturizer. I also LOVE the oil cleansing method for my oily acne-prone skin. My skin has improved immensely since I started using this method. I use castor oil to clean and then use shea butter on my whole body and face and lips. I have dry lips and HATE lipbalm because it wears off easily and I have to reapply it constantly. Shea butter on my lips lasts for several hours, even after eating. I used to use cocoa butter and found it to be greasy and not easily absorbed. I assumed Shea butter was similar but ordered some anyway. I was so wrong, Shea butter is amazing!

Also, I make my own mouthwash which is witch hazel, aloe vera juice, glycerin, water, peppermint oil. Tastes great and doesn't dry out my mouth like alcohol based mouthwash.

I have a chapstick addiction, but without it, my lips crack and bleed, especially in the winter. Similarly, I have horrible calluses on my feet that, despite my best and regular ministrations, get hard, scratchy, and cracked - so thick foot cream is really necessary.

I suppose I could just use Vaseline on both? Maybe once I run out of my unending supplies of both chapstick and foot cream, I'll try that route.

I've tried to use Dr. Bronner, but it dried out my hair and my skin, resulting in needing to use superfluous lotions and styling products. It's good in a pinch, but I can't use it regularly. Oh, and I'm allergic to their lavender coconut lotion, as I discovered when my whole face broke out in a red rash.

Yeah, I agree that one person's luxury is another person's necessity. Better than following someone's list is to take a serious look at your cabinet and try paring down the use of some items. After all, you can always go buy more if it turns out that you're miserable without it.

There's also no way in hell that I'm going to stick regular soap in my mouth. I'm not a five year old kid who got caught with swear words, which is the connotation that immediately springs to mind!

Also, I cheat on the foot cream - instead of buying a general moisturizer I buy an awesome foot cream and use it on everything! I rarely need moisturizer anyway if I use gentle enough soap, so one bottle lasts a REALLY long time.

Does anyone know if this "no poo" thing works for Black women? I've been interested but the only people I see trying it are White, and they have different needs than I do. And, I didn't see it in the comments, but what is this oil method for cleaning your face? TIA!

I've never read GOOD, but the conditioner tip is true! I always had issues with my hair getting too greasy, then I read that a detergent sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) in most shampoos strips oil from your hair, causing your scalp to overproduce the oil, which was why my head was so icky so often (and why they market conditioners--to restore what the detergent ripped out of your hair)!

I found an SLS-free shampoo, and I don't have to wash my hair NEARLY as often. Maybe twice a week. Which is a plus--I have very thick, very long hair, and slaving over it in the shower constantly was not fun.

I actually tried no-poo before this, unsuccessfully. (My hair was too thick to ever get the baking soda solution to penetrate it without using too much,) Tried Dr. Bronner's too, but it didn't seem to stop the grease issue. (My mother finally told me to "start using real shampoo again.") But Dr. Bronner's is great body wash.

Well, just proves GOOD doesn't sound like the publication for me. Not to sound harsh, but this sounds like tips from a bunch of hippies. I have many shampoos, body washes, body scrubs, etc as does my husband, that we use daily not because we need them but because they are enjoyable and my bathroom can serve as a bit of an escape. Only one I will give them is toner but thats after I've been told by a few dermatologists its really just useless.
And seriously? Lip balm? That's just dumb to say people don't need it from time to time or depending on the person. Next it'll be get rid of clutter: you don't need a toothbrush. Brush with your finger!

My shower has its share of bottles in it, but I'm not posing it for a photoshoot. I use it. A lot. So I can deal with a few bottles here and there.

I'm a mouth breather also, so I need something for my lips. Period. My nasal passages are just too small and I have to breathe through my mouth, drying my lips. That said, I've found that running a humidifier in the bedroom in the winter makes a huge difference in whether I end up with cracked lips or not, and it makes my skin and hair look better too.

I often use soap for shaving in the interests of time, but shaving cream serves a specific purpose: it's designed not to clog the razor. It does work better.

And for all of you using baking soda and soap to brush your teeth, I hope you're using some kind of fluoride rinse! Yes, it's a "chemical," but so is every other thing you put in your mouth and put on your body. Life is chemicals. And that chemical will keep your teeth from falling out later in life. I grew up in an area without fluoride in the water, and I and all my friends had loads of cavities--the next town over, where there was fluoridated water, the kids basically didn't have any. Due to illness and genetically bad teeth, I'm going through an enormous amount of dental work right now. I wish, wish, wish I had taken better care of my teeth earlier!! Use fluoride, people, you'll be happy later on.

I wouldn't say I *need* any of them but I do actually use all of the above items except shaving cream. Shaving cream tends to dry my legs out and I wouldn't even consider using it anywhere more sensitive.

However, I do only use natural and organic body products. I use Burt's Bees for lips and their coconut foot lotion is important to me. But I ran canvass offices for years and my feet defiantly need more help than the rest of my body after that kind of abuse.

Since my skin breaks out really bad when I shave I usually try to wax or epilate. I have the best results using Lush's Babyface soap - which is a oil heavy facial cleansing bar. They also have amazing massage bars that I usually use on my skin after the shower as a lotion.

nothing works for everyone. i can almost guarantee this article was written with either the sole perspective of the writer's experiences, or those of his/her close friends. not, by far, a huge case study. learn from one another, but ultimately, listen to your own body!!

has anyone else tried shaving underwater (as in, in the bath)? i recently started doing this and have eliminated my need for shaving cream. my legs and underarms are very smooth as a result! if you're a bather, definitely try it!

i can't live without a good exfoliating face and body scrub. my skin looks HORRIBLE without it, and unfortunately, i didn't discover this solution until i was in my 20s. i have also been mostly blemish-free since i started! i've found that, once i scrub off the old, dead skin, there's really not much need to cleanse with additional soap (there's usually a little soap in the water from having washed my hair, at that point). that said, i could definitely see the merit of having a soap for hair AND body use. i use a 2-in-1 shampoo with conditioner, so that would be easy enough to switch, i think.

i can get away with washing my hair only once a week, and yes, i have plenty of oil! that's not to say i only bathe once a week, though i have pushed it to every other day, because of my body chemistry. a warm water rinse followed by a cold water rinse usually gets rid of the excess oil pretty well, on non-hair-washing days.

lip balm's part of my daily sunscreen regiment... i am a fair-skinned, non-freckling redhead, so i have to stay protected!

i don't use toner, or special leave-in condition, or a special foot cream, so i can't really comment on those.

@quirky_mommy
I am black and a natural. When I was relaxed I quit shampooing most of the time years ago, I found my hair was much easier to keep moisturized with out stripping it with shampoo. Now that I'm natural, I no poo every other day, and use sulfate free shampoo every 1-2 weeks.
There are lots of videos on you tube about it.

I probably use all of these, except for shaving cream. I use a nice, honey-milk bar soap for shaving, and it works fine.
I may not 'need' lip balm, but a swipe once a day keeps my lips feeling extra moist.
I also love the feeling of leave-in conditioner. Thicker conditioners help me to detangle my hair, which is very long and requires a little extra effort. I also use avocado oil on the ends of my hair occasionally and it makes my hair feel really healthy.
I don't know, I think a good number of these products are really nice to have around, even if they're not needed. ;)

I started shaving my legs at an absurdly young age (had an older sister that I tended to copy) and, though I started out with good ol' Barbasol, I haven't used a shaving agent of any kind regularly since the sixth grade. In fact, for years I shaved every single day and no one could figure out how I managed that AND taking such short showers. It's because I don't take the time to lather up! I just save shaving for last and, by then, my skin is all soft from the water and I just run the razor over my legs, zoom zoom zoom! And I never had a problem.

Every once in a blue moon someone will guilt me into using at least conditioner on them and, halfway through, I just think, "MAN this is too much work!!" So it's water for me!

Lip Balm: I use Vaseline.
Foot Cream: Fortunately, I don't have a problem with dry feet, so I don't use anything.
Toner: I've used toner before, but it didn't do anything as far as I could tell, so I don't use it.
Body Scrub: I either use my Apricot facial scrub or an exfoliating sponge.
Leave in Conditioner:Don't use, but now that you mention it I might get some and try it.
Shaving Cream: Don't use. For my underarms I use a small amt of soap, for my legs I just let the shower run on my legs as I'm shaving. It works great and I have been doing this since one of my friends told me about it when I was a teenager. I've tried shaving creams and I can't get as close a shave as I do using just water.
Body Wash: I have to have this. Or moisturizing bar soap like Olay.