Every mom needs a simple, effective skincare routine. And if you’re a crunchy mom, you need it to be non-toxic, natural, and practical too. Tall order? Yep! But I’ve collected ideas for my aging skin over the past several years, and let me tell you…my skin has never been happier!!
Bonus: These 4 tips are affordable, easy, and only take a few minutes. So let’s talk about what it might look like to add them to your crunchy lifestyle.
Tip #1: Red Light Therapy (RLT)
I dismissed Red Light Therapy as over-priced hype for a long time, but then I actually looked into the research behind it. Let’s just say I was shocked at what I found. You might hear it called Photobiomodulation or even RLT, but it’s all the same thing… and it is legit! RLT revs up mitochondrial activity at the cellular level—boosting collagen production, elastin, and skin repair enzymes.
A clinical trial published in Skin Research & Technology was pretty impressive. They asked volunteers to use a RLT mask over the course of 3 month period. Participants were asked to do two 12-minute sessions per week. Then they use all sorts of fancy dermatological tools like Proscope and Sebrum Meter to really measure changes. Wait until you hear what all they noted…
They found 38.3% decrease depth in crow’s feet after 84 days (yes, they measured them!). The sagging of the facial oval was reduced by 24.8%. A 23.6% increase in skin firmness was reported, while there was a 18.7 % increase in skin elasticity. Dermal density improved by a whopping 47.7%. Skin roughness was improved by 23.8%. The complexion was evened out by a notable 34.9%. Pore diameter decreased by 32.8%. And best of all, 100% of the 20 volunteers (both men and women ages 45-70) reported that they noticed improvements in their skin.
And here, the American Academy of Dermatology Association reports that 90% of participants in their trial noticed improvements in their skin. Specifically, they mention dark spots, loose skin, and fine lines and wrinkles.
I chose to purchase a Hooga 200 panel unit. After some research into my different options, I chose Hooga because it is high-grade, affordable, and low EMF. While I see the benefits of buying their mask RLT, I opted for the panel due to its versatility. Every single member of my family has used it! Rashed, bruises, achy muscles, tendon injuries, thyroid stimulation…we’ve found SO MANY different used for our Hooga RLT!
Tip #2: Homeopathic Cell Salts Trio
The body contains 12 basic mineral cell salts that are necessary for health (source). These twelve tissue salts—especially Calcarea Fluorica 6, Calcarea Phosphorica 6, and Silicea 6—are beloved for supporting skin elasticity, tone, and connective tissue health (source 1, source 2). I also love them because they have a reputation for building tooth health and hair health!
- Calcarea Fluorica supports elasticity and tissue tone. It is great for stretch marks, crepey skin, sagging, and firming connective tissue.
- Calcarea Phosphorica fuels tissue repair and renewal, perfect for natural cell turnover and skin regeneration.
- Silicea strengthens connective tissues, boosting firmness and texture.
I choose to take 2 pellets of each of these 3 cell salts every morning. I also put pellets in our water canister, so the whole family gets continued water dosing of these cell salts throughout the day. Why? They are also great for building strong teeth and helping build strong bones in growing children. It’s a simple way to help my whole family at once!
Tip #3: Green Tea
Oh, how I love my green tea, A.K.A. “The Antioxidant Shield”! Fun fact: I’m drinking a home-brewed glass of green tea as I type this!
Green tea’s epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) polyphenols are potent antioxidants and inflammation-fighters, with real skin-soothing effects. A meta-analysis found green tea catechins significantly reduced UV-induced erythema (redness), confirming powerful photo-protective benefits. They also noted, “The positive effects of green tea, green tea polyphenols, and EGCG extract show many benefits related to the skin aging process such as inhibition of wrinkles, increased cell proliferation, inhibition of reactive oxygen species production, scavenging effect against free radicals, increased elasticity, and decreased skin melanin index.”
Another study highlighted that green tea catechins (especially EGCG) inhibit collagen‑degradation and boost collagen/elastin content, supporting skin firmness and anti-wrinkle outcomes in both in vitro and in vivo models.
Now, please DO NOT think that those bottles of Lipton green tea are a good choice (before I learned to read labels, I used to buy those!). The regular version contains 25 grams of sugar, including high fructose corn syrup! It also contains several other ingredients I can’t pronounce, so it’s a no-go in my book.
I found an easy way to make cold-brew green tea for my family each week, and it only costs about 25 cents per jar!
Here’s how I make ours:
- Gather a dozen or so glass mason jars. You can even recycle old mayo or jam jars.
- Drop one organic green tea bag into each jar (I use Prince of Peace Organic Green Tea)
- Sprinkle a little Sweet Leaf Stevia in each jar. I don’t measure, I just eyeball it. I’d suggest starting with about ¼ teaspoon and adjusting to your desired sweetness.
- Fill to the top with filtered water. We use a ProOne filter in our Berkey.
- Secure screw on lids.
- Store in fridge for up to a week. It will cold brew and be ready to drink within a few hours!
Tip #4: Skip the Soap but Add the Tallow!
I haven’t used soap or any type of facial cleanser on my face in about 10 years! Instead, I use a Norwex cloth and tap water to wash my face. And you know what I’ve noticed? Much more balanced skin, less breakouts, and less time spent on lengthy/ pricey skin care routines!
And I no longer buy expensive moisturizers packed with harsh chemicals. Instead, I simply apply a little homemade tallow each morning. This study set out to discover exactly what is in tallow. They reported, “Tallow is rich in triglycerides, specifically oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid, thus lending to its wide range of industrial applications. Tallow also contains essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, K, E, and B12. While there is a lack of direct research of the exact mechanism that tallow uses to cross the barrier and penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and how it works on the skin, the literature and research on the two separately provided strong evidence of tallow’s biocompatible nature.” Why does biocompatibility matter? Because that means your body can actually USE what you are applying to the skin. Perhaps that’s why this study found a 47% increase in skin’s moisture 180 minutes after applying tallow.
I can’t tell you how much my skins LOVES tallow! I choose to make my own using this recipe. I like it because I can choose my own oils, like lavender for inflammation and frankincense to support cellular health. However, if you don’t want to make your own, check out this similar tallow from Gubba Homestead.
Final Thoughts on Crunchy Skincare
You may have noticed that these suggestions aren’t just crunchy, they are affordable! That’s not always the case with natural products, but at the end of the day every penny matters. The way I see it, if I can make one-time investments (like a Norwex cloth or a Hooga red light) that will serve me well for years and years to come, that frees up space in the family budget for other things like grocery shopping. Over time, I can make room to spend a little more on organic produce or grass-fed beef that are also important for our holistic approach to health.
One of the biggest challenges to crunchy parenting is balancing everything…the budget, the time, the energy…all of the things it takes to care for your family well. That’s why thoughtful choices matter. I hope you’ll give these natural skincare products a try. I really think you’ll find that they put those synthetic ingredients to shame!
