Whether you’re discovering clean beauty by working with a holistic esthetician, scrolling through social media, updating to a healthier lifestyle, or seeing clean products in the skincare aisle, it can be both exciting and overwhelming to step into the world of organic skincare! No matter what path you took to get here, it’s never too late to learn the basics about transitioning from conventional skincare to clean skincare.

What makes organic skincare “clean”?

There isn’t one definition for clean and organic skincare, but at Botnia we like to define it by using the highest quality organic ingredients, from seed to serum and farm to face. We’re unwilling to compromise on our ingredients or practices in the garden or lab and when you use our skincare, we want you to know that we’re thinking about our products from all angles. From how we grow and harvest our botanicals, to hand making all our products in small batches made by humans, to hand pouring and hand labeling every bottle and box that ships out to you in the most sustainable way possible. Learn more about our farming practices here.

Making the switch from conventional skincare to organic skincare

One of the first things you may notice when switching to Botnia is that we don’t use traditional active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinol for acne, or vitamin C and hydroquinone for skin brightening. While these ingredients do work, we’ve found that they can cause damage to the skin in the long run, which can then cause skin conditions that can be hard to reverse if used over long periods of time.

If you’re coming off of any active ingredients, our estheticians may recommend a very simple skincare routine to allow your skin to adjust after using those ingredients. It takes an average of 21 days for your skin to turn over new cells, which is why when we injure the skin, it can take up to a month for a cut to fully heal. We believe that simple skincare is the key to healing skin, allowing the natural processes of our bodies to do their job: protect and heal us! Aren’t our bodies so amazing?

Adding in new products into your routine can be as simple as switching over your essentials, one at a time: cleanser, toner, moisturizer and SPF to start, then adding in a serum or mask later down the line.

When we approach the skin this way, it helps us see that it takes time for the body to naturally heal itself, and we can use a gentle approach and love our skin no matter what state it’s in.

Is it plant magic or plant science?

We are living breathing nature, and our bodies are created in a completely symbiotic relationship with nature. That’s why, when we eat whole plants and foods, our bodies tend to be much healthier and stronger in the long run. Apply this to skincare and it makes sense that plant-based skincare just works! We prefer natural ingredients in our formulations because our bodies naturally know how to assimilate them more effectively, with less irritation and fewer side effects than non-natural ingredients. Magic? Maybe. Scientific? Definitely. You can see here how closely related human biology is in comparison with plant biology.

Expectations

If you’re starting over with all new products in your skincare routine, you may find that your skin might have an adjustment period to assimilate with the new ingredients you’re introducing. You may see some breakouts or change in texture during the first month when using your new skincare. Be gentle with yourself and push through this period. On the other side awaits healthier skin!

If you are more sensitive or have specific skin conditions going on and weaning off active ingredients, it might be a good idea to introduce products one at a time, every two weeks to allow your skin to adjust to the new ingredients. Again, you may have an adjustment period during this time. You want to avoid overwhelming your skin which can cause other symptoms to pop up. Working with a holistic esthetician is also a great idea when transitioning to organic skincare. They are experts in all things skin and health and can guide you to finding the right routine for your unique skin journey.

Over the next period of four to twelve weeks, you will start to see a change in your skin. More balance with your skin barrier, seeing acne fade or disappear altogether, sun spots and sun damage lessened and the prevention of new sun damage and more. Continuing to stick to your routine is essential and work with a professional to help combat any issues that may arise along the way.

Slow beauty

We’ve seen amazing results in the treatment room when habitually using organic skincare in a daily routine, seeing healthy glowing skin you may not have thought was possible. We feel the gentle approach to skincare works with the rhythms of our bodies and is a healthier approach than attacking our skin with harsh active ingredients that do work, but at what cost? Just like eating a whole nutritious diet for the rest of your body, healthy habits will serve you better over time.

As you ease into your transition with organic skincare, we want to let you know that you don’t have to do it all right away. There’s no pressure to buy all new products and switch everything immediately. Taking just one step at a time to further your journey into clean and organic beauty is just as good, if not better for your skin, to allow yourself to adjust to a new routine.

If you’re looking to work with a Botnia Spa Partner, you can find our list by state here. If you aren’t close to one just yet, you can submit a customized regimen form and one of our Master Estheticians can help make product recommendations for you over email.

Our goal is to give you skin that’s healthy and happy so you can feel your best in your own skin. Working with nature instead of against it and also thinking about how we can take care of the earth while doing so!

Xo,
Botnia