What I Actually Put On My Skin (And What I'll Never Use Again)
I've been saying this for twenty years and I'll keep saying it: whatever you put on your skin goes straight into your bloodstream. Your skin isn't a barrier, it's a sponge. Once you really understand that, you start reading labels differently.
I launched Jo Wood Organics because there was genuinely nothing on the market I felt comfortable using. Beauty journalists told me it would never catch on. Clean beauty is now one of the biggest categories in the industry. I try not to be smug about it, but I do feel quietly satisfied.
What's on my shelf right now? My body oil, always. I've used oil on my skin instead of lotion for years, it just drinks it in. A good organic face oil at night. Coconut oil to take off my makeup, no matter how late it is. I never skip that. I use Mother Dirt, an American brand that puts beneficial bacteria back onto your skin. And for makeup, Emani is my go-to: vegan, non-toxic and genuinely good.
What I'll never use again: anything with parabens, sulphates, or synthetic fragrance. Not worth it. Your skin deserves the same quality of ingredient as your food.
The shift doesn't have to be expensive or all at once. Start with your moisturiser or your body lotion, the things you use the most. Swap one thing and see how your skin responds. It usually speaks for itself.
