My Favorite Non-Toxic Beauty + Skincare Products
I've been wanting to write this post for a long time and now and it's finally here, yay! If you've followed me for a while now, you probably know I try to stick to clean, minimally-processed and organic foods *most* of the time. Same goes for my beauty and skincare products. Over the last couple of years, I've been trying to purge all the toxic products from my vanity, medicine cabinet, and my cleaning supply closet (we'll save that for another post). It's definitely easier said than done but I feel like I've finally gotten to a good place with my routine.
I know it can be overwhelming and kinda intimidating. Like, how or where do you even start? And it can be expensive! Being healthy ain't cheap. But you know what else is expensive: medical bills. There's a saying that goes something like "you either invest in your health now, or pay for it later". Kinda harsh but true. I choose now! Ok, I'm off my (organic) soapbox now. I think the best way to go about getting rid of icky products in your life is to do it one at a time. Start with the products that have the greatest amount of contact with your biggest organ: your skin. Things like lotions, soaps, and body washes are a good place to start. Pick one thing you want to replace when it's almost gone and do your research. Get to know the chemical names of ingredients you should avoid and read your labels before you buy anything. And be easy on yourself. You're doing an awesome thing for yourself and you can't be perfect all the time! So if you still use a conventional mascara cause you just can't find an incredible natural option that isn't 40 dollars (guilty!), be patient in your search and focus on the good you're already incorporating into your routine. Here's some of my top favorite products! Do you have any? I'd love to hear in the comments! I also listed some great resources at the bottom of the post to help you in your search for what's good and what's not.
SLIPPERY ELM ORGANIC LIP BALM | THAYERS
I'm a lip balm junkie. I have them EVERYWHERE. In my makeup drawer, on my nightstand, in my purse, on my desk at work... and the list goes on. With something I use so frequently, I try to stick to all natural varieties. I love this certified-organic one as it glides on super smooth and is ultra moisturizing. The vanilla bean is my fave!
NOURISHING CREAM CLEANSER | BEAUTYCOUNTER
It took me forever to find a face wash that was all natural and still took all my makeup off and left my face feeling fresh. Purity by Philosophy used to be my go-to because it was gentle (well, it didn't break me out) and took my makeup off SO well but unfortunately it's full of some pretty gross chemicals. Pretty ironic given the name, right? But this one by Beauty Counter is so awesome! A little goes a long way and works wonders for my skin. Win-win in my book! This brand already has quite the cult following and I'm still exploring all their offerings so if you have any favorites, let me know!
WITCH HAZEL | THAYERS
This stuff is the best for balancing out pH levels in your skin and to help clear up breakouts and lift impurities. I make my own toner using this, a little apple cider vinegar, a few drops of clary sage essential oil, and filtered water. Thayers makes a ton of incredible scents but my favorites are the Rose Petal and Peach.
SENSITIVITY RELIEF TOOTHPASTE | HELLO
I tried a few different toothpastes before stumbling upon this one at Target. If you've tried natural toothpastes before, you know they're usually nothing like conventional toothpaste. Like you feel like you're basically just brushing with baking soda. Bleh. This one is awesome, though. It's made with coconut oil which is awesome for oral health and it's made without parabens, preservatives, triclosan, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or dyes. All icky stuff. I've tried a few of the other flavors and really liked them but this one's my favorite since I have sensitive teeth.
ORGANIC HAND & BODY LOTION | DR. BRONNER'S
This is the perfect body lotion for applying after you get out of the shower or bath. It's not oily or too thick so it absorbs quickly and still leaves your skin feeling moisturized. It's made with organic oils, essential oils, and plant-derived ingredients. Not to mention it smells INCREDIBLE!
CREAM | S.W. BASICS
I have shared my love for this brand before but if I had to pick one beauty product I loved above all others, it's this cream. I look forward to slathering it all over my freshly washed and toned face each night. It is so moisturizing and my skin absolutely loves it. The best part: it has exactly three ingredients! Organic shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. It is pretty thick but soaks into my skin overnight while I'm sleeping and my face is perfectly moisturized and ready to apply my makeup when I wake up in the morning. You can find it at Target, too which is super convenient.
NO DROUGHT DRY SHAMPOO | LUSH
This stuff is the freaking best. Firstly, it is not in an aerosol can like most dry shampoos, which is totally awesome for the environment and your lungs. But it also works like a dream. It's made with super-absorbent cornflour to help tame greasy hair and citrusy lime and grapefruit essential oils to leave your hair smelling fresh. You just sprinkle a little in your hands and rub it into your hair and then brush it out. And don't be afraid if you have dark hair! My hair is fairly dark brown and it brushes out perfectly without a trace. It also lasts forever as a little goes a long way.
PURE CASTILE SOAP IN ALMOND | DR. BRONNER'S
This stuff is magic. It can do so many things! I mainly use it as a body wash and bath bubbles (it's also great for shaving your legs), but you can wash your face with it, your dishes, floors, even laundry! You can also use it as shampoo in a pinch so if you're traveling, I highly recommend picking up a mini and tossing it in your carry-on! Face, body, and hair all covered in one tiny bottle! The best part: it's made with organic oils and it actually lathers really well. It also comes in a ton of amazing scents but Almond is by far my favorite. It smells almost like buttercream to me. Fun fact: almond extract is in my top 5 favorite smells of all time.
ORGANIC COTTON TAMPONS | LOLA
Listen up, ladies. This is an important one. Did you know conventional tampons are full of toxic chemicals and scary synthetic fibers? And we're putting these chemicals inside our bodies every month! I care a lot about what I eat and put on my body but I had somehow never thought about the feminine products I was using. Until I heard one of the co-founders of Lola on a podcast and I was like, "oh my gosh", I gotta switch! And I did.
Lola tampons are made with exactly 1 ingredient: organic cotton. Awesome, right? And it's so easy and convenient to use their subscription service, too. You can completely customize your box and what mix of light, regular, super, or super + you'd like, depending on what's right for you. You can adjust your box anytime and skip a month if you need to, as well. And they cost 10 bucks a month. I pretty much spent that on conventional tampons before so I'd be crazy not to switch, right? And they also have pads if tampons aren't your thing.
Resources
This is an awesome resource for checking quickly whether a product is good or not. They have a handy app, too! You can quickly scan a product or search by name right in the beauty aisle of Target or the drugstore and see if your potential purchase is non-toxic or a no-go! Not every product is in their database but they do have a lot and I've found it so helpful!
All opinions stated here are my own. All products were purchased by me with my own money, with the exception of the Thayer's products, which Thayer's gifted me.
