Here are my top 5 clean beauty products you must try!
Finding clean beauty products that actually work can be hard. There have been times I’ve considered giving up on trying to find cleaner versions of my conventional products, but I just can’t unlearn all the harm toxins cause.
Luckily I’ve found cleaner alternatives that work just as well as their dirty counterparts, and I’m sharing them here with the links so you can try them too.
Why Switch to Clean Products?
The beauty industry is known for putting toxic chemicals in their beauty products. These chemicals can prolong the shelf life, cause the soapy suds we expect, or make that delightful scent we love. The toxins in these products have direct contact with the skin, and are absorbed into the body. Many medications are in fact topical, so absorption is direct route for things to enter the body. Secondly, many of the products contain fragrance. Fragrance has long been a back door that companies use to disguise hazardous chemicals in their product. It’s their personal “secret sauce” so they aren’t required to mention it.
Many of these chemicals cause the body not to function as it should. For example a chemical can mimic the body’s natural hormones thus causing a hormone imbalance. Also, some chemicals cause chronic inflammation and cancer. Most of these chemicals are in small doses in our products, but when you think of the amount of products we come in contact with daily, it really adds up.
Switching to Cleaner Products
The switch to cleaner products doesn’t happen all at once. That can be very expensive. As you start to restock your used products try replacing it with a healthier counterpart. Take a mental inventory of the things you use every day, and the things that just sit on your shelf. Throw away products you rarely use, and replace only those that you use most often.
FAQs
How do I know if a product is healthy? Visit skin deep on the Environmental Working Group website. They have a great database of products. I also have their app. It conveniently scans the barcode on my product and gives me a rundown of how safe it is.
Where can I find clean beauty products? You can find clean beauty products almost anywhere you regularly shop. Sometimes you have to search a little harder. I find most of my products at Target, and sometimes order online from places like amazon.
Do clean products cost more money? On the front end, yes. Most clean options cost slightly more than their cheaply made toxic counterparts. I find the cost to be only slightly more. However, the long term benefits for your health will save you money and time. Preventing disease and chronic illness is a lot cheaper than treating the illness once you have it.
The Clean Beauty Products I Use regularly
1. Boka Ela Mint Toothpaste
Number one on the list of my 5 clean beauty products you should try is toothpaste. Fluoride is an industrial byproduct that can cause a lot of harm to the body if over ingested. There’s a warning label on the tube for a reason. Excessive fluoride will cause health problems like skeletal and dental fluorosis ( weak bones), neurotoxic effects like ADHD, and arteriosclerosis ( hardening of the arteries) just to name a few. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel comfortable using such a toxic substance in my home.
Hydroxyapatite is a great alternative to fluoride in toothpaste. It’s non-toxic and remineralizes the teeth making the enamel stronger. Nasa has even used it to help with the demineralization of astronauts teeth upon returning from space. Nano hydroxyapatite has small particles to infiltrate the tooth and help to strengthen it. Boka is my favorite nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste. It has several different flavor options that taste great. It also has price point I can live with.
2. Attitude Shampoo and Conditioner
The hardest swap for me was shampoo and conditioner. I’ve used the same products for most of my adult life. However shampoo can be one of the more toxic products you put on your body. Most shampoo contains sulfate to help you get that soapy lather. Sulfates have been linked to kidney failure, cancer, and hormone disruption.
Another harmful ingredient found in most shampoo is paraben. Parabens extend the shelf life of shampoo, but they can be neurotoxic and disrupt your natural hormones. Shampoo also contains other harmful substances such as formaldehyde, and the dreaded….fragrance.
I love attitude shampoo with soy protein. The scent is very light, but feels clean. I’m still able to go several days between washes just like my old brand. There’s also several different formulas to choose from. P.S. attitude makes great body lotion too.
3. Beauty By Earth Sea Salt Spray
Hair stying products are another highly toxic beauty product. Many of them come in aerosol spray cans which contain the highly toxic chemical, benzene. It’s also common in tobacco smoke but that’s another topic. Benzene is a known carcinogen (cancer causing). It’s also been known to affect the bone marrow, disrupting the production of red blood cells and white blood cells. This leads to illnesses like anemia and decreased immune response.
The beauty by earth sea salt spray is a great alternative to traditional styling products. It gives your hair a lot of hold without weighing it down. It also adds texture and body, perfect for those peachy waves. I like the ocean breeze scent, but it is also available in citrus.
4. The Honey Pot Company Feminine Products
Number four of my 5 clean beauty products is not necessarily a beauty product. However, feminine hygiene products are frequently used. Honestly, these products are the last thing I think of when swapping my products, but they can actually be very toxic. Many products are made of cotton. Cotton can be a very dirty crop. It’s heavily sprayed with pesticides, and absorbs a lot more of it than other crops. These pesticides lead to both cancer and birth defects. Cotton is also treated with organophosphates. My former career in paramedicine taught me well on the effects of organophosphate poisoning (research the mnemonic SLUDGE). I definitely don’t want those kinds of chemicals so close to me.
The honey pot company uses only organic cotton in their line of feminine products. They come in a variety of options to suit the need of your monthly cycle. Some products are also herbal-infused. However, the mint in the panty liners can be a little…um…surprising.
5. Toups and Co Organics Seabuckthorn Cleansing Oil
Many face cleansers have similar ingredients to those found in shampoo. Popular face washes contain sulfates, parabens and fragrance. Having these irritants so close to your eyes can cause a ton of other problems as well.
This is my absolute favorite product on this list of the 5 clean products you should try. Toups and Co Organics is a company located in south Alabama that makes premium skin care. The seabuckthorn cleansing oil has completely replaced my traditional makeup remover and face cleanser. It removes my makeup and deep cleans my skin, while also leaving it feeling smooth and moisturized. It also smells awesome. The overall hydration of my skin has dramatically changed since using this product. I have very sensitive skin, and this oil doesn’t irritate it at all.
I hope this post will help you to make informed decisions on the products and chemicals you use regularly. Give these products a try in place of some to the more common brands you already use. You’ll see that swapping to cleaner products is totally achievable.
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