You may be a pro at detox-ing your food, but have you thought about what’s in your medicine cabinet or your makeup bag? Just because you’re not eating it doesn’t mean your body isn’t absorbing it. And a lot of what you put on your face, in your hair, and on your skin probably isn’t doing great things for your body (no matter how fabulous you look). There are countless articles on the why of it all—why going green with your beauty products is better for you, the animals (cruelty-free!), and the environment. But then you’re like, OK, where do I even start?
Well, my friends, I’m here to give you a sneak peek into my own personal beauty regimen. I’m not the most talented when it comes to fashion and beauty—my sisters got that particular gene, but they help me over skype when the situation is dire. But I do wear some eyeliner and lipstick on occasion, so I wanted to make sure that what I was putting on my body was as non-toxic as what I was putting in my body.
I tend to avoid anything with parabens, phthalate, SLS, petroleum, and formaldehyde as a start. It can be difficult to eliminate any and all chemicals from your daily routine, but my rule of thumb is to look for products with as few ingredients as possible, and always try to stay “natural”. It’s really helpful to look up the toxicity of ingredients or products with the Environmental Working Group if you’re still unsure of what a certain chemical is and why you should be concerned about it.
So, I present to you, my quick guide to natural self-care products. This is not a sponsored post, but I want you to have the best resources around to make sure your products are totally free of the bad stuff. I love Glam Organic Goddess for reviews and her beginner’s guide to clean beauty is awesome. Detox Market has a huge selection of natural products. I also use articles a like these to help guide me on what ingredients to avoid. But now that I’ve tried tons of different products, I wanted to share my all-time favorites with you, beautiful reader, so here goes!
HAIR PRODUCTS:
Giovanni products are the bomb, but I’ve also been getting really into Juice Organics lately. Both lines are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, you name it, but they’re also fairly inexpensive. Non-toxic products can often break the bank, especially if you’re typically spending very little on things like shampoo and conditioner. My favorites are Giovanni’s Pineapple & Ginger shampoo combined with Juice’s Pomegranate conditioner, but both lines have a bunch of choices for different hair types as well. Giovanni also has a whole line styling products (I like their anti-frizz serum and hairspray).
FACE:
I am obsessed with 100 percent pure’s Cucumber Foaming Facewash and their exfoliating facial scrubs. It’s so gentle on my skin but also works really well. After cleansing, I use Living Libations Zippity Dew Dab and Seabuckthorn Oil to get rid of acne and keep my skin soft and hydrated but not greasy. The seabuckthorn oil smells amazing, and I also use it on my surgery scars—and it actually helped them fade a little bit! I also use Lavender Lighten Mood Mist from Essential Rose Life to refresh when I’m meditating or feeling like my face is a bit dry.
COSMETICS:
Detox Market has a great selection of cosmetics. My favorites are Ilia for lipsticks and W3LLPEOPLE for blush, foundation, and concealer.
Cool tip: coconut oil can be used as a makeup remover! Just apply with your finger and use a cotton pad to wipe it away.
BODY:
For soap, I use EO lavender shower gel, and for moisturizer I love Bubble and Bee’s Wild Rose and Coconut and Lime body butter, or just plain old coconut oil.
MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS:
It’s time to talk tampons. The tampon industry in the US is not regulated and their products are often treated with bleach and other toxic chemicals. That stuff is going right into your body, and your lady parts are NOT having it. There are so many non-toxic options available, but I prefer a plastic applicator as opposed to a cardboard one. I use Cora or Lola, which are convenient subscription based companies with a full line of tampons and sanitary napkins. You could also use the Diva Cup if you are so inclined, but I have not personally ventured that far out of tampon-land yet.
CONDOMS:
It’s not something that immediately comes to mind when detoxing your products, but it’s true: any chemicals in a condom that come into contact with your skin are also being absorbed into your body. There are a ton of non-toxic latex condoms available, and Sustain makes a good one that also comes with non-toxic lubricant. Very important side note: Props for trying to be environmentally sustainable, but DO NOT use coconut oil as a lube with any kind of latex condoms, or they will be ineffective.
NAIL POLISH:
Nail polish can have some really nasty chemicals in it. I am obsessed with Zoya, free of the 7 most harmful chemicals like formaldehyde. And they have so many colors!
DEODORANT:
Lavanila Sport is my preferred brand. Just make sure you’re getting something that doesn’t have aluminum in it.
ORAL CARE:
Jason products are my favorite.
Life Gone Vegan 