Why You Should Switch To Clean Beauty
The “natural beauty” approach was something I never considered until a few years ago when I discovered that toxic ingredients could be found in almost every product that I put on my skin. So, I decided to swap all of my products for clean beauty items. This spring, I urge you to try “spring cleaning” your beauty products by getting rid of the ones that can actually cause more harm than good.
My Journey to clean beauty
In 2017, I discovered an app called Think Dirty, and it changed the way I took care of my body. This app educates the average consumer about how clean or dirty their everyday skincare products are. I downloaded the app and did a little experiment by first checking out the products in my apartment to see how toxic they were. To my surprise, the products that I owned and thought were healthy, were not. The app works by holding your item and scanning the barcode on the back. It then rates it from 0 – 10 (10 being the most toxic & 0 being the least), it also awards you badges if you have low scored items.
So, I started with the basics – my face cleanser and moisturizer. I have extremely sensitive skin, so for as long as I can remember I have used Cetaphil, based on my dermatologist’s recommendation. It was light, claims it’s healthy and doctor-approved, and never bothered me until I found out the truth. Cetaphil was ranked, yes you guessed it, a 10! Well + Good wrote a great article about why Cetaphil isn’t good for you.
The average woman walks out every day with about 515 synthetics chemicals on her body, without even knowing it (Huffington Post). Our skin is the largest organ of our body and absorbs so much. 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies and can create harmful effects. We live in a country, where only 8 skincare products have been banned, while Europe has banned over 1,300. The problem is that people are not informed about these harmful products.
When I was just starting my journey in 2018, the only store available was Credo Beauty. Now, everywhere you turn it’s the forefront of the beauty and skincare space. Large retailers like Target and Sephora are helping to bring clean beauty options to their consumers and making it easier to switch. Here is a breakdown of what the beauty terms actually mean and what to look out for when shopping and swapping.
Clean beauty: Products that do not use chemicals that are unsafe and possible cancer-causing.
Eco-friendly: vegan or cruelty-free, meaning they don’t test on animals. It can also mean that they are sourcing the ingredients and packages fair-trade or more ethically and sustainable.
Green beauty: products that have ingredients derived from plants rather than chemicals.
There can be products that have all three of these components. For example, Frank & Whit is a company that is cruelty-free, plant-based, uses recycled materials for their packaging, and even gives back 5% of sales to Dog Rescue Organizations. However, there are a lot of brands out there that claim they are natural, even if they aren’t, and it’s hard to know what is misleading, and what is trustworthy.
Ingredients to avoid in your skincare and beauty products
*Huffington Post has a great article about the harmful ingredients that are found in cosmetics and their effects. For more information, read the full article.
Aluminum: Inorganic salt used in antiperspirants and cosmetics and can negatively affect fertility, (EWG), possible cancer-causing, and possibly linked to Alzheimer’s. (WebMD)
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene): Preservatives found in cosmetics that can induce bad skin reactions. BHA is a possible carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) with evidence linked to affecting hormone function, while BHT has shown that long-term use can cause liver, thyroid, and kidney problems in rats. (DK)
Formaldehyde: Preservatives to prevent bacteria growth sound ideal, but this ingredient (used to preserve dead bodies) has been identified as a “human carcinogen” by The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC), and has been linked to occupational-related cancers—namely, nasal and nasopharyngeal. It can cause allergic skin reactions and can also be harmful to the immune system. (Huff)
Parabens: Another common preservative found in makeup to prevent yeast, bacteria, and mold growth. The problem is that they possess properties that mimic estrogen associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. (Huff)
Parfum/fragrance: A mix of ingredients that have been associated with allergies, respiratory issues, and reproductive issues. (Huff)
Phthalate: Chemicals that help the flexibility and softness in plastics. These ingredients are known to cause a disruption in our endocrine system and are linked to breast cancer, reproductive issues, birth defects, and hormonal issues. (Huff)
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): An ingredient when combined with other ingredients, can create a carcinogen. It can also cause kidney problems. (Huff)
Triclosan: An antimicrobial chemical that can harm the endocrine system including the thyroid and reproductive system. This ingredient is usually found in deodorants and common cleaners. (Huff)
Some amazing resources for information about toxic products and alternatives are EWG, Organic Bunny, ECORenaissance: A Lifestyle Guide for Co-creating a Stylish, Sexy, and Sustainable World (book coming soon), Credo Beauty, and The Detox Market.
Products I love:
LINNÉ Botanicals - LINNÉ is an ethically crafted skincare line formulated exclusively from superlatively sourced plants and minerals. All of their products are amazing and so nourishing. I absolutely love the REVIVE Eye Emulsion. Use code ALYSSAXLINNE for 15% off.
100% Pure is a great site for all things natural skincare and beauty. I use their Vitamin C Serum, Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum, Dark Spot Remover, and the Fruit Pgimeneted Foundation is one of the best clean options I’ve tried. It blends in so well with your skin and actually has benefits for your skin. Use code ALYSSA20 for 20% off.
Tula Skincare - I have gotten all of my friends and family hooked on this brand. I use their entire probiotic line that supports your skin’s microbiome in a clean way. Use code Holysstic for 15% off.
Lula - Lately I’ve been loving their Potion Serum for my Gua Sha and Face Cupping. But their whole Lineup Kit is amazing. Use code ALYSSA for 15% off your first purchase.
Osea Malibu: $$ I love their Atmosphere Protection Cream and Ocean Cleanser
You have only one life, so choose a healthy lifestyle and use ingredients you can pronounce! See what works best for your skin, even if you just swap out one product, it’s better than nothing.