Non Toxic Beauty/Skincare

Have you ever thought about how many chemicals you put on your body daily? Yeah, I never thought about it until recently. In America, I found that women put an average of 168 chemicals on their bodies (for men it is 85). Let’s think about it for a moment. We wake up and head to the bathroom. There are so many chemicals in there – in our soap, shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, skincare, lotions, makeup, hair care products. So for me, it is more of a decision to just live a greener life (the older I’m getting, the more aware I am about my health). Others might have to change their products due to health concerns.

I LOVE conventional beauty products. Especially the higher end, luxury products. You walk into a department store and the colors are beautiful, the packaging is stunning. When I was 18, I saved my money and went to the Chanel counter to purchase a stunning compact powder and my first red liquid lipstick. 14 years later, I still have those two products in my makeup collection. My goal here is to share my transition and hopefully make you a little more aware. I am not claiming to be an expert, but would like to share tips I have found along the way.

How I Start the Transition

I did my research and decided to start using non-toxic/green beauty products. Now, I looked at my makeup, lotions, skincare, toiletries etc. Initially, I was just shocked as to how many products I had. Rather than throwing all of it away, I looked at the products that were almost empty. If I was almost out of lip product or deodorant, I would research a non toxic brand and give it a try. Transitioning one or two products at a time is a lot less over whelming and less expensive.

Knowing What Ingredients to Stay Away From

If you have ever looked at the ingredients list on a product, it can seem like its in a foreign language. I cannot even pronounce half of what is listed. Here is a short list of a few ingredients to stay away from:

Fragrance – thousands of ingredients can be listed under “fragrance/perfume/parfum”, many contain phthalates. This ingredient has been found to be carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors and can affect the nervous and reproductive system.
Mineral Oil – also known as Liquidum Paraffinum. This clogs pores which stops our skin’s natural ability to release toxins. Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. This is also known as carcinogenic.
Parabens – try to avoid anything ending in -paraben. Petroleum-based parabens are found in about 70-95% of all personal care products. It is known to be endocrine disruptors and cancer causing. It is also linked to reducing sperm production and testosterone levels.
Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) – This is a potent carcinogenic, very strong skin irritant and possible hormone disruptor. May be hidden in products with the words “derived from coconut oil”. Click here for longer list of ingredients to avoid.

Current Favorite Natural Beauty Products
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If you have been following me on Instagram, you will have seen my obsession for Tata Harper products. Not only have her products been great for my skin but it also has that luxurious feeling that I miss from traditional makeup products. I also gravitate towards Jasön and Avalon Organics for shampoos, conditioners, body wash and deordorant. Bite Beauty and W3ll People are a staple in my makeup bag. Nourish Organic is a great line. Their argan oil and facial spray are two of my favorites from this line. It was the first non-toxic skincare brand I found that was gentle yet effective.
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I know this can be super overwhelming, but I hope I was able to shine the light on this topic for you. I am still learning and trying to find a balance between using products that are better for me versus products I have always loved. If you any any questions please leave them in the comments. If you have any product recommendations, I’d love for you to share them!