I am ecstatic you are here so I can spill this beauty wellness tea with you!
I had a beauty breakthrough! If you are anything like me, getting new cosmetics and skin care products makes you all giddy inside. Not to mention how amazing it feels to find “The” products that work wonders on your skin. Yeah, you know that feeling! So you can imagine how Scary and disappointing it was when I found out almost ALL of the beauty products I had used for years on a daily basis were harmful to my body.
It even included ones I’ve recommended to you. – SMH – I had to come clean with you and with all my products. They have now ALL been replaced with clean and safe ones. Let me explain this beauty wellness breakthrough a little further.
Maybe They’re Beautiful, But Maybe They’re Not Clean Products
Did you know that companies are not required to test the safety of their cosmetics before putting them on the market for sale? According to the American Cancer Society, the FDA does not have the authority to require such testing of cosmetics. Since these laws are so limited it means that cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens such as formaldehyde, are legally allowed in our beauty products. Yikes!
What we put on our skin absorbs into our bodies (even the makeup we wash off every night). With the above facts in mind, I knew it was time to take my beauty health more seriously. Especially considering we will be trying to grow our family in the future (eeeeeeeeek!). I will do whatever it takes to make sure I am as healthy as possible for when that time comes.
So I got down to the nitty gritty to discover what I’ve really been putting on my skin the last, oh. . . decade? It was time to investigate my everyday beauty products.
Inside My Shocking Beauty Products Discovery
Brands and products I was committed to and suggested to you on a regular basis weren’t what I thought they were. I especially thought it was safer to use brands that claim to be “Vegan,” or “Organic,” “Plant-Based,” “All Natural,” and “Made In The USA,” wouldn’t you??
When I started to do my research I was proven wrong. I found that these seemingly healthier products had many of the same carcinogens found in products that DO NOT make the “Organic,” “Plant-Based,” and “All Natural” claims. The following are just a few examples of these harmful properties:
- Retinyl Palmitate ingredient causes high reproductive/developmental toxicity concerns. This means it can cause adverse effects on fertility and sexual function and adverse effects on the embryo or fetus. – This one really makes me nervous!
- Fragrance, Hydroxycitronellal, and Limonene ingredients can cause high allergies/immunotoxicity concerns. This means adverse effects on the immune system.
- Multiple Paraben ingredients including butylparaben and isobutylparaben can cause endocrine (or hormonal) disruption. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. So Scary!
- Retinyl Palmitate ingredients can also cause high cellular changes (cancer) concerns. This means it can create abnormal cells which can mean cancer.
The list goes on and on. I was shocked like my mouth and eyes were wide open, shocked. I was using these products with these ingredients on my body every. single. day.
Once the shock settled, I felt defeated. It’s not an easy journey finding products that give us the makeup, hair, and skin we strive for. I was also mad and disappointed. I’ve lost trust in brands that advertise “Vegan,” “99% Plant Based,” or “Organic.” Without doing the research myself I will no longer base my purchase decisions on these terms. I can assure you that from here on out I am vetting each beauty product for health effects before giving them any praise.
Making The Change For Healthier Beauty
After all my emotions settled, my next step was to take ACTION. Beginning in November 2019, as I ran out of each product I researched what clean beauty product I could buy to replace it with. I’ve now done this with all of the products I use daily. Not only do I mentally feel more at peace with the health of my beauty routine but my body and skin are happier as well.
“Health Is Wealth!”
EWG was the resource I used for my research. If you want to do your own research on the beauty products you currently use, go to www.ewg.org and click on “Skin Deep.” On this site, you can type in each product to see how healthy or harmful it rates on their scale. The scale rates each product from “1” being the best to “10” being the worst. The absolute best rating a product can receive on their site is the “EWG Verified” stamp. Brands are usually so proud to receive this stamp from EWG that they will physically put it on their products. I personally love this site because it lists all of the ingredients in each product. It also explains the harmful health effects each ingredient can have on your body, (like I did above). So Super Helpful!
I have only tried a few new brands (new to me) to replace the old ones. Since I was purchasing all new products online and unable to test them out in person first I was nervous about their quality for the price. So far, I have been super impressed with them! Everything down to the packaging and the way the products feel and lay on my skin has proven they’re high quality. Let’s be real, healthier beauty products will more than likely be high quality.
What’s that you said?. . .
“So, tell me which beauty products I need to switch to already?!?”
I thought you’d never ask! 😉
The Clean Beauty Products I’m Loving Now
Here are the brands and products I have switched to so far. You can shop them or view them in more detail by clicking the link for each product.
SKINCARE
NEW UPDATE 1/5/2021 – This Body Lotion! – My skin has never loved a lotion as much as this one. I decided to try it after I found out it was completely clean! I can’t stop, won’t stop with this lotion. STILL USING & LOVING THIS LOTION 7/15/22
NEW UPDATE 7/15/2022 – This shampoo and conditioner and leave-in-conditioner have been my go-to’s for over a year now. It’s customized hair care specifically for you. I don’t see myself changing anytime soon. Use my link above for $10 off your first order!
Morning Face Cleanser– This is also amazing for taking off makeup at night. I like to use this to remove my makeup before I cleanse my face.
Nighttime Routine – I use their Hydration Dew, Cleansing Nectar, Complexion Toner & Restoring Cream. When my face started to consistently breakout like I’d NEVER seen before (it was scary) these products SAVED my skin. I swear by them. USE THE LINK ABOVE FOR 15% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE.
Under Eye Cream – Helps with anti-aging, brightening. I use this at night applying it last.
NEW UPDATE 7/15/2022 – Face Moisturizer & SPF – I started using this one in 2021 and haven’t looked back! It’s not oily at all and it creates a pretty glow on your skin. Use the link above for 20% off your first purchase!
Under Eye Balm – Under my eyes in the mornings for it’s cooling and brightening effects. I apply this after putting on SPF moisturizer. Sometimes I’ll put it on over my makeup halfway through the day as well if my eyes are needing a pick-me-up.
This Self Tanner– This self tanner is top 2 if not number 1 on my list. Your skin will not feel dried out after using it. I’ve also never had streaks from this one. Just always have to watch the elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles for build-up per usual with any self tanner.
Dry Shampoo– Loving this dry shampoo more than any others I’ve used. Other ones left my hair feeling more dry and damaged on the ends. This one does not dry out my ends as much. (UPDATE- I no longer use a dry shampoo due to build-up at the hair follicles causing stunted hair growth. BUT if I were to use it this would be the one!)
Also This Self Tanner Might be number 1 on my list.
MAKE-UP
Pressed Powder Foundation & Bronzer– Love the quality of these! Everything about these look and feel so high-end.
Mascara in color Jet– This is the best mascara I have ever used. I may never switch to anything else, ever!
Blush – Same feelings on this as the other pressed powders.
Eye Liner color Touch– Perfect transition from what I was using before.
Lip Liner – I was SOO excited to find that this Very Popular lip liner rates a 2 on EWG! Only in the shades “Intense” “Medium” and “Original” (1 being the best rating on EWG)
Burt’s Bees Chapstick– I ALWAYS use Burt’s Bees chapstick. I even have a video on my “beauty” highlight showing two of the tinted chapsticks I love to mix for the perfect color.
Burt’s Bees “Blossom Pink” Chapstick & Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Shimmer in “Guava” – Perfect color combo! – If you’re not big on lip gloss or lipstick – THIS IS IT!
Pure Powder Highlighter– For a long time I struggled to find a good highlighter that rates well on EWG’s scale. I see cream highlighters rating much better than powder highlighters. I’m not a fan of how cream highlighters can settle on my skin. I have a much better outcome with powder highlighters. After lots of research I found one that I felt comfortable purchasing. The product itself is not yet known on EWG so I researched the ingredients separately on EWG’s scale. There are only three ingredients, which is a good sign, and each one rated well.
These are the basics that I’ve switched to so far. My research is ongoing as I run out of old products and need to replace them. I will update you everytime I switch an old product with a new clean one. Since clean beauty is a newer trend it’s always good to have plenty of clean product options! In the meantime be sure to check out EWG.org/skindeep to check the health of your current beauty products and to search clean ones you can switch to! You can also download the “EWG’s Healthy Living” app to use while shopping for beauty products in-store.
Happy clean living, beauties!
P.S. I love to be here as a resource for you but I encourage you to also do your own research as well and always ask your doctor if you have questions relating to use of products during pregnancy. Feel free to email or message me with any other questions you may have!
Disclaimer: If you decide to shop these products through the links I have provided I will receive a small commission. I will also be extremely grateful. 🙂
