Let's talk clean beauty.
Hi babes! If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I am in the process of making the switch to safer beauty products. There is SO much that goes along with this so I wanted to share all of my thoughts in one place instead of having a superrr long insta story! Let's jump in!
WHY
So, first things first, why am I making the switch to safer beauty products? The cosmetic industry is not regulated by the FDA. Because of this, companies can put whatever they want in their products. I'm talking known carcinogens and toxic chemicals that have no reason being in the products we use on a daily basis. Is that crazy or what?! WHY would I ever willingly put products on my skin that are made with ingredients we KNOW are harmful? I guess because I never really knew that the ingredients in my products could be so toxic. But now that I'm more aware, you know I'm going to commit to making the switch.
WORD CHOICE
Safe. Clean. Non toxic. Natural. Organic. The list is endless and the words cannot be used interchangeably (so I've learned). Just because a product may be considered safe, does not mean that it is all natural or organic. Be sure to know the difference and make a decision based on what you feel is right for you.
RESEARCH
Making the switch requires a TON of research. Because there are no set guidelines for brands to follow, it's up to us as consumers to do the research ourselves. And believe it or not, it's kind of a double edged sword. Since brands can put whatever they want in their products, it's important to read the ingredients and find out if they are harmful. It's also important to look into the ingredients in products that brands claim to be clean, natural, organic, or nontoxic because they aren't held to a certain standard either.
For example, I received products in the mail from a company that claims to be clean. When I looked at the ingredient list, I saw PEG-4 dilaurate listed. When you read about PEG's - they are an ingredient that more times than not, contain impurities that are harmful, but the impurities can be stripped if the brand is responsible and conscious of what goes into their products. AKA it comes down to making a judgement call. If you believe the brand is making the effort to remove the impurities in PEGs so they can still put them in their products and claim to be clean, then go for it. But if you don't feel too good about it, find another brand who is more reputable.
RESOURCES
It can be overwhelming having to do all of your own research so I want to share the resources I have found to be helpful so far (in addition to google).
The Think Dirty App is a great way to find out what's in your current products and if those ingredients are harmful or not. The app rates products on a scale of 0-10, 0 being not toxic at all and 10 being super toxic. You can then read further about each ingredient and find safer alternatives if some of your products are rated high on the scale.
The Detox Market is a site where you can purchase clean beauty products from a variety of brands. TDM promises to learn about the brands they work with, test all products before committing to them, and select their products based on a strict ingredient standard. You can read more about TDM here.
My friend Jen who writes Red White and Denim recommended this site to me! It's similar to TDM in the sense that you can purchase natural products from a variety of brands. Organachs Farm to Skin promises to deliver brands that have effective products and are made with clean, pure, toxin free ingredients. Read more here.
About pages & Blogs
As you come across brands you may want to try, make sure you read the about pages on their websites. After reading the about pages, you will have a pretty good sense of the brand and if you can trust that their products are what they claim to be. You will also be able to compare brands once you read a handful of about pages. Some may impress you more than others and some might be super basic, making you question their reliability.
Another great resource to utilize when looking at a brand's website is their blog. I love One Love Organic's blog because I found SO much useful information in their posts as I was doing my research. If a brand's site has a blog, read it!
One blogger I follow, Jenna who writes Visions of Vouge, is super into safe beauty. She has an entire section on her blog dedicated to safe beauty and a category called "ingredient of the week." I particularly love her "ingredient of the week" posts because she does a ton of research about specific ingredients that are harmful and shares everything we need to know!
THE PROCESS
Switching over to a completely safe beauty routine is a PROCESS. It can be tempting to ditch and switch everything all at once, but that also means you need to be prepared to spend a lot of money. Taking it one step at a time may be your best bet. As you run out of current products, replacing them with safer options is a great way to comfortably transition your entire routine.
Personally, I am starting with skincare and base layers. I'm talking the products that I use every day and night, that are going right on top of my skin. If I can initially switch all of my skincare products, primers, and foundations to safer options, I will be content with that as a start. It's going to be a lot of trial and error, but I am determined to find clean products that give the same results, if not better than those that contain toxins.
REAL TALK
As a BEAUTY LOVER (and even as a blogger), this transition is harder for me than it may seem. I've always been pretty conscious of the skincare product I use; but giving up my Laura Mercier foundation and Tom Ford bronzer is going to be a hard pill to swallow. And what about my Urban Decay Naked2 Basics palette?! UGHHHHH. Let's not even get started with hair care. So many amazing products, with not so amazing ingredients. Part of the reason I'm even obsessed with these products in the first place is because society tells us we need to use the newest products with the chicest packaging etc etc not even bothering to look at what's in them! Not cool.
As I take you along on this process, I can't promise that I will do everything perfectly and not use my naked palette every now and then. But what I can promise is that I'm going to try my best. I'm only human and as long as I'm doing the best I can for me, that's all that matters. AND the same goes for you! If you are going to join me on this journey, just remember to take it at your own pace, do what you can, and know that even just a small change can make the biggest difference!
As always, thanks so much for reading!
Here's to safer beauty & living well!
xo
