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WHY GO CLEAN?

Why are so many of us making the switch from toxic to clean beauty?

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. And it absorbs between 60-100% of everything we apply to it.

So, considering it’s our largest organ and we are constantly coming into contact with things all day this something to pay attention to.

When looking at skin care and beauty products with ingredients that expose us to phthalates, parabens, hormone disruptors, and pesticides according to the EWG’s Skin Deep it becomes clear that we need to go clean!

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Related: No Fuss DIY Natural Makeup Brush Cleaner

Related: 6 Cleaners to Stop Buying and Start Making

Why I made the Switch from Toxic to Clean Beauty

My transition to natural beauty products all started when we were expecting our daughter. As I thought about our baby taking her 1st bath, it opened my eyes to look closer at all the bath and body products I was using.

What was I putting on my skin?

Turns out, I needed more than a dictionary to read most of the product labels.

Being a hands-on person, I quickly dove right into making my own natural bath and body products! Funny thing is, I started with a homemade bubble bath since a long soak in the bath did wonder for my pregnant body.

Since then I’ve been making everything from face wash to body scrubs. Luckily, I found that I really only need a few simple ingredients to make natural skin care products. And it’s easier than you think! 

Although this isn’t to say that the only way to go clean is by creating your own “skin care line”. Just learning what harmful ingredient to avoid can help you make the switch from toxic to clean beauty.

Top 5 Ingredients to Avoid to Switch from Toxic to Clean Beauty:

Fragrances

When you see fragrance, parfum, or perfume listed on a product label put it back on the shelf. Why? Each is a term used to virtually mask 1000s of ingredients. Many of which are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors toxic to male and female reproductive systems reports the EWG.

Parabens

Another endocrine disruptor that is found in 75-90% of all beauty and skin care products sold in the U.S. And it is no secret that they can cause skin cancer and reproductive toxicity. So, avoid any ingredient ending in -paraben.

Heavy metals

Likely the most widely known toxin on this list. Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals are known neurotoxins linked to learning disabilities. On top of that, heavy metals have been shown to reduce fertility, disrupt hormones, and cause respiratory issues.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

Found in countless skin care products sodium laurel sulfate is a strong skin irritant and one which caused me to be hospitalized at the age of 6 due to severe skin lesions. It is often contaminated with nitrosamines and 1,4-Dioxane both of which are potent carcinogens.

Mineral Oils

A misleading, fancy way of saying petroleum, which is also a known carcinogen. Mineral oil is linked to causing a variety of cancers and can be found in everything from lip balm to baby lotion. 

Obstacles you may encounter when switching from toxic to clean beauty

My transition to natural beauty products certainly didn’t happen overnight. It is a journey of commitment to my health.

I understand if you have already spent a great amount of money on your current products – you can’t just throw them out.

Bookmark or pin the list above and start replacing the products you run out of. This approach saved me a lot of money and frustration.

Tips to make the switch from toxic to clean beauty:

• • Although, I waited nearly a year, transitioning to natural makeup turned out to be the easiest for me. In fact, it was a lot of fun to test them out. Check out my favorite natural makeup brands here. If it’s skin care products you’re looking to switch you can find any and everything you at the Grove Collaborative. It’s B Corp certified company that specializes in sourcing natural products for the skin and home. And they deliver them right to your door! 

• • Make reading labels easier with the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep ingredient database—a searchable site and app that rates how controversial an ingredient is based entirely on scientific studies and commissions. And you can even type in a product you are thinking of purchasing and get a rating.  

• • Not all skin care products are created equal so focus on what counts. For example, face wash and soap only stay on our skin for a short time, since we wash it off almost immediately. While moisturizes, foundations, and sunscreens stay on our skin for a long time and are likely to more absorbed.

• • Pay attention to greenwashing. Brands often use images of trees, flowers, or any nature related to vague claims of a product being greener when it actually isn’t.

• • As I mentioned before, swap products as you run out of them to make the transition to clean beauty easier.  

• It may seem intimidating at first, but don’t shy away from DIY. Find a wealth of DIY skin care recipes here at Life-n-Reflection and on my organic skin care recipes board on Pinterest.

Making the switch from toxic to clean beauty can seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve had so much fun over the last few years creating my own skin care products.

Keep in mind, just like Rome wasn’t built in a day – neither will you make the switch all in one day. Just start by swapping one product at a time and you will be on your way!

Have you tried natural beauty products or DIY your own? Tell me in the comments below or tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share yours.