Upgrade Your Beauty Routine with These Easy Tips
It’s sad to admit, but I used to be that girl who over-indexed on Sephora trips. Cute lip gloss shades and irresistible new highlighters were fun to experiment with, but they were a nightmare for my body’s internal systems working overtime to detoxify from all the preservatives, parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances. Fortunately, things started changing quickly when I came across research from the Environmental Working Group—the same organization Kourtney Kardashian partnered with to raise awareness about toxins in cosmetics.
Fact: according to the EWG, an average American woman uses 12 personal care products daily, exposing herself to more than 80 unique ingredients. What’s the problem, you may ask? Well, the Food and Drug Administration has no authority to require companies to test cosmetics products for safety. The agency does not review or approve the vast majority of products or ingredients before they go on the market.
Fact: according to the EWG, the average American woman absorbs over 5 pounds of toxic chemicals per year.
I’m going to let that one sink in… 5 pounds of sh%*&! Yup.
Just because a beauty product is sold in an expensive department store doesn’t make it safe. You, as the consumer, need to take action, read labels, educate yourself, and demand change from the beauty industry!
American standards are way behind European Union standards when it comes to personal care products’ safety. This is good news to the marketer trying to sell you the next miracle mascara, but it’s certainly not good news for you and your family. The problem is even more magnified when we think about the toxic soup of chemicals we live in. From the air we breathe to the industrial food like substances many of us put in their bodies. Not trying to get all negative on you, but it’s time to replace your “dirty” make-up and skin care products or at least start thinking about it and being finding substitutes for your favorite mascara filled with synthetic wax, fragrance (aka hormone disruptor), gluten, and a bunch of other things that are hard to pronounce.
Let’s start with couple of helpful tools to guide you on your journey.
How do I start getting rid of toxic beauty and make-up products? Where do I even begin?
Being with the products you use every day. Toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo and conditioner, mascara, foundation, blush or bronzer, facewash, and moisturizer. Slowly, week by week, do your research and try replacing other products in your make-up bag and in your bathroom.
Where can I buy safe, organic and toxin-free replacements? What are some good resources?
First of all, don’t buy anything without doing research and checking the product ingredients. You want to avoid anything with fragrance. Fragrance is actually code word for hundreds of hormone-disrupting chemicals that companies don’t have to disclose.
My personal favorite spots to get skincare and beauty are Credo Beauty (Soho and Williamsburg, Brooklyn store and online), The Detox Market (Soho store location and online), and Organic Bunny (online store).
How can I look up if products are safe?
Download the EWG app and scan product bar codes at the store for an instant check of ingredients. Here is an example of what a product scan can reveal.
You can also use their database and search safe products with their stamp of approval logo. Remember, the words “natural” on a product bottle don’t mean anything, so always read what the ingredients are.
What are some of your personal favorite products?
Here are some of my absolute favorite products. Don’t worry, I don’t have any sponsors who influence my POV. So, rest assured, these products are here because they work and they’re safe.
Toothpaste: Desert Essence Neem & Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste, Wintergreen
Deodorant: Tom's of Maine Natural Deodorant Stick, Unscented
Soap: Body Wash by ATTITUDE
Shampoo: Natural Volumizing Lavender Shampoo, Joyous Health
Conditioner: Natural Volumizing Lavender Conditioner, Joyous Health
Body Moisturizer: Smooth Like Butta' Body Butter, Joyous Health
Make-up:
Foundation: Crunchi Beautifully Flawless (different shades available)
Blush: Tata Harper Multipurpose Blush
Mascara: Hynt Beauty Mascara
Facewash: Purifying Cleansing Gel, Tammy Fender
Moisturizer: Intensive Repair Balm, Tammy Fender
