What Is Clean Beauty + Why You Should Give A F*

Sorry to swear in the title, but I feel passionately about this subject.

Here’s the thing about clean beauty. I’ve found when talking to people that, generally speaking, it’s not that people don’t give a f*. It’s that they’re simply not clear on why they should care in the first place. Which, trust me, I get. Because I was the captain of that boat merely months ago.

“I’ve been using my products for years, there’s nothing wrong with them.”

“What I use is fiiiine. If the ingredients were that bad, why would they even be allowed to be used in the products in the first place?”

And – here’s the one I said most frequently – “I’ve tried the “clean” route, and the products just don’t work as well.”

Does any of the above sound familiar?

Again, I get it, because I was the one to say all these things in the past. I wanted to support clean beauty. I felt good about supporting clean beauty products when I used them. But I was never really proactive in my efforts. I never really dug into why. Turns out, the “why” is super important.

Learning more about clean beauty has turned out to be equal parts eye-opening and alarming.

This post is all about that “Why.” A summary of my journey toward clean beauty, what I’ve learned, and what I’m doing moving forward.

But before diving in, I’d like to address a few quick, important things.

First, I am not an expert. While I’ve tried to be diligent in my knowledge/sourcing, I by no means claim to be an expert. I both respect and lean on medical professionals; I believe that you should, too!

Second, this space is REALLY confusing. One article says one thing; a different says another. There are lots of differing perspectives, all from credible people who I truly believe mean well. Perhaps this is a big reason why people ignore what’s out there; it’s super overwhelming once you even just scratch the surface. I hope the below breaks this very complicated world into a launching point that’s digestible for you.

Third, it’s so important to be informed and for you to do your own research/form your own perspective, too! I’ve provided links to lots of information here, to help you on that journey. I fully trust all of the sources I’ve used. If you find additional information that’s interesting, I’d love for you to feel free to share it with me, too! In general, I encourage myself, and us all, to be curious, stay informed, do research, and pay attention.

Most of all, I hope this post is helpful for you! This topic is very much a journey – one that I’ve really just started. Even if I can inspire one person to continue that journey with me, I’d be happy.

Alright, here we go!

What is Clean Beauty, Anyways?

In a nutshell, clean beauty refers to the absence of potentially toxic chemicals in our products such as makeup, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc.

I like how this Today article summed it up best: “While there isn’t a singular definition, the clean beauty movement embraces both natural and man-made ingredients, putting the focus on safety over source. Not all “natural” ingredients are safe (i.e. lead or poison ivy) and not all synthetic ingredients are unsafe. Most clean beauty products avoid the use of ingredients like parabens, sulfates, silicones, phthalates and synthetic fragrances while still delivering results.”

Clean beauty speaks to me because adhering to it doesn’t mean extremes.

It doesn’t mean only using products just from the earth. It allows for indulging in many of the man-made advancements that help to better effectiveness. But it does so without the presence of potentially harmful ingredients that have been shown to be toxic, yet unfortunately are still common within the space.

Before I discuss this topic, I’d like to break down my personal skin journey. It’s important in my road to believing in clean beauty.

My skin is hyper-sensitive in pretty much every aspect. I have combination skin that’s dry in some areas and oily in others. Being prone to acne, I break out at the drop of a dime. Every time I enter the sun, I swear I get a new freckle or wrinkle. Fragrances tend to irritate my skin and cause rashes — in fact, in my wedding photos I have weird red blotches on my neck because of my perfume – CUTE!

My skin issues started in middle school, when I developed chronic cystic acne on my back, chest and neck. Occasionally it’d gravitate toward my face too, which was always a joy.

My acne was big, bold, and painful.

I used Proactive and prescription benzyl peroxide for years, which bleached pretty much every article of clothing and bedding I owned. Finally, my dermatologist prescribed birth control in high school, which successfully tamed the beast! Yay! But after nearly 10 years of of being on birth control, I decided it wasn’t for me anymore. (A topic for another day.) I went off it, and of course, my little friends devils popped up again.

By that time Doug and I were engaged, and were starting to think about having a family in the next few years. So I decided to just #DEAL without birth control. I tried everything yet again, and nothing really worked, so I ended up going on a prescription retinol cream. Despite my skin occasionally being red and peeling, I loved it. My wrinkles were minimized, and my acne was gone.

Then, something big happened.

After only a few months of being married, I got pregnant unexpectedly. When I found out, I was sent into an absolute panic. I’d been using retinol products on my skin for weeks into my pregnancy before I knew. (Retinol is a no-no while pregnant – it’s been linked to birth defects in a developing fetus.) My doctor assured me it was okay, but still. It may seem like I overreacted (Which I’m sure I did) but it affected my mentality my entire pregnancy. I was worried for my baby and was constantly on edge that I’d done something to mess her up. (Grace turned out perfect, thank God!)

That retinol experience was a wake up call for me.

I felt many emotions. Angry at my dermatologist for prescribing me something that was so potentially harmful. Thankful for my gynecologist to be strict and clear on his recommendations of products not to use. Most of all, I was mad at myself. How could I have been so careless?!

One key question kept arising as I thought more and more about it all: “If it’s harmful to a developing baby, how could it possibly be good for me?!”

I realized that, when it comes down to it, we all need to be our own advocates when it comes to health.

My skincare products went through a microscope at that stage – at first just eliminating products with glaring issues for pregnancy such as retinol. After that, it was a very slow and gradual process toward true “clean beauty” from there. I dabbled in and out of clean for a long time, trying to find things that worked. Yes, I tried to be more conscious about what I was putting on my skin, but I largely was just going by the basics.

Honestly, looking back, I was overwhelmed by it all.

The more I learned, the more I discovered that it was all so confusing. Conflicting information. Unclear suggestions. Regulations that act one way, and advocates that promote another.

Not to mention, the ingredients themselves are confusing. What are parabens? Phthalates? BHA and BHT? Why shouldn’t I use products with them? How do I identify all these in the microscopic text that’s on the labels? WTF – is it a requirement for ingredients to be listen in frickin’ LATIN?! If they’re that bad, why are they allowed in products? How is it possible that some of the brands I thought were “green” or “natural” are actually made with potentially harmful ingredients?! Isn’t any of this regulated?!?!

But little by little, I learned. It’s taken me a long time to get here. Years, in fact.

But now that my eyes have been opened, I can’t shut them.

The truth of the matter is that there are real, proven issues happening with many ingredients in the products we’re surrounded by daily. This is happening. Ignorance isn’t bliss when it comes to health. And for that reason alone I hope you’ll keep reading.

Problems With “Dirty” Ingredients + The Industry

Okay so before I share the below, I once again need to say that obviously I’m not a doctor. I’m merely a curious soul who tends to go down rabbit holes with passion projects on the regular. So please know that I’m in no way trying to frame myself as an expert.

Even though I’m choosing to share this with you and hopefully do my small part in the clean beauty movement, I very much believe it’s your responsibility to read, research, and educate yourself. Decide what your point of view is, and move forward accordingly. You are the only person who can decide what’s best for you! And, yes, your doctor too. 😉

Let’s dive into the dirty, shall we?

First, let’s talk about skin.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and absorbs what we put on it. Of course there are so many factors that go into what ultimately gets absorbed, and how much. Check out this report if you’d like to read more on absorption. Generally speaking, we should assume that as a rule of thumb, what we put on ourselves can make its way into our bodies.

According to the EWG’s Skin Deep Database, cosmetic ingredients penetrate the skin. Scientists have found many common cosmetic ingredients in human tissues, including phthalates in urine, preservatives called parabens in breast tumor tissue and persistent fragrance components in human fat. Yikes, right?

Here are some alarming facts about the industry.

Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Also, please refrain from wanting to screeeeeam after reading the below. (Or, actually, do scream if you want. It’s all pretty scary.)

• FACT #1: Personal care products are manufactured with 10,500 unique chemical ingredients, some of which are known or suspected carcinogens, toxic to the reproductive system, or known to disrupt the endocrine system. (Source: EWG)
• FACT #2: U.S. law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, to have FDA approval before they go on the market. (Source: FDA)
• FACT #3: The U.S. has not passed a major federal law governing the cosmetics industry since 1938. 80 YEARS. (Source: EWG)
• Fact #4: The European Union has banned or restricted 1,300 ingredients from personal care products. The United States has outlawed or curbed just 30. (Source: The Guardian)
• Fact #5: In recent decades reproductive and developmental problems have become more prevalent. Environmental chemicals are strongly suspected to be contributing factors. (Source: Environmental Health Perspectives)
• FACT #6: Harmful chemicals are found in our everyday products, including body sprays, shampoo, conditioners, lotions, deodorants, etc. (Source: BCPP “Right To Know” Report)
  • I was shocked to see the Organix shampoo I used for years – thinking it was “natural – on the list of products with 10 or more chemicals linked to chronic health effects. (Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck perfume was on there, too. You guys know how much I love Tay, but nooo. Get with your people and make that better, please!)
  • What was particularly INSANE to me is that, within that study mentioned, products marketed toward kids and women of color were among the highest in average # of chemicals linked to chronic health concerts by product.
• Fact #7: Generally speaking, very little information is available on long-term health impacts of most cosmetic ingredients or cosmetic products. (Source: American Cancer Society)

I’ll pause here do we can all take a collective deep breath and digest the craziness.

But, why are these ingredients being used? What’s the counterargument against “clean beauty”?

A variety of reasons.

Through my research, what I can deduct as the most simple explanation is that these potentially harmful ingredients are cost-effective solutions to what they set out to do. And there are many scientists and professionals who believe that the levels of these ingredients found in our products are simply not large enough to be concerning to our health.

For example, parabens are essentially a preservative that are largely used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, microbes, etc. to extend shelf life. They’re also easily absorbed by the body. (Source: Science Direct) One interesting fact, leaning into the “why” they are used, is that it’s actually a requirement for companies to use preservatives in products that contain water or aloe to prevent the product from becoming contaminated; the question for companies is what preservatives are used. Make sense?

Generally speaking, there’s lots of uncertainty in the field because, while short term effects like allergic reactions are fairly easy to deduct, long term effects are difficult.

Why? Because many products and ingredients haven’t been tested thoroughly. Even when they have been tested, the results may not be clear cut. In addition, most scientists and regulatory agencies believe that it is very unlikely that cosmetic ingredients have serious health effects because of the low dose from such exposures, even with regular use.

For the sake of digestion, I’ve largely oversimplified a complex topic when it comes to ingredients, exposure, and testing with the above. This article from the American Cancer Society dives into this further in great effectiveness – I highly recommend reading their take on it all.

Another issue is that the industry is largely policing itself.

Where the U.S. has the FDA, which does not have the authority to remove harmful ingredients form the products we put on our bodies today, the EU has what’s called REACH, which helps to regulate the ingredients in such products.

Here’s a key difference between the two, taken directly from their websites.

From the REACH website: “REACH places the burden of proof on companies. To comply with the regulation, companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the EU. They have to demonstrate to ECHA how the substance can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users.” (Source: REACH)

Now, in comparison, here’s what the FDA says about substantiating safety. “Companies and individuals who manufacture or market cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products. Neither the law nor FDA regulations require specific tests to demonstrate the safety of individual products or ingredients. The law also does not require cosmetic companies to share their safety information with FDA” (Source: FDA)

This is scary because, in the U.S., companies can essentially bring a product to market without proving that the products are safe, both from a short and long term perspective.

Remember the recent Claire’s example? The FDA found asbestos in their makeup. Luckily the brand voluntarily removed the products from distribution, but their next changes and steps for manufacturing future products are totally their discretion. But, what about the parents who didn’t keep up with the news that week and are still unaware? What about the teens who had been using those products for months without knowing that asbestos was in them? What about the people – young adults – who still may be using them? Who is protecting them?

Net, net — I interpret this all as a difference between proactive vs. reactive legislation.

This is important because it ultimately affects how products are brought to consumers. And it also places the onus on consumers to educate themselves on the ingredients that are in their products they purchase. Which unfortunately is a confusing space that the majority of us don’t even realize, let alone fully grasp what all we should be looking for.

But don’t take my word for it. According to Alex Bergstein, Connecticut Senator and former chair of the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center, “Generally, the EU has got it right. In the US we have a strong favoritism towards companies and manufacturers, to the extent that public health and the environment is being harmed.”

In summary, as I stated prior, there’s lots of contradictions in the space of clean beauty.

It’s all quite confusing. The best stance for me has been to avoid the common culprits all together. I don’t want to wait for something to be proven harmful; I want to use products that have been proven safe before I use them.

Common “dirty” ingredients and why they’re potentially harmful.

Alright, so, now that we understand more about the reasons we’re still seeing these ingredients, let’s dive into the biggest ingredients to avoid and why.

A note on sourcing. I have largely derived the below from a variety of sources, including a fantastic overview I found from Harpers Bazaar, the Clean Beauty Box website, the BeautyCounter “Never List”, and the Follain “Restricted Ingredients” list. Where I’ve found additional information beyond these sources, I’ve provided sourcing where applicable.

There are quite a few ingredients I didn’t include for sake of overload; I encourage you to swing by all of the above sources for more information and ingredients to be aware of!

Parabens

What are they? Preservatives and antimicrobial chemicals that prevent the growth of microbes, bacteria, and mold in your beauty products.

The Issues: Studies confirm that parabens mimic estrogen in the human body, with evidence linking them to reproductive organ harm, thyroid disruption, hormone-related cancers, and obesity. 

On labels, you can recognize them by: “methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-“

Phthalates

What are they? Help fragrances last longer.

The Issues: Linked to reproductive and hormonal harm. Some studies have linked phthalate exposure to obesity, type 2 diabetes, reduced sperm count, breast cancers, reproductive malformation, infertility, and cardiovascular events. A study from 2017 found that 70 percent of perfume and cosmetics salespeople had exceeded the cumulative risk of phthalate exposure.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “DBP (dibutyl phthalate), DEP (diethyl phthalate), BPA (Bisphenol)”

Fragrances

What are they? “Fragrance” is actually a catch-all term that can disguise up to 3,000 synthetic or natural chemicals used to make a products smell good.

The Issues: The ingredients in fragrances are considered a “trade secret” and therefore don’t need to be disclosed; lots of ingredients are hidden under this term on labels. Can be a trigger for allergies and asthma.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Fragrance” or “Parfum”

Formaldehyde

What are they? A preservative, commonly found in hair treatments.

The Issues: Recognized globally as a human carcinogen. It’s largely been removed from most cosmetic products, however, some salon keratin treatments claim to be free of formaldehyde but what they contain instead are ingredients like methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol, which release the carcinogenic compound when mixed with water during the treatment.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Formaldehyde, Quanternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate”

Triclosan

What are they? An antibacterial and antimicrobial chemical. Found in sanitizing hand and body soaps, mascara, and formerly in toothpaste.

The Issues: Linked to liver fibrosis, skin cancer, hormone disruption, and the development of bacterial superbugs. Found to be toxic to water environment. In April 2019, the FDA issued a final rule banning hand sanitizers from using the ingredient.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Triclosan”

Talc

What are they? A mineral made from magnesium, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

The Issues: Talc that hasn’t been purified can be contaminated with asbestos, a known human carcinogen. This was ket culprit behind the Claire’s asbestos scare. Reuters did an independent report that revealed Johnson and Johnson also contained it in their baby powder.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Talc”

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)

What are they? Responsible for the bubbles and lather in things like shampoos and cleansers.

The Issues: Surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. SLES is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethoxylation, which is used to process other chemicals in order to make them less harsh.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate”

Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)

What are they? Petroleum based chemicals that are often found as cream bases in cosmetics because of their ability to thicken and soften moisture carriers.

The Issues:  Depending on manufacturing processes, may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, which are both carcinogens. 

On labels, you can recognize them by: “PEG, Polyethylene, Polyethylene Glycol, Polyoxyethylene, Ceteareth”

Petroleum

What are they? Moisturizing agent, often found in lip balms.

The Issues:  From an environmental standpoint, petroleum has a host of issues. Regarding cosmetics specifically, a study found mineral oil to accumulate over time and be the largest contaminant present in the human body.

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Petroleum Jelly, Mineral Oil”

Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate)

What are they? Made from vitamin A, retinol is typically found in anti-aging and anti-acne creams.

The Issues:  Increases sensitivity to sun. Linked to birth defects in infants as a result of excessive vitamin A intake for pregnant and breastfeeding women. (Source: Obgyn report)

On labels, you can recognize them by: “Retinyl, retinol, retinoid treatment.”

There are plenty more, but I know that even the small amount of watch-outs I provided above is a lot to digest.

I remember thinking, “How will I ever remember all this?!” when I first saw these types of lists. (Especially as someone who has a terrible memory in general!)

My strategy when choosing products is to bookmark and lean into key sources. For example, I typically get our family’s cosmetic products from BeautyCounter because I consider them to be a gold standard in clean beauty. However, even if I’m shopping at a place like Target, I’ll pull up their “Never List” to reference because I have a very hard time remembering all those things off hand! The below is a great image to save and reference for later, if you’re interested!

If you got this far, THANK YOU! I’m so impressed.

It’s all pretty overwhelming, right?

While it’s very easy to feel like everything in your cabinet needs to be swapped out NOW, NOW, NOW, if you’re interested in going “clean”, it’s totally fine to take it slow and at a pace you’re comfortable with. Swapping everything is not only expensive, but you really have to figure out what products work best for you! For me this continues to be a big area of trial and error.

Let’s put together an action plan, shall we?

My recommendation is to first focus on the products that are applied directly to large amounts of your skin, such as lotions and creams, because these are applied to the biggest surface area. Focus also on products that you use most often — a good rule of thumb is 1 – 2 times a day — and also products that are used on babies and children, as their skin is thinner and has a greater risk for absorption.

From there, take it little by little so as not to overwhelm yourself. What’s in your deodorant? Makeup? Pay attention to labels and ingredients. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t recognize it, don’t buy it. It’s also super important to note that just because something is organic or “green”, doesn’t mean it’s free of potentially harmful ingredients.

Overall, my biggest recommendation to take a stance. As I noted earlier, I was interested in and dabbled in/out of clean beauty for a long time before I really dove all in. It wasn’t until I drew a metaphorical line in the sand and said, “From this point forward our family is going all clean,” that we really moved the needle in our household. It was a very intentional commitment, and one that continues to take a lot of thought and paying attention as we navigate it all.

I highly recommend shopping for products via places that are helping to vet and curate these options for you. Here are some personal recommendations!

BeautyCounter

I personally love BeautyCounter (and yes I am a consultant!) because I have found their products to be high quality and effective.  They have over 1,500 questionable ingredients that are never used in formulations— The Never List —and their Ingredient Selection Process is unparalleled. I love that they don’t just product clean beauty products, but actively advocate for better legislative action, too!

Follain

Follain is another space that I trust – they have a Restricted Ingredients list that they adhere to (Similar to BeautyCounter’s “Never List” mentioned above), and also have a strict approval process before they’ll even sell items.

Sephora Clean Beauty Section

Another great resource! Sephora has created a section on their site that features products without parabens, sulfates SLS and SLES, phthalates, mineral oils, formaldehyde and more.

Whole Foods

No surprise there, right?! They have a list of 100+ ingredients that they vet out from their products. Here’s more about their quality selection process, if you’re interested in reading!

As I noted in the beginning of this post, I’d tried many clean beauty products before, and I had a hard time finding products that really jived with me.

However after years of trial and error, and a lot of toying over the past few months, I’ve found some amazing products that work for even my finicky skin. I think that products have gotten so much better over the past few years in this space as the demand increases!

Here is a list of my current favorite products. I’m always trying new ones out and love recommendations, so if you have more, be sure to leave them in the comment section below!

Hair

Obsessed with all R + Co products. The ones I use most often are Atlantis Shampoo + Conditioner + Death Valley Dry Shampoo. Have also used Love Lather and recommend!

For added moisture, especially since coloring my hair blonde, I love the Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Trader Joe’s Hair Mask. (Note: Does include “fragrance” in ingredients. I’m comfortable with this as it doesn’t entice an allergic reaction with me, but do note.)

Body

Clean body with Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap or Citrus Body Wash. Use Charcoal Cleansing Bar on my neck, chest and back, which has totally eliminated my acne issues in those areas.

My secret weapon for full-body moisture is the Hydrating Body Lotion mixed with a few drops of Citrus Rosemary Body Oil after I shower. I SWEAR by this routine – it not only smells light and fresh but my skin has been significantly softer since doing this!

I’ve been using natural deodorants for years and have tried so many out! The current one I’m using is from good ol CVS – Crystal Natural Deodorant. I also have used Biossance Bamboo Deodorant and recommend.

For sunscreen, I love Supergoop!

Face – Skin Care

This is definitely where I’ve spent the most time, money, and trial.

I have two routines: One for pregnancy and for when I’m not pregnant. This is because some of the products that I love for when I’m not pregnant do contain salicylic acid. They’re all in concentrations under the FDA limit, and it should be noted salicylic acid is not found on any of the ingredient lists to ban that I’ve found, but my doctor has still advised against using it as it’s not recommended during pregnancy. Will do a full post with more context soon!

Favorite Products While Not Pregnant

Morning: Clean with Counter + Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm or Pure Calm Cleansing Milk. Tone with Counter + Brightening Facial Mist. Next, No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil or Intense Moisture Serum all over face, depending on how dry my skin feels. Apply Indie Lee I-Waken Eye Serum to eyes. Finish with Adaptive Moisture Lotion to seal in moisture. Then makeup routine! (See below)

Night: Clean with Counter + Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm or Charcoal Cleansing Bar if I need a deeper clean. Tone with Instant Matte Toner or Indie Lee CO-Q 10 Toner Apply Intense Moisture Serum a few nights a week, and Overnight Resurfacing Peel the others. Finish with Adaptive Moisture Lotion to seal in moisture.

Favorite Products While Pregnant

Morning: Clean with Counter + Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm or Pure Calm Cleansing Milk. Tone with Counter + Brightening Facial Mist or Indie Lee CO-Q 10 Toner. Next, No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil. Apply Indie Lee I-Waken Eye Serum to eyes. Finish with Naturopathica Vitamin C Revitalizing Lotion. Then makeup routine! (See below)

Night: Clean with Counter + Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm or Charcoal Cleansing Bar if I need a deep clean. Tone with Instant Matte Toner or Indie Lee CO-Q 10 Toner. Apply Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil a few nights a week, and rotate in No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil the others. Finish with Naturopathica Vitamin C Revitalizing Lotion.

**Basically, removed Intense Moisture Serum, Overnight Resurfacing Peel, and Adaptive Moisture Lotion from my pregnancy roundup, as those products contain salicylic acid.

Face – Makeup

My daily routine is the “Flawless in Five” one I showcased here! I love all of these products so much. Here’s that routine summarized: Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer + Touch Up Concealer Pen + Brilliant Brow Gel + Volumizing Mascara + Satin Powder Blush + Lip Gloss (Love the color “Peony”)

If I want added color, the Velvet Eyeshadow Palette is lovely, and I sometimes will throw on the Color Intense Lipstick!

Kiddos

Honest Organic All-Purpose Balm for general soothing + moisture needs. Honest Diaper Rash Cream for the bum bums. Babyganics Baby Shampoo + Body Wash, Honest Shampoo + Body Wash, or (heavily diluted) Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap for washing.

We haven’t used them yet, but I’ve heard the Baby Bundle Set and Kid’s Bath Collection from BeautyCounter are amazing!

General Brands I Love

Like I said, I’m always trying out new products! Here are some general brand/products I’ve tried and love. Though they may not be in my current routine, I can definitely speak highly to them!

Caudalie – Love this french beauty brand and all they stand for! Pretty much anything by Caudalie is wonderful. I’ve used their Micellar Cleansing Water + Moisturizing Toner + Vitamin C Anti-Wrinkle Serum and loved them!

Tata Harper – LOVE these products – they’re the best of the best – but they’re too expensive for me to have in my normal rotation. I’ve used and highly recommend the Reparative Anti-Aging Moisturizer + Restorative Anti-Aging Eye Cream.

Youth To The People – Their Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser is really nice!

If you’re ever wondering just how clean a product is, leverage the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. It’s a hugely helpful resource!

In closing, here’s an important note that I think may resonate with many of you.

I largely believe in progress over perfection. For me this applies to clean beauty and life in general.

I’m not an “extreme” person. I’m no mecca of health, and I’m not a model citizen for a 100% green life. Do I believe in doing our best, being informed, and taking action where we can and do feel comfortable? Yes. Do I have intentions of being better, continuing to learn, and grow? Yes. Do I have it all figured out? No. Do I judge others who aren’t on board this train? No way.

My thinking within this space is that if 80% of what I do is in line with where I want to be, then I’m not going to beat myself up over that other 20%. I look at that minority as a dessert, ya know?

So for example, even though I try to use primarily clean beauty products, if I’m at a hotel and forget my shampoo/conditioner, need to wash my hair, and grab the hotel’s non-clean options…am I going to freak out? Nah. Or if I love a product, and generally speaking it’s clean, but it contains the dirty word “Fragrance”, am I going to totally eliminate it forever? Probably not. (Case in point: I love the Trader Joe’s Rose Water Facial Toner, but it does include “Fragrance”, as many products do. I still use this frequently!) I get my hair dyed — I’m sure bleach isn’t ideal — but given I do that only a few times a year, and my doctor said it’s okay while I’m pregnant, I won’t be cutting that out entirely.

See what I mean?

Overall, my stance is to be purposeful in my purchasing decisions and actions, for both myself and my family. I take things like context largely into account. This notion makes the very daunting space of clean beauty a little more approachable for me personally. If you’re in the camp of feeling a little overwhelmed by it all, I hope that this note helps you feel like it’s manageable for you.

I really hope this monster of a post was helpful for you! Bookmark it, digest it now and later, and remember progress over perfection. Keep reading, remain informed, check your labels, and stay curious. As I continue on this path of clean beauty, and as my personal knowledge deepens and grows, I hope to get better and better. I hope this for you, too!

PS – Sharing is caring! Be sure to pin the below image if you loved this post.