My Favorite Clean, Non-Toxic Skincare
Making the switch to clean, non-toxic skincare was relatively easy for me. Granted, my skin is fairly normal (if a bit dry) but is suffering from natural aging (ahem) and years of sun exposure. Hey, I grew up at the beach! I was used to using a whole host of products from drugstores (Simple, mainly) , high-end department stores (Dior, Clinique, Kiehl's) and Rodan + Fields. I always liked to product shop and use what worked best vs. sticking to just one brand. That helped as I transitioned to non-toxic skincare because some of the brands are small and specialized, so don't offer a huge range of products.
It is worth noting that there was some trialing prior to landing on my favorites. It is super helpful that most brands and the multi-brand retailers that specialize in non-toxic products are very generous with their samples. I was religious about reading the ingredient descriptions, comparing like products, checking out "green" beauty blogs, and understanding which skin types different products were made for. The last thing I wanted was to create a skin issue while trying to accommodate another.
Morning Skin Care
- STEP 1: I cleanse with water and Dr. Bronners Pure Castille Peppermint soap in the shower.
- STEP 2: After cleansing, I love to apply a toner prior to moisturizing. And hands down, my absolute favorite is Indie Lee's CoQ-10 Toner. CoQ-10 is a powerful antioxidant that, when combined with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid in this alcohol-free toner, balances the pH of the skin. The scent is so fresh and my skin feels bright and clean after each swipe. Indie Lee started her line after having brain cancer and is committed to eco-friendly, clean products.
- STEP 3: I then lightly wet my face with water again and apply the One Love Vitamin C Serum. A few times a week, I mix it with True Botanicals Antioxidant Booster. I like to take this when I travel as the bottle is small. It's important to always apply sun protection after applying anything with Vitamin C as it can make the skin sensitive to sun.
- STEP 4: I spray Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator a few times across my face. (I live for the scent!) Before it dries, I then apply Josh Rosebrook's cult favorite Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30. This was one of the first products I switched to as it contains zinc oxide as the sun protector. I love this product so much.
Evening Skin Care
My favorite brand is Osea Malibu. It is a family-owned production focused on small-batch items created from seaweed. The products are certified organic, vegan and cruelty-free. Osea is 20 years old and was actually the first of 1000 companies to sign the Environmental Working Group's "Compact for Safe Cosmetics". I use so many of their products, as you'll see below!
- STEP 1: For my face cleanser, I use their Ocean Cleansing Milk. It's gentle yet effective. I often use this with my Clarisonic.
- STEP 2: After cleansing, I apply Indie Lee's CoQ-10 Toner as I do in the morning.
- STEP 3: This is when I rotate using different oils and serums.
- Deciem is a collection of science-based brands with a mission to be both high-quality and affordable. There are a few products across their lines that I use regularly. Every product description on the site outlines the ingredients, the impact they have and whether the product is cruelty-free, nut-free, vegan, oil-free, silicone-free, sulfate-free, etc. My favorite is The Ordinary brand. I use many of their oils and acids on regular rotation after cleaning and toning but before moisturizing. I use their Squalane Oil to help with moisture retention; Vitamin C Suspension in 30% Silicone (it tingles a bit!) for skin brightening; cold-pressed Marula Oil for skin, cuticles and hair; and Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for hydration at night.
- One of my favorite serums is Osea's Hyaluronic Sea Serum. Along with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid is one of my favorite discoveries. It attracts 1000+ x its weight in water, allowing the skin to capture more moisture. This is not at all greasy and is very quickly absorbed.
- STEP 4: I use the Advanced Protection Cream at night year-round after toner and serums/oils. It's scent is light and the texture is rich, but not at all greasy and absorbs quickly. I LOVE this cream.
- STEP 5: I finish the process with a finger blotting of the One Love Organics Vitamin E Eye Balm. You don't need much to make a difference.
- If needed, I use Indie Lee's blemish lotion to attack pimples. I swapped it from Mario Badescu - virtually the same product but Indie's does not contain talc.)
Weekly Masks
- Once or twice a week, I use the Osea Malibu White Algae Mask which contains hyaluronic acid and mineral peptides to capture hydration and smooth fine lines. Once a week, I add an exfoliator to the mask. For that, I use their Vitamin C Probiotic Face Polish, which is a super potent powder of Vitamin C and enzymes activated when combined with liquid. My face feels so clean whenever I use this!
- Another mask that I like to use once a week is the Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial mask. This wonderful mask is power-packed with a 25% AHA and 2% BHA blend as well as a host of healthy acids such as lactic, citric and salicylic. My skin feels fresh, healthy and bright after every use.
Body Care
- I use the Hand Chemistry lotion and Heel Chemistry foot cream from the Chemistry Brand under Deciem. I actually gave small tubes of the hand lotion as stocking stuffers and everyone LOVES them.
- Natural deodorant could warrant its very own blog post. I finally made the switch after reading countless science-backed articles about the link between the aluminum in every day deodorants and breast cancer. I'll be honest. It took a few tries to find one that works well for me. But, hallelujah, I found it and am never looking back. My choice is Ursa Major's Hoppin' Fresh Deodorant. It glides on with a cool sensation and light minty scent, and keeps me fresh all day long. It does contain a bit of baking soda to help with dryness. (Others contain a lot of baking soda, which led to irritation for me. This one does not bother me at all!)
- After years of use, I replaced Lubriderm with J.R. Watkins Lemon Creme Lotion. The scent is light and fresh! You can typically find this at any drugstore or Target.
Shampoo/Conditioner
- I use Function of Beauty. No toxins, parabens, sulfates and cruelty-free (which is required for me). You can create a formula for your specific hair. Mine is for naturally wavy hair with fine strands that have a bit of color. What matters more than the customization is that it's effective. 3 friends have also started using it and love it, too. Get $5 off with this link.
There are several multi-brand retailers that provide a wide range of products and are generous with their samples. I like:
- The Detox Market - carries nearly all of the brands mentioned above and allows you to earn points with each purchase for discounts later.
- Follain - similar to Detox Market. Very well curated and the founder, Tara, is helping lead the "clean beauty revolution" with other brands.
- Credo Beauty - similar to those above, with a great make-up selection! Here is a referral link for 10% off!
- As much as possible, I try to purchase from local, women-owned businesses. Take Care Shop in Washington, DC. is one of my favorites and carries nearly all the products I use. Check locally to see if you have any natural skincare and beauty shops!
