How to make the switch to non-toxic beauty

It takes approximately 26 seconds for products applied topically to soak into your skin and into your bloodstream. Our skin is our largest organ. It protects literally everything inside of us. Consider it a shield maybe. 

This is why it’s so, so important to be conscious of what we’re putting on our bodies. If we’re slathering on skincare and makeup that’s full of chemicals, those chemicals reach our bloodstream quickly and can have terrible effects.

I’ve talked about it a little bit before but for those who don’t know me or my story, I have a chronic illness and I’ve lived with this illness for about 14 years. Though it wasn’t until about 4 years ago when a doctor mentioned that the products I was using every day could be playing a huge part in the way I was feeling.

Now, I know not everyone has a chronic illness but I think the same can apply to everyone. Things like headaches, fatigue, acne, and even more serious side effects like infertility and hormone imbalances can come from using toxic products.

I used to belive that if something wasn’t safe for us, it wouldn’t be used in the things we use! But as it turns out, that’s not true at all. There are even dangers chemicals in the plastic our food and drinks come in. And you can read about that here.

But for beauty and skincare products, it turns out a lot of ingredients are regulated at all. Meaning companies can put dangers and toxic ingredients into their products and nobody stops them. 

If you want to know more about this, I’ve written the complete beginner’s guide to clean beauty.

*This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. I only recommend products I love and trust. To see our full disclosure, click here. 

So, how do you make the switch to non-toxic beauty?

1. Know what ingredients to avoid

We’re often told that if we can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s not good for you. While this is true for the most part, it’s not always the case. Some healthy ingredients are just unpronounceable.

More importantly, some innocent-sounding ingredients can actually be really dangerous.

Ingredients to avoid:

• Fragrance – perfume, and parfum also fall under this category. This is one of those underregulated ingredients which means that actually thousands of things could be used under this name. Things that are known to be hormone disrupters, and toxic to the female reproductive system. 
• Mineral oils – the word mineral sounds super healthy and natural but mineral oils are anything but. The side effects of mineral oils can be shortness of breath as they irritate the lungs as well as causing skin rashes and irritations. 
• Parabens – Parabens are also a hormone disrupter and have even been known to increase the risk of breast cancer. They are petroleum-based and found in about 90% of beauty products.
• Heavy metals – Such as lead and mercury. Not only are these metals hormone disrupters but can also cause respiratory issues and have been linked to learning issues as well. 
• Sodium sulfates – A known strong skin irritant and also a hormone disrupter.

2. Purge your collection

Now is the time declutter and sort through what’s old. Get rid of things you never use anyway, things that are expired and things that you can afford to let go of. This way you’ll have a more clean slate to work with going forward.

3. Take note of your most used items and what needs to be replaced the soonest

If your foundation is almost out, make a note to replace that item with a clean, toxic-free version. I find that making lists is super helpful.

4. Do your research

Now that you know what needs to be replaced, it’s time to start doing some research. I’ll have a list of my favorite clean brands at the end of this post, but feel free to do your own digging and find some cool and unique brands that match all your new standards!

5. Don’t be afraid to try brands you’ve never heard of

The problem with finding clean brands is that they’re overpowered by giant corporations and their expensive ad campaigns. But just because you might not have heard of them doesn’t mean they aren’t amazing. This is the fun part of trying new brands, seeing what’s out there and discovering your new favorites. 

6. Replace strategically

Like I mentioned above, replace your most used items first. These are the products that spend the most time on your skin. Once you’ve phased in your new most used items, you can start to replace your lesser-used items.

It’s important to know that you don’t have to purge your entire collection at once. Take it nice and slow and have fun with it!

Some non-toxic beauty brands to try…and love: 

1. Pacifica – Pacifica is formulated without any chemicals including parabens, mineral oils, sulfates, and phthalates. On top of that, they’re also 100% vegan and cruelty-free. 
2. 100% pure – Free from and all synthetic and artificial ingredients, 100% pure is exactly as the name states: 100% pure. They’re also cruelty-free!
3. Pure Anada – Pura Anada is a Canadian made brand made with organic ingredients. Not only are they organic and cruelty-free, but they’re also ethically made and sourced and avoid the top 12 most harmful chemicals to us and the top 10 harmful chemicals to the environment. 
4. Lily lolo– Their products are made only with ingredients proven to nourish and protect your skin. They don’t contain parabens, synthetic perfumes or dues or phthalates. And they’re proudly cruelty-free!
5. W3ll People – W3ll people cosmetics contain only natural ingredients and no fillers like propylene glycol, petrochemicals or petroleum by-products. Their products are handcrafted in small batches in the USA ensuring every product is well made and nothing goes to waste. And of course, they’re also cruelty-free. 
6. Burt’s Bees – While not vegan, Burt’s bees are all-natural, made without parabens and cruelty-free! And truly a drugstore, non-toxic beauty staple!

There you have it! Now that you made it to the end of this post there are no excuses. Get out there and try some amazing non-toxic beauty brands! This process isn’t as painful as it seems. It just requires a little extra mindful effort on your part. But the result of looking and feeling your best inside out is totally worth it!

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