My favorite Tried and True Non Toxic Beauty and Personal Care Items

When I started my health journey over 7 years ago, I had no idea that the personal care items in my life could be making such an impact on my health. I started small with swapping various items in my life, and overtime I’ve really come to find some solid brands that were even more effective than the toxic ones I used before. Makeup was the hardest for me to let go of (I was an Armani Beauty loyalist!), but I finally realized that as you start to ditch the chemicals from your skin, you end up needing less and less makeup because your skin can actually breathe. 

Here are just a few of the harmful ingredients I look out for. This list is not meant to scare you, but the more that you know, the more you can take action. I had no idea I was putting these types of chemicals on my body, and while I’m so glad I started this before even trying for kids, know that no matter what season in life you are in, you can take charge today to start cleaning up your products. Knowledge is power. And when you look at the cosmetic “benefits” with the risks associated, it makes it easier to make the switch. Take it one step at a time- I started with skincare because I felt like it was most absorbed by the skin. At the time I was using La Mer and still had flaky dry skin that looked like it was sunburnt. Within a month, it went away and now I’ve found trusted brands I really love that are way more effective than the toxic stuff ever was.

Parabens (look for words that start with methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-) are endocrine disruptors, which are a group of chemicals that disrupt our hormone systems. And hormones guide practically everything in our body- but especially reproductive functions so this is so important if you are trying to get pregnant. 

Sulfates can be skin and respiratory irritants. Some sulfates also undergo a process called ethoxylation, which can leave behind trace amounts of carcinogens (especially 1.4-dioxane).   

PEG’s (or polyethylene glycol) allow for the absorption of makeup. You’ll see a number attached to the compound, the lower the number the more it absorbs into the skin. The problem with this is that these ingredients can contain harmful ingredients like heavy metals and carcinogens… and you are essentially absorbing them even deeper into the skin. 

Phthatalates- another group of endocrine disrupting chemicals used to help lubricate other substances in the formula and carry fragrances. They have been linked to breast cancer, developmental issues, decreased fertility, obesity, asthma and more. 

Formaldehyde donors- Used to prevent bacteria in water based products. While brands aren’t typically pouring straight formaldehyde (a known carcinogen and allergen) into their products, they use donors that when added to water can form formaldehyde over time. 

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)- synthetic antioxidants that are human allergens and also linked to carcinogen, endocrine disruptor and high doses may cause damage to organs like the liver and kidneys.

Hydroquinone- Linked to skin cancer, organ system toxicity, and respiratory tract irritation. 

Fragrances- which often contain hidden endocrine disrupting chemicals like phthatalates. 

Benzophenone- Used as a UV filter or to enhance fragrance, but is also linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, organ system toxicity, reproductive issues, human allergen and toxic to our marine life. 

I know this list can be overwhelming and doesn’t even include all of the toxic chemicals! I like finding trusted places like Credo Beauty which only carries clean beauty and has more stringent standards than Sephora’s clean list, or finding brands like Primally Pure that only use ingredients you recognize. 

Now that we have the knowledge, here are some of my recs for safe beauty products! 

I used to be a beauty and skin care junkie and waste so much product. I wouldn’t be able to leave the house without makeup. Now I’m definitely a minimalist when it comes to products. I don’t do elaborate skin and makeup routines, and I only buy what I need instead of impulse buying- and that’s really been afforded by me finding products I actually love and can stay loyal to. 

Skincare: I have used a LOT of different brands, and when I found what worked for my skin it was crazy the difference it made! I can actually leave the house without makeup. I have really sensitive skin that’s prone to rosacea and dryness, but can also produce oil. My favorite brands are May Lindstrom, Pai, Osea and Primally Pure. I found Primally Pure when I needed to find a more affordable PM skincare. I currently use this Pai face wash and Osea lotion in the morning, and then a Primally Pure skincare system at night (you can take a quiz to find out your skin care type). I use the cleansing oil, serum, balm and hydrating spray. 

Makeup: I absolutely love Westman Atelier products. It took a while to find them but they’ve been the most effective for this former Armani loyalist! I’m a big fan of the 5 minute mom makeup routine. I use their Vital Skin Foundation Stick, mascara, powder bronzer and eyeshadow for a quick makeup routine. RMS is another great brand! 

Shampoo/Conditioner: This was another category that was tough for me. I recently did more research and realized the non toxic shampoo I was using (while effective) wasn’t as clean as I would like. I made the switch to Innersense and not only is it much cleaner, it’s also been even more effective! My hair tends to get weighed down and greasy from too much product and have a hard time feeling like it’s “rinsed out” but also gets dry. I haven’t had either issue with this combo (shampoo and conditioner) and can even use their hydrating shampoo on really dry hair days without it feeling greasy! I use their leave in conditioner after showering to get the tangles out.  

Body wash/lotion: I have used Necessaire for a long time, but Innersense recently came out with a body wash that I love too!  

Deodorant: I love this one from Primally Pure! A word on deodorant, it’s should be a high priority on the list with common ingredients like talc and aluminum that are so close to our skin and linked to breast cancer. It will take a while for your body to detox but keep persisting! 

Lip Balm: I LOVE this one from Follain! 

Hand Soap: I used to get terrible eczema on my hands and when I switched to this hand soap from Follain it completely went away. I will still get it from time to time and then realize that I used another hand soap.