Whether you’ve switched completely to natural beauty or can’t imagine life without your arsenal of skin-saving synthetic actives, every one of us is interested in reducing our chemical load.
Given the sheer volume of chemicals we’re exposed to daily, it makes sense to be aware of what we’re putting on our bodies – and now that there are so many effective natural options out there, why wouldn’t you want to give them a go?
But, for this beauty editor at least, baby steps are key. We spoke to the founder of online beauty store Clean Beauty Market, Erin Norden, for her tips on how to make the switch to natural skincare – and the products she recommends ditching asap.
The main offenders
“Deodorant, body wash and lotion, shampoo and conditioner and perfume are some of the most toxic and unhealthy products women use every day,” says Norden. “These can contain ingredients like aluminium, fragrance, triclosan, sulfates and parabens to name only a few.”
Of course, the jury is still out on whether many of the above ingredients are bad for us in low concentrations or not. But in the interests of being safe rather than sorry, if you were to swap just three of your current beauty products with natural versions, these are the ones Norden would recommend first:
1. Deodorant
“Mainstream deodorant usually contains quite a few unfavourable ingredients, including aluminium, perfume, pthalates, triclosan and propylene glycol,” Norden says. “There are many effective clean deodorants now available which contain vegetable powders, charcoal and oils selected for their anti-bacterial and odour control qualities.” Clean Beauty Market’s most popular natural deodorants are Meow Meow Tweet (used by Emma Watson) and Soapwalla.
2. Body Cream
“Body washes and creams can contain an array of toxic chemicals and as creams stay on the skin for longer, it’s really important to choose safe versions,” Norden says. “Body oils, natural body creams or balms are much better alternatives.”
3. Face Moisturiser
“Fragrance, silicones, chemical preservatives and some alcohols should be avoided,” Norden says. “Non-toxic formulations that are backed by science and full of quality ingredients that are actually beneficial to skin instead of only beneficial to the look and feel of the product are the way to go!”
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire.
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