Nearly 10 years ago, I half stumbled upon and half dove into clean beauty. I’m not totally positive how it all came about; I think it started with dietary changes and healthier eating that led me down a rabbit hole of discovery to information about the toxicity of not only our foods but, even worse, our makeup, skincare, personal products, and household cleaning products. It was in all of this new information that I read about a 7-year-old little girl that started to mature much too soon. This hit far too close to home as my daughter was 6 years old at the time, nearing 7.
In the article, the young girl’s mother took her to the doctor. They ran various tests and discovered high levels of hormones and toxins. Her mother completely changed all the products they were using, as well as food. Going to organic, synthetic free, paraben free, fragrance free, etc., and within a few months, everything changed, and this little 7-year-old was able to go about being a little girl and save puberty for a few more years.
I had no idea where to start, but even with the insufficient information that I did have, I knew that almost all of our personal care and cleaning products needed to go. Fortunately, about that same time, a childhood friend of mine began to post about a company she discovered that sold personal care and cleaning products free of all toxins. My friend started posting pictures and stories of her experiences and how they were literally changing her life. She also started sharing information about the ingredients. This was my answer or a direction to the answers I needed. I reached out and started using a lot of the products. I started learning about ingredients, not just the good ones but, more importantly, the bad ones and why they were bad. Within a few months, we replaced all (or nearly all) of the products we use.
Since starting my journey a decade ago, there has been a lot more information available to the public about the dangers of many common products we use; in our homes, for our laundry, on our skin, and hair. People want to know more about the products they are using and be informed so they can make better decisions about the products they use for themselves, using with their families, and in their homes. There has also been an increase in allergies and sensitivities to many of these toxic products and ingredients, causing people to look for healthier, more natural products.
Beyond sensitivities and children dealing with the early onset of puberty, we are learning that many of these toxins are hormone disruptors as well. The average woman (this includes teens) is exposed to over 300 harmful chemicals every day before she eats breakfast or leaves the house. This is mind-boggling! And most of these chemicals are known to cause several types of cancer, from breast cancer to ovarian to skin cancer, etc. Not to mention that many autoimmune diseases can be linked to these harmful chemicals and toxins.
I realize that you may already know all of this information, or if some of this is new, it may be overwhelming. I know; it was overwhelming to me as well. And to be honest, keeping up with all the information can still be a lot to digest and remember. The good news is, with this growing industry, you can go into almost any store and find organic and/or clean products, from organic food to household cleaners to makeup, even Sephora now carries several clean beauty lines, and they keep adding to that list.
When it comes to finding products for myself and my family, I do my best to follow a 90/10 rule and feel like I’m doing a pretty good job if I maintain an 80/20 ratio. That is, 80% of my products are clean. I’m not perfect at this, but with the BRCA gene and having had breast cancer, it is important that I do everything I can. Just because my genetics predispose me to cancer doesn’t mean I have to let the products I use push me closer. And they shouldn’t, not for me and not for you, either.
Personally, I like to find companies that I know I can trust, companies that are honest and upfront about their ingredients and sourcing. I often prefer organic ingredients, especially if the ingredient is an essential oil. I also prefer more natural products that have been minimally processed. That said, some natural ingredients aren’t great for our skin or can be too harsh. Some scientifically created ingredients are non-toxic and safe. This is why it’s important to learn about the ingredients and to find trustworthy companies.
There are so many incredible products available with ingredients that are good for us, products that are made from plants and organic materials rather than designer chemicals. Products that are not only better for us, they actually work better.
If this is all new to you, I’m not suggesting you purge everything and buy all new products. I encourage you to learn what is in the products you are putting on your body and using in your home. Know how those products are affecting you and if they could be harmful. The products you use should be benefiting you, and they should be making you healthier, not potentially making you sick. So, as we head into breast cancer awareness month, let that little pink ribbon be a reminder to check your ingredients. Make healthier choices regarding what you use on your body and in your home to keep you well.
Even after 10 years and a house full of products, I am still new to this and learning more all the time as the industry changes and grows. I follow people that are a step ahead of me and informed. I look at the ingredients before I buy things, and I read reviews, I use the EWG app and look things up, and I get to know brands that I like. I am here to pass along the information that I have and that I’m learning to you. And to share all of my favorite companies and products with you.
Right now, I am loving the brand Ilia. They are a clean, skin-centric beauty company. The creator, Sasha, stated the company after reading the ingredient list on her favorite lip balm and learned how many of the ingredients were not safe. I appreciate their transparency with their ingredients, no matter how minuscule. I love all of their products. Currently, the 3 products I use every day are “C beyond triple serum spa 40”, “limitless lash mascara,” and “multi stick in Ladybird.”
I am here for you, helping you to create your beautiful life, whether it’s developing new habits, sharing an encouraging quote, or my favorite beauty tips, trends, and products.
