Hi Sweet Friends,
Twice a year, Team Crazy Sexy gathers for 3-4 days of dreaming, planning, budgeting (look Ma, I’m a grown-up!), and Crazy Sexy Love Notes card readings (a business brainstorm must).
The majority of my crew are ambitious and highly conscious women, so self-care is a huge conversation for us. We know that the more we care for ourselves, the better we feel and thus the more creative we are at our jobs. And I won’t lie—we all want to look fabulous too!
During a recent retreat, I asked my team for their favorite non-toxic product recommendations. One of our new team members squirmed in her seat. Turns out she adores makeup and skincare but is clueless about non-toxic brands (another reason she chose to work with us, to learn about this shizzle!). When I asked how many lotions and potions she uses, she tallied over 30 products in her daily regimen! Like most women, none of the products in her regular routine were healthy.
The challenge we face today is that healthy products are not the norm. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG):
“The average woman uses 12 products containing 168 different ingredients daily. Many cosmetic chemicals are designed to penetrate into the skin’s inner layers, and they do. Consequently, some common cosmetic ingredients turn up in people’s bodies. Among them: industrial plasticizers called phthalates; parabens, which are preservatives; and persistent fragrance components like musk xylene.”
Pause for a moment and count how many personal care products you’re using. I’m talking about everything from your makeup bag to your shower rack. Surprised? Now, read the ingredient labels on those products. Even better, look them up at EWG’s Skin Deep database and see how they rate for things like cancer, immunotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Do those same products feel sexy now? If not, you’re certainly not alone.
You might be feeling like you just don’t want to know. You’ve been using the same moisturizer, shower gel and toner for a decade and they work—end of story. If that’s your mentality, I hope you’ll reconsider. Slowly making more conscious choices is not only empowering, it’s an investment in your longevity and everyday health. These chemicals are serious. We don’t know their long-term effects and we can’t rely on companies to look out for our health. Here are some easy ways to get started with cleaning up your beauty routine.
Choose products that support your wellness and help you feel gorgeous.
5 Tips for a Healthier Beauty Routine (Ya Know, Minus the Yucky Stuff!)
1. Cut down on the number of products you use each day. Sometimes, cutting down on your body burden is as simple as simplifying your beauty routine a few days a week. Less is more!
2. Choose one day a week to wear zero (or very little!) makeup. You are stunning. Period.
3. Do your research and swap out one product per month. You don’t need to throw everything away and buy a completely new shower, makeup and skincare line this week. Choose an item that’s almost gone and look for a better alternative. Natural beauty blogs often have great advice (hello, Google). Check out the Skin Deep database and read reviews online. If women use 12 products per day on average, you could have a whole new healthy personal care regimen by next summer.
Getting started tip: This $19.99 skincare sample kit from Annmarie Gianni (one of my favorite skincare lines) is a great way to begin exploring healthier products. I use Annmarie’s Aloe Herb Facial Cleanser and Anti-Aging Facial Oil every morning and night. Not only do these two products help keep my skin blemish-free and moisturized, they take me on an aromatherapy adventure every time I use them.
4. Learn the basics and become a label detective. Don’t worry about memorizing every chemical. EWG has created this handy list of the top ingredients to avoid for women, men and kids. Print it out and keep it with you. (This is also great for those of you who don’t have a smartphone. But if you DO have one, don’t miss EWG’s Skin Deep app.) You may also want to check out Think Dirty. And if animal testing and cruelty matter to you (and I know they do) have a look at Leaping Bunny and PETA to determine if your beauty products are cruelty-free.
5. Choose safe sunscreen. Whether you’re gearing up for vacation or replacing expired bottles from last year (check those dates!), we’re all going to be buying sunscreen and heading outside this season (right?). So why not choose wisely? Check out my sunscreen blog for tons of tips!
I’ve ditched shampoo and conditioner and use baking soda every few days for shampoo just on my scalp to clean, and I use apple cider vinegar as my conditioner everyday. I love how my hair feels and looks, it feels soft and looks shiny and healthy. Just after the first day of doing this I went to work and got compliments on my natural curls 🙂
Baking soda & Apple Cider Vinegar couple of my favorite natural products 🙂
I love Annemarie Gianni’s Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin! It smells divine and works for me!
I love the body oil from the Kora line of organic products, and if you are looking for some great non toxic nail polish Scotch Naturals is great!
(For makeup products I use BareMinerals – and if I can find carrot extract I will put that on prior … it smells heavenly!)
I am a huge fan of Anne Marie’s products thanks to Kris! I have been using them since this fall and have noticed a huge difference in my skin! Also I do spay tanning for a living and I use an all organic product (Sjolie) for my clients and I use (kelapo) coconut oil to remove my makeup (Arbonne mineral powder) at night. I’m still on the hunt for a natural mascara though…. Need to check on the Arbonne one… Downloading your suggested app now! 😉
i just started using Annmarie’s products and I love them. I first ordered the sample kit and love them so I ordered the facial oil first then the anti-aging serum. They are fabulous! I want more! I would really like to try the sun protection product too. I still use many other body care products and would like to move them over to all natural products as well.
Pure coconut oil and shea butter
I am just get started with all natural products. I would love some suggestions.
Jojoba oil
I have recently started a nightly routine before bed of a warm shower, and then spritzing myself all over with an all natural, odorless, dye free coconut oil. I love the way I feel afterwards, and I wake up with softer, glowing skin. It is my new favorite to recommend to clients, and love hearing the great feedback. I just reviewed below and see that others enjoy this as well!!!
I started seeking out non toxic skin care after a few ugly rounds of perioral dermatitis. I needed to stop using fluoride, sulfates, and parabens. The things I love are Jane Iredale makeup, Spry toothpaste, anything from the Honest Company and lemon essential oil.
My favorite natural product is coconut oil. I use it on my skin and my hair.
Unrefined coconut oil, for my skin, lips, for shaving, and oil pulling. It smells divine and works like a charm!
All of AnneMarie’s products! They are so awesome! But the Anti Aging Facial oil is fantastic, and it smells divine. 🙂
I use AnnMarie Gianni products for my skincare, but my favorite product is the Anti-aging eye cream that reduces my dark circles and really moisturizes my eye area.
The combination of the Annmarie Gianni Aloe Herb Cleanser, Neroli Toning Mist, and Herbal Facial Oil for normal skin. I had used the same facial products for as long as I can remember and my skin always did well with it. When I learned about the ingredients that were toxic and that I should avoid, I was disappointed to find them in my products that I had been devoted for so long. I was nervous to try something new, but I just couldn’t keep using what I had been with the knowledge of all the toxins it contained. So I made the leap to Annmarie Gianni with Kris Carr’s endorsement ( a million thanks ). I’ve been using it for a few months now. My skin looks and feels better than ever and I look forward to the amazing natural aroma therapy I get while treating myself to healthier skin. I recommend it to the highest degree!!
My favourites are organic coconut oil, local honey and Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. I also LOVE AnneMarie products…I have 2 teenage girls and myself to supply enough product…it has been hard b/c I want us all to use a great product on our face…and I tried to stretch them—but I am here as testomonial===they DO expire–definitely made from fresh ingredients and meant ot be used in one month’s time 🙂 I just can’t afford it x3 per month….so we do the best we can….
I’ve been using all “sensitive” and unscented skin products from Dove, Cetaphil, Neutrogena for years…my skin and nose can’t handle most products on the market today–just too fragranced and irritating/drying.
And the all natural market is so over saturated that it’s difficult to know what to spend my hard earned money on, so love everyone’s product recommendations.
I use:
Dr. Bronner’s in Lavendar (diluted) for my hand soap
Lavendar essential oil by Aura Cacia at my third eye for overall calming effect
Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm – smells so good, lovely packaging so good for a gift
Dr. Bronner’s coconut oil for general use
Lemon water daily
Origins Ginger Hand Lotion – and yummmm
I use Aveda’s Shampure and conditioner. I have used this for many years. I love the way they smell and how beautiful it makes my hair feel.
Pratima skin care rose sandalwood cream
I love using Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar as a facial toner. I recommend diluting it with water. I also start each morning with a tall glass of water with a tablespoon of ACV mixed in to cleanse from the inside.