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 love Coconut oil!!
I need some new recommendations for all natural facial products so this is great! I have experimented with a few and recently started to incorporate coconut oil.
I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer! It smells wonderful and gives my skin a healthy glow!
I love my homemade coconut oil with epsom salt scrub. It’s a perfect way to exfoliate and moisturize at the same time!
Anne Marie Gianni anti aging seru and coconut oil
I tend to gravitate to Dessert Essence deodorant and toothpaste, and organic coconut oil for a multitude of other things! Jason’s or Nature’s Gate shampoo/conditioner or no-poo good old baking soda 😉 I find in my area items are limited and expensive. Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap, vinegar and water for everyday cleaning. I make my own laundry soap with baking soda, borax and Dr Bronner’s lavender bath soap.
I am absolutely loving my Mad Hippie products! The face cream cleanser, vitamin c serum, face moisturizer, and eye cream. Love love love!
Olive oil is such a wonderful hydrator for my skin! I also love the coconut oil. I don’t wear much make-up but when I do, I choose those products that are cruelty free. I also make my own body scrubs with either sugar or salt.
I love love love dr. bronners peppermint soap! once i stopped using face wash and started only using dr. bronner’s on my face, my face was clearer, less dry and patchy, and glows naturally!
Avocado oil! It makes your skin soooooo soft & soothes redness.
Every other night, I apply organic argan oil on my face. I alternate either with a Suki/or Origins/ or Annamaria Gianni night cream or serum (I only use only one bottle at a time– but do alternate amongst these three brands when I finish the bottle)
This has been a particularly stressful year for me physically, emotionally, and financially. Basically, I am no different than the average 34 year female American. The stress started to take a tole on my skin and I suddenly developed psoriasis on my arms that was debilitating and slightly scary. I realized after watching Crazy Sexy Cancer that I had to start to change how I was living. One thing I learned how to do was dry exfoliate which I learned thru kris Carr. After the dry exfoliation I use coconut oil in the shower. It hasn’t cured me entirely, but it has made such a difference in my skins overall appearance and taken away a lot of the discomfort that comes from an incurable skin condition. One small step for mankind…lol
My favorite natural, non-toxic product to use is Coconut Oil! It is such a great moisturizer for your face and body!
I tried some samples of AnneMarie and have fallen in love! I’m longing for some more, my skin absolutely loves the products and they smell so wonderful 🙂
My go to facial care items are witch hazel for a toner, aloe for absolutely everything, coconut oil for everything too (my eyes look so much better since I started using it) and I use fresh lime for deoderant. My daughter and I both use the lime for deoderant and it works great, not sticky.
I adore ALL of the makeup products from 100% Pure (I use their Coffee Bean eye cream as well and it has really reduced my dark circles!). Everything I’ve tried has been high quality, long-lasting, and with great color payoff (and I have high standards!) Not to mention the amazing ingredients are great for my skin.
Water, water, water (especially natural spring water)! I find that when I drink plenty of water, my skin looks so much better and I just feel good! I love Annmarie Gianni’s Aloe Facial Cleanser, too!
I’ve recently been turned onto avocado oil. I’ll use just a few drops for my face and neck. My skin seems to like it;))
I wash with a mild cleanser and slather on my NeriumAD – It’s a botanical amazing anti-aging lotion! It makes my skin feel good and my skin is tighter and looks younger. Yay!
For a daily moisturizer I use LIFEKIND, Naturally Safer Moisturizing Lotion with MSM, soothing, healing and non-greasy, and organic ingredients. They also make a great non-chemical, organic deodorant that I’ve just started using. After listening to Kris on Hay House, I decided to get rid of all chemicals that I put IN and ON my body. I have had skin cancer for 30+ years and I can honestly say that my skin has never looked better. People are commenting on how my face is glowing. My skin cancer is drying up on my arms and chest. I feel great. Juicing every morning also makes me feel soooooo good. Thank you Kris for your beautiful spirit and your dedicated work. BIG HUGS
favorite skin care is from sister creations (super salve ) Power repair line
its yummy