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’ve been on a coconut smell kick so I got the Kiss My Face coconut vanilla lotion & absolutely love it! It reminds me of summer & puts me in a fabulous mood!
I use almond oil as a facial and body moisturizer. I also make my own deodorant of coconut oil, baking soda and essential oils. So simple and good for my skin!
I’m in love with the Evan Healy brand of whipped shea butter with olive leaf!
I love using raw local honey as a face mask and apple cider vinegar as toner! I still struggle to find a great oil-free and natural cleanser and moisturizer for my acne-prone skin.
I haven’t found the perfect match for my temperamental bacteria~skin relationship either… 🙂
Love Dom’s Deodorant! It is all natural and amazing!! Wash my face with olive oil and castor oil, works wonders.
My favorite skin care line is Solavedi. It’s an Ayurvedic inspired all natural skin care company. All of the products smell and feel great on the skin.
I already LOVE AnnMarie Gianni’s products! They are so amazing, and smell so good! Living in the Colorado mountains, especially in the winter, it’s hard to find a moisturizer that keeps your skin from itching and crawling from being so dry. Her silk lotion is the best thing I’ve ever tried, and it really does work. I’ve yet to find any other product that can do that.
I would really love to win your basket of AMG products to try more of them, plus they are a bit expensive more me and I need some refills!!!
I am already receiving your Crazy Sexy Newsletter.
I use coconut oil for everything…hair, body, face, makeup remover. I create a scented body butter by mixing a few drops of cosmetic grade aromatherapy oil/essential oil in a bit of coconut oil, then I refrigerate until it is solid.
I also make a lip scrub with brown sugar, a bit of olive oil and vanilla extract.
I tried lots of organic skin care products and the Best so far are Annmarie Gianni. Love facial oil and serum! Skin gets very hydrated and glows. Fine lines disappear!
RMS for good foundation!
Haven’t found good organic mascara yet…
Hope this can help!…
My favorite product now is: Olive Gold 03 skin care with Oxygen:)
I love how smooth my skin feels with Annmarie Gianni’s products. My fave is the Aloe Herb Facial Cleanser!
Hi Kris,
Love your inspiring story and fun, informative blogs!
I like to use argon oil at night, just a bit around my eyes. Feels nourishing
and moisturizing for sure!
Rachel
Where do I start?!?!?! I LOVE Annemarie’s skincare products. I would say that repair serum is my absolute favorite! I also make my own deodorant out of coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot, tea tree oil & lavender essential oil and put it in a repurposed deodorant container. Dr Bronner’s liquid soap is my staple for body and household products!
I have wanted to try that! It sounds wonderful. I really feel uncomfortable with the deodorants out there and the crystal rocks cause me to break out.. (weird I know…). I still need to get the arrow root powder to make it though :/
I use a facial cleanser by Aubrey that I love.
The best natural, non-toxic personal care product? A smile! It releases endorphins and serotonin. And not only does it make you feel and look radiant, it spreads that to others as well. Can’t think of anything more natural and non-toxic than that 🙂
Love it Kirsten 🙂
Rose Hip Oil is the best thing for your face, softens lines, smells decadent!
After a two year search for natural deodorant I found the best ever from a small batch natural apothecary called Meow Meow Tweet out of Brooklyn. Only ingredients, virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, arrowroot powder, baking soda (naturally mined), kaolin clay and tea tree OR lavender essential oil.
Whoops replied to the wrong response! I wanted to say Justine,
I have wanted to try that! It sounds wonderful. I really feel uncomfortable with the deodorants out there and the crystal rocks cause me to break out.. (weird I know…). I still need to get the arrow root powder to make it though :/ Not going to use the Jojoba oil though.
I tried and tossed many a deodorant crystal, powder, gel etc. before finding this one. It’s a keeper.
i use homemade cleanser for my face 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp sorghum for normal skin and just add 1/2tsp honey for oily skin and sandalwood mixed with rose water as face mask and warm coconut oil for hair before shampoo
My favorite natural beauty products are honey, grapeseed oil, brown sugar, and lemon. I do my facial scrub with brown sugar and a mask with a lemon cut in half and I add a few drops of honey and I apply the lemon to my face and I finish with a few drops of grapeseed oil and that keeps my skin soft and clean.
i LOVE coconut oil for my skin & for oil pulling. i do have skin that borders oily, so i was apprehensive at first, but so far i’ve been doing it for 2 weeks and i havent had to wear foundation in 2 weeks, which for me is unheard of!!!!!
My favorite beauty product is coconut oil, and I see I’m not alone. It has improved my skin dramatically, including a condition (keratosis pilaris) that I had for years. I use it as makeup remover, all over moisturizer, hair treatments, and I’m still learning new ways to use it!