Safer beauty products are having a moment. And rightfully so. As a society, I think we are coming around to the idea that it’s important what we put *in* our body – but it’s also just as important for what we put *on* our body. Our skin is the largest organ we have. When you think of it in that light, it totally makes sense that we should be really careful about what we slather on it.
The whole world of safer skincare can be overwhelming though. Where do you start? What do you look for? How do you do it without breaking the bank? Let’s be honest…quality products are *not* cheap.
I suggest taking baby steps. You don’t have to go 0-100 to make an impact. If you want to test the waters of safer skincare, I’ve got you. Today, we’re going to talk all about the top 3 beauty products you should start with when making the switch to safer skincare.
You ready?
Let’s do it.
Deodorant
Let’s make a quick, but important, distinction. When you go to your local store, you will probably see two different products for your underarms – antiperspirant and deodorant.
The purpose of an antiperspirant is to prevent you from sweating. This is done by using chemicals to block your pores – most often, aluminum. Now, honestly, research is conflicting as to whether aluminum is actually harmful. Some studies have shown it is. Others have shown we might not have to be concerned about it. But sweating is a completely natural process, and I just don’t think we should try to stop that process from happening. Our bodies do it for a reason.
Regardless, this is such a cheap switch – why worry about it at all?
A deodorant, on the other hand, doesn’t prevent you from sweating. It only helps to make you smell a little better (aka not like a sweaty dude who just got done with his swole sesh.) I know this can be a hard switch, especially if you naturally sweat more. But, if you find a good deodorant that works for you, it’s a switch you can feel good about.
Recommended brands:
Primally Pure is a California-based company founded by Bethany McDaniel whose love for whole foods and recognizable ingredients led her to found a skincare company based on just that.
Check out their deodorants – we recommend the charcoal one, but really you can’t go wrong!
Aluminum, sulfate, and paraben-free, Native deodorant prides itself on using all safe ingredients. They offer a variety of scents as well. You can pick it up on Amazon or at your closest Target.
JASON offers a wide variety of deodorant products – all with ingredients that will work in harmony with your body. We opt for the Aloe Vera deodorant stick or the dry spray deodorant.
Sunscreen
Summer is officially here and that means we all will (hopefully) be outside soaking up some Vitamin D. Safe sun care is so important. Prolonged sun exposure can damage DNA, age the skin, and cause skin cancer. All things we want to avoid.
Having some background knowledge on sunscreens is important to make the best decision.
There are 2 types of sunscreen – physical and chemical. Physical sunscreens physically block the sun with compounds in the lotion like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays through the use of carbon-based compounds. The rays are then dissipated as heat.
Your typical sunscreens can be loaded with ingredients that are not so great for your body – or the environment, but our body of research is still being built about the long-term effects. Your best best is to choose a mineral-based sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. This is best for you AND the bodies of water you might be floating in.
Choose a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 15 – but 30-50 is a safer bet to block all of those UV photons. Anything over SPF 50 really isn’t much more effective (and usually pricier) so you can skip the 50+.
At all costs, and especially if you’re going to be in the ocean, stay away from carbon-based sunscreens with oxybenzone, butylparaben, octinoxate, or 4MBC. These contribute to coral-bleaching and can kill off the coral algae.
Recommended brands
There are a bunch of mineral-based sunscreens offered by Alba. We like this lavender-scented one, but there are sensitive skin and sport varieties as well. This is definitely a budget buy at around $9 a bottle!
UNSUN Mineral Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30
This is for people who want a sunscreen that won’t leave them looking chalky. This tinted sunscreen is great for all skin tones, and is made with all-safe ingredients. This one is a bit pricy though – ringing in at $29 for a 1.7oz bottle.
Aveeno Positively Mineral Sensitive Skin Sunscreen SPF 50
This one might go on a little thick but dries relatively clear on the skin. It won’t leave you feeling greasy, and for ~$10 a bottle, the price is right!
Face Cleanser
I’m a morning and night face washer. That means my facial cleanser is getting rubbed on twice a day. I don’t mind spending a little more money on a product that I know is going to treat my face right. Especially because I have acne-prone skin.
Recommended Brands
BeautyCounter Control Control Clear Pore Cleanser
This is a great general facial cleanser that will exfoliate, remove makeup, and gently cleanse the skin. This is the one I currently use and I absolutely love it. The bottle has easily lasted my 3 months – even being used 2 times a day!
Avalon Organics Intense Defense Cleansing Gel
This one is budget friendly, cleans effectively, and doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry. Bonus – you can pick it up on Amazon.
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil
This one is great for sensitive skin and smells nice. Gently removes makeup and leaves skin feeling fresher.
Did I leave off one of your favorite non-toxic beauty products? I’d love to hear what you use. Let me know!