Clean Skin, Body and Bath Products I Love

Navigating the landscape of clean personal care products is tricky.  Lack of regulation in the beauty industry has opened the door to  "greenwashing,” where companies are intentionally using misleading packaging, marketing, and terms like "natural" and "clean" to falsely present their products as beneficial and non-toxic.  

In an effort to help you make informed decisions and choose products that work, I’ve put together a vetted highlight list of my all time favorite clean skin and body products.  Each one is effective, luxurious and meets the rigorous safety standards set by the Environmental Working Group.

You can catch the highlight list below and then head over here to see the full list of skin and body products I lean on each and everyday.

In my next newsletter, I’ll be sharing the non-toxic cosmetics that have made their way into my makeup bag.  Until then, I hope this list inspires you and helps ease the transition to a “cleaner” routine.

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Bath + Body

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BEAUTY COUNTER

Citrus Mimosa Body Wash

This body wash has a creamy texture that leaves skin clean and hydrated. Use with a body puff for lather and exfoliation.

NECESSAIRE

The Body Lotion

This is a go-to when I want an unscented and hydrating body lotion

OAK ESSENTIALS

The Body Routine

I love all of these products, but you can pick and choose which ones you like. Smells fresh and herby. Sold as a bundle and separately.

BEAUTYCOUNTER

THE CLEAN DEO

Because antiperspirants are applied often and on skin near breasts, some reports claim that the chemicals could be absorbed through your skin and cause estrogen-like hormonal effects. Using a non-toxic, fresh smelling deodorant like one from @beautycounter makes so much sense.

ALO

Head to Toe Glow Oil

I love this nourishing body oil. I use it post shower on damp, warm skin for hydration and glow. I love the subtle scent.

TRUE BOTANICALS 

Pure Radiance Body Butter

This body butter is incredibly nourishing and luxurious.

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Skin Care

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DHC

Deep Cleansing Oil

This oil cleanser is perfect for removing makeup and sunscreen. Nourishes and hydrates the skin, while rinsing completely clean. No oily residue.

OAK ESSENTIALS

Pure Gel Cleanser

The perfect, non-stripping cleanser to use on it’s own or after the DCH Cleansing Oil.

OAK ESSENTIALS

The Hydration Heroes 

Delicious smelling and elegant on the skin, the Ritual Oil and Balm work together to leave your skin dewy and glowy.

GOOP

All-in-one Nourishing Face Cream 

I reach for this when I want a lighter, yet super-hydrating moisturizer. No sticky residue.

TRUE BOTANICALS 

Chebula Extreme Cream

I love this luxurious, anti-aging moisturizer. It’s lightweight and extremely moisturizing. A little goes a long way.

OAK ESSENTIALS

Restorative Mask 

Made with organic honey, this mask is so soothing and nourishing. Wash it off with a warm washcloth for a spa like experience that leaves skin feeling so soft and balmy.

SUMMER FRIDAYS

Jumbo Jet Lag Mask

This mutli-taking mask is fragrance-free and helps nourish, hydrate and calm the skin. You can use it as a nightly mask, daytime moisturizer or while traveling for in-flight hydration.

TRUE BOTANICALS

Sun Barrier Sun Sheild, SPF 30

Sheer and hydrating with a subtle tint that gives skin a glowy look.

BIOSSANCE

Squalane and Rose Tinted Lip Balm

I love this fragrance-free lip balm. You can also apply it to cheekbones and eyebrows for a subtle sheen.

EVERYONE

Pacific Eucalyptus Hand Soap

This is EWG VERIFIED®, meaning that the product meets EWG’s strictest standards for health and safety. Smells clean and fresh. Perfect for the kitchen sink and bathrooms vanity. The Tangerine Vanilla smells great too.

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Parabens and Phthalates: What You Need to Know

Getting Educated

When choosing skincare products, we often look to label claims, such as “all-natural,” “cruelty-free,” and “botanical,” to help us determine if a product is safe and responsibly made. Unfortunately, behind these buzzy labels are often products filled with parabens and phthalates. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can mimic hormones in our body, interfere with normal hormonal processes, and raise our risk for breast cancer, fertility issues, and metabolic disorders. Parabens, in particular, have been found in human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a possible association between parabens in cosmetics and cancer. (1)

Although studies prove these chemicals are hazardous to human health, the FDA has no legal authority to approve cosmetic products and ingredients before they go on the market. (2) As a result, personal care product companies are not required to register with the FDA, provide ingredient statements, adopt Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), or report adverse effects to the FDA. (3)

Where Does that Leave us?

It is up to consumers to protect themselves and make educated decisions about what to put on their bodies. Doing so is as complicated as it sounds, as these harmful chemicals go by many different names, and when it comes to fragrance, there are no ingredient names at all, as “fragrance” and “fragrance mixtures” are considered “trade secrets.”

Parabens and Phtalates: A Primer

Parabens: Where to Find Them and What to Look for on a Label:

Parabens are a family of related chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and personal care items, including makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, shaving products, and deodorants to prevent bacterial contamination and mold. Five different parabens have been completely banned in the EU (isopropylparaben, isobutylparaben, phenylparaben, benzylparaben, and pentylparaben), while others are strictly regulated because they are believed to be endocrine disruptors. Although there is mounting pressure from consumers and health watch groups to remove them from beauty products in the US, the FDA does not regulate their use in these categories.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review, an organization that assesses the safety of individual chemical compounds used in cosmetic products, recommends limiting total paraben concentrations in a single product to 0.8% and a single application to 0.4%. Unfortunately, this guideline does not consider exposure to parabens from several products by a single user.[4] Moreover, this limit is a recommendation, not a requirement, and does not inform product formulation.

Parabens are Commonly Found in:

1. Makeup

2. Moisturizers

3. Shaving products

4. Shampoos

5. Conditioners

6. Facial and shower cleansers and scrubs

7. Deodorants

How to Recognize them on the Label:

1. Look for “paraben-free" products. If you can’t find that, look for:

2. Methylparaben

3. Propylparaben

4. Butylparaben

5. Ethylparaben

6. Isobutylparaben

7. Isopropylparaben

Phthalates: WHERE TO find them and what to look for on a label:

Phthalates are a family of chemicals that act as plasticizers, solvents, and stabilizers in cosmetics and fragrance production. Many personal care products use phthalates to homogenize products by dissolving solid ingredients. Phthalates are commonly found in nail polish, hair spray, fragrance, aftershave lotions, cleansers, moisturizers, face masks, shampoos, and conditioners. Like parabens, these chemicals are linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, metabolic disorders, and breast cancer. Although they are banned from cosmetics in the European Union, they are commonly used in the US.

Phthalates are Commonly Found in:

• Color cosmetics (foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, blush)

• Lotions

• Perfume

• Fragrance

• Scented candles

• Body washes

• Hair care products

• Nail polish

• Hairspray

• Cleansers

• Hair Products

• Face Masks

How to recognize them on the Label:

• Phthalate

• DEP

• DBP

• DEHP

• FRAGRANCE: Phthalates are frequently used to make fragrances, but any ingredients used in fragrance or fragrance mixtures are considered trade secrets and exempt from ingredient listing. The entire mixture simply appears as “fragrance” on the ingredient panel. If you see the word “fragrance,” chances are the product is filled with phthalates and other toxic ingredients.

Below are reliable resources and online sites to help you find clean products.

Resources for Cleaner Beauty Products.

EWG Skin Deep is an online database of over 75,000 products and 2,242 brands that provides information to check the safety and ingredient list of the product you’re using or purchasing.

Think Dirty-Shop Clean is an app that puts clean beauty at your fingertips: scan the product barcode to get product information, a list of dirty ingredients and suggestions for cleaner options.

Trusted sites for clean beauty:

Credo
Goop
Clean at Sephora
Beauty Counter

The Dirty Truth

The Dirty Side of the Personal Care Industry

FACTS:

1. The European Union bans or restricts close to 1,400 ingredients from their personal care products. The US bans or restricts only 9 for safety reasons.

2. Over 80,000 chemicals have been introduced into the marketplace since WWII.  Less than 10% have been tested for human safety. 

3. The FDA does not require any pre-market safety testing on chemicals in cosmetics and body care products, with the exception of color additives. 

4. Women use, on average, 12 personal care products a day, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients per day. Men use six, with an exposure rate of 85 unique chemicals per day. (EWG)

5. Companies are not required to list the chemical components of fragrances in their products. The EWG cautions that “when you see "fragrance" on a personal care product's label, read it as "hidden chemicals." Just one scent can contain 50 to 300 distinct chemicals, many of which pose known health risks. 

6. Babies are born “pre-polluted”, with over 287 chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood. 180 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests.

7. Personal care safety is not just a women’s issue! It’s an everybody issue, affecting men, women, children and even newborn babies.
   

What are personal care products? 

Personal care products are legally defined as “anything intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing and beautifying.”

They include: antibacterial soaps; hand soaps; bar soaps; liquid soaps; facial and body washes; facial and body cleansers; facial masks; exfoliating products; face, foot and body scrubs; body, skin and foot polishes; body, skin and foot buffers; body, skin and foot foams; micro technology items; acne treatment products; shampoos; conditioners; toothpaste; shaving creams or gels; and foot care products.

What is not a personal care product?

Any product that does not require a prescription 

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

1. Do your research: Find out which companies and brands practice clean beauty and create products devoid of harmful, toxic chemicals. Education is power.

2. Check out Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and EWG’s Skin Deep. These sites do the research for you by providing comprehensive safety ratings on thousands of products and chemical ingredients.

3. Download EWG’s Healthy Living app, and the Think Dirty-Shop Clean app to check out a product’s safety rating and help you shop cleaner. All you need to do is scan the product barcode into these apps for an overall product safety score and ingredient information.

4. Print out Beautycounter’s The Never List™. Refer to it often when picking out personal care products.

5. Ditch synthetic perfumes and scented products. 

6. Look for personal care products marked “fragrance-free” instead of “unscented”. Unscented doesn’t mean fragrance free. The product may actually be filled with fragrance masking chemicals to cover up unwanted chemical scents.

7. Raise an eyebrow when you see the word “natural” listed on the ingredient panel. Just like in the food industry, ‘natural” is an unregulated term and essentially tells you nothing about the product you are buying. 

8. Try essential oils as a replacement for fragrances.

9. If you just can’t part with your favorite perfume (guilty as charged), spray it on your clothes, not your body.

10. Sunscreens are filled with toxic chemicals: Look for mineral (physical) sunscreens which list zinc oxide and titanium oxide as their active ingredients. Avoid sunscreens that rely on chemical filters. 

11. Become a label detective.

Cheat Sheet:

Below are a few of the most common toxic chemicals found in personal care products. All are known to be harmful to human health.

PHTHALATES: Widely known for their use in plastics to make them more flexible, phthalates are found in almost all beauty products that have fragrance. In fact, the word “fragrance” on a label is a good sign that phthalates are present. 

• Side effects: Phthalates are known endocrine-disruptors, and can wreak havoc on normal hormone function. Studies also show a possible link between phthalates and damage to the male reproductive system. 

• Commonly found in: shampoos, body lotions, perfume, soaps, and deodorants.

• Protect yourself: Look for words on product packaging like “no synthetic fragrance” or even better “phthalate-free.” And try essential oils as a replacement for fragrances.

PARABENS: Manufacturers use parabens as preservatives in a wide variety of body care products as well as in makeup. Although the FDA limits paraben levels in food and beverages, there are no current regulations extending to personal care products.

• Side effects: Reactions include skin allergies and irritation. They are also known hormone disruptors and there is concern that parabens may be linked to breast cancer.

• Commonly found in: facial cleansers and creams, body moisturizers, hair care products, and makeup.

• Protect yourself: Look for paraben free products. Manufacturers may try to trick you into thinking a product is safe by using the word “natural” on a label, even when toxic chemicals like parabens are present. That word is not FDA regulated for skincare products (or food products for that matter) so essentially it has no meaning.

TRICLOSAN: Manufacturers use triclosan and triclocarbon as antibacterial agents. The American Medical Association and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention have raised concerns regarding the overuse of antibacterial products and the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Both authorities also advise that washing well with simple soap and water can be as effective as using antibacterial products.

• Side effects: Possible skin irritation. May disrupt thyroid and reproductive hormone function.

• Commonly found in: hand sanitizers, liquid hand soap, bar soap, dishwashing detergent, deodorant, and toothpaste.

• Protect yourself: Limit your use of antibacterial or antimicrobial products. Look for products labeled “no triclosan”, especially toothpaste which is easily ingested. Use natural or alcohol-based hand sanitizers without fragrance when soap and water is not available.

FORMALDEHYDE: Manufacturers use Formaldehyde as a preservative in cosmetics. 

• Side effects: Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and has also been linked to skin irritations and allergic reactions .

• Commonly found in: hair products, including shampoo and hair straightening treatments such as Keratin, baby shampoo and body wash, eye shadows, nail polish and nail polish remover.

• Protect yourself: shop clean brands, read labels, and avoid hair straightening systems that use formaldehyde.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE(SLS) / SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): Manufacturers use SLS and SLES as an emulsifying and foaming agent in personal care and cleaning products. 

• Side effects: SLS and SLES are known skin and eye irritants. 

• Commonly found in: shampoo, body wash, face wash, and toothpaste.

• Protect yourself:  shop clean brands, read labels, and avoid products SLS and SLES, as well as sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt, sodium salt, hydrogen sulfate, dodecyl alcohol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium monododecyl sulfate which are all just other names for SLS.

FRAGRANCE: “The word ''fragrance”, “perfume”, ''parfum” and “scent “on a product label represents a mystery mixture of various chemicals and ingredients. (EWG).” The FDA does not require fragrance and flavor ingredients to be listed individually on cosmetic labels because fragrance falls under the protective label of “trade secrets”, a throw-back to the perfume industry days.

• Side effects: Fragrance chemicals are linked to allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress, reproductive problems and even cancer. 

• Commonly found in: Anything scented. Be wary of labels that say “unscented”. Unscented doesn’t mean fragrance free. The product may actually be filled with fragrance "masking chemicals to cover up unpleasant chemical scents.

• Protect yourself:  shop clean brands, read labels, and avoid scented and flavored products, as well as those that say unscented. Look for fragrance free products.

Be a Label Detective:

Reading labels is a must when it comes to personal care products. Buzzy, healthy sounding words like “organic”, “eco”, “green” “non-toxic”, “natural” and “botanical” are all unregulated terms and do not mean the protect is clean. 

UNDERSTANDING THE TERM ORGANIC ON PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS:

• “100 percent organic” means a product must contain only organically produced ingredients. Manufacturers can add the USDA Organic Seal to their packaging.

• “Organic” means a product must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. Manufacturers can add the USDA Organic Seal to their packaging.

• “Made with organic ingredients” means a product contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Translation: There could be a slew of toxic synthetic chemicals (30% worth) in there too. Products can not display the USDA Organic Seal.

When in doubt, consult the Environmental Working Group and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics websites and empower yourself to make better, healthier, safer product choices for you and your family. When you buy clean products, you vote with your wallet for regulation reform, transparent labeling and safer products.