After tackling safe cleaning products for our homes, the next thing on my list for you is clean beauty. I have now been using safe beauty products for four years, and I still love my products just as much as I did when I started using them. I have added to my list of items I use but stuck with the basics, making me feel like I made the right choices initially. You can read all about my journey in this blog post from early 2019. As I stated from the beginning, I thought I was using safe products but was way off. I assumed when I shouldn't have, and once I heard and read a lot, I could not unlearn and unread any of it. It was a journey, but one I am super thankful for each and every day.
In Europe, the beauty industry is heavily regulated, whereas, in the United States, it is not. That said, we need to take our cues from the list of items banned in Europe more than we do from what is prohibited in our country. The beauty industry is more regulated, and companies must declare more than our standards demand. It is hard to fathom that banned ingredients in one country would be safe in another, but that is the beauty industry standard here in the US. The European Union has banned more than 1400 ingredients from personal care products, and the US has only banned 30. That is not enough and not ok. I think this quote from the Beautycounter website shares it best.
"The U.S. has not passed a major federal law governing the cosmetics industry since 1938. (Ahem—that’s over 84 years.) The European Union has banned or restricted 1,400 ingredients from personal-care products. The United States has banned or restricted only 30—and to us, that’s simply not good enough. This is bigger than lipstick. It’s a giant step towards safety in beauty. Changing the beauty industry means more than simply making safer products. We are proud to be the leading company advocating for more health-protective legislation across North America."
When discussing safety in beauty, we must look at the facts. The largest organ we have in our bodies is our skin. Every single thing you put on your skin is absorbed. That means if our lip balm contains petroleum to last all day, it is absorbed by our lips. Where does that go when it can't be processed? I am genuinely not sure. It is all about education and asking questions, and with the cancer rates the way they are, we must pay attention to it. Am I saying this is contributing to it, I am not sure, but I can tell you if I know a product isn't safe, I will not be spending my money on it? And let's take it one step further. If that same lip balm contains petroleum, it is drying your lips. Dry lips mean more product. So not only is it not safe, but it is ineffective as well. That is a double no in my book.
There is a documentary on HBOMAX called Not So Pretty that you can watch. It is a lot to take in but it shares so many things I am speaking of. It is a great watch and one you will never forget.
I think that has been one of the best parts about clean beauty is how effective it has been. It doesn't contain products that are not good for my skin, barring the items that are healthy from doing their job. My skin looks better, feels better, and I know what I am spending my money on is working. And if you are anything like me, we spend a lot of money on beauty products. The older I get, the more I spend, which is how it works.
What do I suggest? Use your apps, EWG + Think Dirty, read, educate yourself, and make the decision that is best for you. I have noticed I buy less, it lasts longer, and most definitely works better. I am listing out every single product I own and use below and you can use this as a guide or make one of your own. I am always available to chat more ... pop me an email at any time.
In the list below BC = Beautycounter. I am a rep and I became a rep because I truly believe in and use every single product I tell you I love. It was cheaper for me to purchase as a rep than as a direct customer and if you are using as many products as I am I recommend you do the same. 😘 I have linked each product for you. The good thing about the products I have listed below is that they last. I normally purchase my skin care twice a year.
Hair ...
Shampoo + Conditioner - BC Daily Shampoo in Bright Grapefruit
Skin Care ...
Tula Gentle Milk Cleanser (to clean my face) (AM + PM)
BC Countermatch Hydrating Essence (AM + PM)
BC Countermatch Serum (AM + PM)
Kiehl's Avocado Eye Treatment (AM + PM)
Kiehl's Buttermask for Lips (AM + PM)
BC Countermatch Recovery Sleeping Cream (PM only)
Tula Protect and Glow Daily Sunscreen (AM only)
Tula Pink Eye Balm (AM only)
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