It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Today I want to share with you some of my favorite clean beauty products. They are great products to use in your own beauty routine and, for you last-minute shoppers, also make delightful gifts!
First thing first. What is a clean beauty product and why should we be using it?
Clean beauty refers to products that are made without synthetic chemicals, such as parabens, phthalates, oxybenzone, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrances. These types of chemicals and ingredients can be harmful to the body and/or irritate your skin by disrupting your endocrine system, altering your gut microbiome, or causing inflammation and skin irritation.
While some products might have small amounts of these harmful chemicals, overall use and exposure to different chemicals is what really makes these ingredients bad for us. Though we can't fully eliminate toxins in our environment, (because they're not just in our beauty products - but more on that later!), we can control how much we are using them.
First up is Dime Beauty - Clean Beauty & Skincare. I cannot express to you how much I love this line! You might have seen this advertised on social media by numerous celebs, but I'm here to tell you that the hype is real!
I embarrassingly have to admit that not long ago I had a horrible habit of not washing my face at night. I wanted to find a line that would make me excited about a nighttime (and daytime, for that matter) routine. And that's what happened almost immediately after I started using Dime Beauty!
The Gentle Jelly Cleanser is just that - gentle. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and hydrated. It's also mighty! I find that it removes most of my makeup in one wash.
The Toner, Serums, Day & Night Creams, Wonderscreen (their SPF) - The entire line makes my face look radiant and my skin feel incredibly silky smooth. I could honestly write an entire blog post on this product line, I'm that obsessed with it!
And it's affordable! They have a bunch of different bundles and ways to save, plus you can customize your own bundles so you're getting exactly what you want and need. And they almost always have some sort of sale. The Complete Bundle is currently going for $179, or $152 with a subscription, and includes all things I mentioned above.
Next up is Be Green Dry Shampoo.
Dry Shampoo has been seen in the media recently for its link to cancer, but this particular brand is clear from propane, butane, isopropyl myristate, sulfate, and talc. It's 100% vegan, non-toxic, and also EWG verified.
It's made of arrowroot powder and kaolin clay to absorb oils and give hair volume, and brown rice flour to decrease dandruff and promote healthy hair growth.
It comes in a shaker bottle, which I love! It makes it easier to use than a pump, IMO. And, it works!
You can purchase a bottle for $22, or a refill for $19.
One of the first clean beauty swaps that I made was my deodorant. I actually had to go through a few brands before I found one that I really liked. Now, I have two!
Cleo + Coco makes aluminum free, all-natural deodorants that smell divine and keep me from smelling unpleasant.
Made of activated charcoal, plant-based powders, clay, and essential oils, it naturally keeps the body staying fresh.
They have a mini travel-sized sampler kit with 4 scents (Grapefruit Bergamot, Lavender Vanilla, Basil Mint, Unscented) for $30 that would make an adorable stocking stuffer.
My few reasons for continuing to search for a great natural deodorant, is that the charcoal would sometimes leave a gray film on my bras, and though I can't totally be certain, think that it left my underarms irritated.
Which led me to try Truvani Organic Deodorant!
This USDA organic deodorant is free of parabens, aluminum, artificial scents, and is non-GMO.
It also doesn't use charcoal! (So, if you're like me, this one might be the one for you!)
This deodorant is made from all organic arrowroot powder, MCT, coconut, and sunflower oils, tapioca starch, beeswax, rosemary extract, Shea Butter, and sodium bicarbonate, which makes it great for sensitive skin.
It goes on clear and it keeps me fresh and dry and even during workouts!
Though it's currently sold out (at the time of posting), you can purchase this product for $14.99.
A beauty routine wouldn't be complete without moisturizer!
My skin suffers this time of year, especially my hands. I'm constantly having to apply hand cream or lotion to my skin.
My absolute favorite hand cream is Postbiotic Hand Cream by mindbodygreen ($25). I always have it in my bag, but sadly, I'm currently out! (Santa, can you hear me?) It gives me skin instant hydration. It's thick without feeling greasy. It's unscented and it's wonderful.
I also use their Postbiotic Body Lotion ($30) which is equally as wonderful. Both products are vegan, cruelty-free, clean formulas made with naturally-derived ingredients, and are dermatologist-approved.
They also recently released a dry body oil ($49) that I (quite literally) cannot wait to get my hands on. But I'll have to report back on that one!
Do you currently use any clean beauty products? What are some of your favorite brands? Have you thought about trying clean beauty after reading this post?
Let's start a conversation in the comments! I'm interested to hear what you have to say.
I have no affiliation with any of these brands/companies. I'm only sharing my personal opinions on products that I genuinely love.