Clean Beauty Swaps to Make Now

10 Clean Beauty Swaps to Make Now

In case you missed it, my post about why clean beauty matters discusses the overwhelming importance of reading labels and determining what is really clean. The personal care industry is highly unregulated, and 80% of the chemicals in personal care products have never been tested for safety! Companies can tout their products as “organic,” “green,” or “natural,” and still be filled with toxic chemicals that are harmful and could have long-term health impacts. Today I wanted to share my top 10 clean beauty swaps you can make now.

Some products are more critical than others to replace. The most important place to start is with either the products you use most frequently or stay on your skin the longest. Here’s a list of 10 clean beauty swaps that I made that you can use as a guide to get started. I’m showing the product I was using before and after, the reason I swapped, and the EWG rating. I made these choices, and I am by no means saying that the “before” are bad products because they do work. I’m just choosing a cleaner path. There is a lot of trial and error, and you need to find what works best for you.

1. Deodorant

Secret Outlast (EWG rating 5) was my go-to for years. After I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, I was on a mission to find a non-aluminum deodorant that actually worked, and Kopari Coconut Deodorant (EWG rating 2) was the winner.

2. Sunscreen

Some of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens are harmful to both your body and the environment. I was shocked to learn that the Neutrogena sunscreen I had been using for years had an EWG rating of 10. There are many clean sunscreen options, but my favorite is Beautycounter Mineral Sunscreen Lotion (EWG rating 1). You can read more about the difference between chemical and mineral screens in my post: Why You Should Switch to a Clean Sunscreen.

3. Body Wash

Bath & Body Works products are not rated on EWG, but ingredients include BHA, BHT, and Parabens. The Orange Ginger Energizing Body Wash was my favorite. At some point, either the formula changed or my body acquired sensitivity to it, and my skin would break out in a rash. Andalou Clementine Ginger Energizing Shower Gel is a similar product (EWG rating 2), and my skin has had no adverse reactions to it.

4. Body Lotions

For the same reasons as above, I switched the Bath & Body Works Orange Ginger Energizing lotion to Andalou Clementine Ginger Energizing Body Lotion (EWG rating 1).

5. Shampoo & Conditioner

Love, Beauty & Planet Shampoo & Conditioner (EWG rating 2) is a newer product, and I love the volume and shine it gives my hair. I decided to check EWG for the L’Oreal Everpure Shampoo & Conditioner that I had been using. I was surprised that it had an EWG rating of 6, so this one was a no-brainer.

6. Serum

It’s always interesting when you learn that a product you think of as natural really isn’t. Ole Henrickson Truth Serum (EWG rating 5) has ingredients that cause allergens and organ and immune toxicity. I traded it for Beautycounter Rejuvenating Radiance Serum (EWG 1).

8. Facial Moisturizer

I have to say; this was a hard one for me to find a replacement for the Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist Day Cream (EWG rating 5). This day cream was a lifesaver for my dry skin, especially in the winter, but the ingredient concerns were organ system toxicity and cancer. There was a lot of trial and error until I finally found Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream (EWG rating 2).

9. Tinted Moisturizer

I remember the Ulta or Sephora consultant recommending Bare Minerals Tinted Moisturizer (EWG Rating 4) because it had “minerals” in it. I thought it was a natural product and used it for several years. Long before I became a Beautycounter consultant, I traded it for Beautycounter Dew Skin (EWG rating 1). It provides sheer coverage, is lightweight, and has SPF 20.

10. Lipstick

Okay, this was another eye-opening one for me. I’ve loved Origins products for ages, and most of their skincare have the Sephora clean stamp of approval. A good number of their makeup does not, including the Origins Blooming Bold Lipstick (EWG rating 5) that I was using. I am now a Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick (EWG rating 1) convert. Read Why You Should Consider Switching to a Non-Toxic Lipstick to learn why lipstick is one of the most toxic things in our makeup bags.

I hope these 10 clean beauty swaps to make now was helpful! Finding clean alternatives that work for your skin takes time. Do your research, read labels, and check the EWG database for additional ingredient information. Swap out a new product as you run out of your old ones, and little by little, you will have a cleaner and more environmentally friendly beauty collection. There are some amazing retailers out that are pioneering clean beauty. Sephora, Follain, and Beautycounter offer free returns if the product is not working for you, so it’s a good way to try clean alternatives without any risk. And, If you have any questions about Beautycounter products, let me know! I’m happy to help!