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I recently read that women put an average of 168 chemicals on their body every day. Every day! That number was eye-opening and disturbing to me. As someone who values living a clean lifestyle, I probably use less than half of the chemicals that the average woman, but even that is aggressive. To help more people go the natural route, I thought I’d share some of the natural products that I use every single day and can’t live without.
That being said, there are certain things that I use that are not natural or organic. “When to go natural” is a constant battle for me, but this is where I stand as of today:
When I Go Natural:
Face Wash– I have very oily skin so Desert Essence tea tree oil face wash has been my go-to for almost 10 years. I use it with a Clarisonic to keep my skin clear and glowing
Toner– To get that uber-clean feeling after I wash my face, I always follow up with SW Basics toner, a product made with only five ingredients. It gives me a tingly clean and keeps my acne-prone face clear as can be.
Lip Balm– I use lip balm probably 10-20 times/day (I may or may not be an addict). I turn to SW Basics again for their organic lip balm. My favorite flavor is peppermint.
Eye Cream– I have tried every expensive eye cream out there and Dr. Hauschka’s Daily Hydrating Formula is by far my favorite. It goes on light and smooth and hydrates without getting too thick or clumpy. It’s easy to wear on under make up as well.
Hand Soap– This might sound silly but I like the hand soap in my kitchen and bathrooms to look as nice as it smells. When Method changed the game with it’s beautiful packaging and clean ingredients, I became hooked! I am always changing my favorite scent but I’m currently on a lavender kick.
Body Wash– I made the switch from regular old body wash to Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap (in almond) made from just water and natural oils, about five years ago and have never looked back. It makes my skin soft and smooth without ever drying it out.
Laundry Detergent– Every single day you wear clothes that are washed in some sort of laundry detergent. Even though you don’t see this product every day, it’s seeping into your skin on a daily basis. I use Mrs. Meyers detergent in Geranium because it smells amazing.
Dryer Sheets– I was always freaked out by dryer sheets because of chemicals like Ethyl Acetate (which is apparently on the EPA’s hazardous waste list) and Camphor. Then I accidentally discovered The Honest Company’s plant-based dryer cloths and everything changed. They make my clothes soft and fluffy without any of the crap that comes in regular dryer sheets!
Dish Soap– I hand wash dishes with Mrs. Meyers dish soap and use dishwashing pods in my dish washer, both in lemon verbena.
Hand Cream– Every night before bed I slather on hand cream to keep my hands soft and young. A few years ago, I received Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream as a gift and now I can’t use anything else.
Tampons- It’s taken me a long time to find a natural tampon that actually works AND has an applicator! I use The Honest Company’s Organic Cotton Tampons because they work AND they boast super cute packaging.
When I Stick to Mainstream Products:
Shampoo + Conditioner– I color my hair so it gets dry and brittle if I don’t use the right product.
Nail Polish– Manicures are my main vice and I’ve been wearing Essie Ballet Slippers for as long as I can remember
Mascara– My eyelashes are pretty much non-existant and Benefit They’re Real mascara makes them magically look long and lustrous.
Concealer + Bronzer- I use Benefit for most of my make up (per above) including Boi-ing concealer and Hoola bronzer.
Perfume– I can’t give up my Le Labo Santal 33 eau de parfum. It leads with sandalwood and has hints of cardamom, iris, and violet. It’s perfect!
Hair Spray– Like my eyelashes, my hair is super thin so to hold a curl or have any volume whatsoever, I need an aggressive hairspray that’s equally as flexible. The only one that works for me is Kerastase Spray a Porter.
Deoderant– I sweat a lot. Enough said. Dove Advanced Care Original is my jam.
Bathroom Cleaner– I have to clean my shower with something stronger. Please don’t judge me for using Clorox!
Toothpaste– I have a mild obsessed with my teeth feeling clean. Crest with Scope does the job for me.
I’d love to hear more about when you go natural, when you don’t, and why!
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