Image via Glossier
Natural and clean beauty brands continue to shake up the conventional beauty world and consumers are taking notice. Last year’s high-tech serums and face masks have been replaced with products featuring locally sourced ingredients that actually benefit the planet just as much as they benefit your skin.
Not sure where (or how) to make the switch from your trusted brands and start detoxing your beauty routine? To help make the transition easier for you, we’re sharing what products you should swap first, along with our favourite natural beauty products that are disrupting the beauty industry for the better. The best part is, these products are just as effective as the ones you are accustomed to using, only healthier. #bless!
Keep reading for 7 of the best clean beauty products to switch to first:
Sunscreen
Regardless if you’re more of a makeup-free kind of gal or you never leave home without a full-face of makeup, one thing every woman can agree on is always remembering to apply sunscreen. However, most sunscreens are pumped with chemicals, which are major irritants for the skin. Add into the mix the potential endocrine disruptors, like fragrances and synthetics, and other toxins in standard formulas and you’ll realize how unsafe chemical-filled sunscreens actually are. Natural sunblocks filled with minerals, however, calm the skin as opposed to irritating it, and last until you wash or sweat it off.
Product we recommend: LASPA Sunscreen
This Canadian brand has a killer lineup of sunscreens that are both light and translucent and made with 100% all-natural, plant-based ingredients, minerals and essential oils. LASPA’s weightless formulas smooth easily onto skin, leaving behind no whiteness or greasy feel. The best part? This hydrating sunscreen will leave you with a smooth, matte finish.
Deodorant
Since we were teens, we’ve grown accustomed to slathering on conventional deodorants to one of our body’s most critical detoxifying areas: the underarms. Not only is armpit skin thin, lymph nodes and sweat glands are concentrated there, and since the area is regularly exfoliated through shaving, it may make the are more vulnerable to absorption than skin elsewhere on the body. Conventional brands are pumped with toxins like aluminum and fragrances that can get absorbed directly into the skin, which can cause a number of issues like sweat buildup that can lead to bumpy skin and painful irritation over time.This is where a natural deodorants come in handy.
Product we recommend: No Pong Deodorant
After being founded in 2015 in Australia by Melanie McVean and Chris Caley, No Pong has recently launched in Canada, and is a deodorant that uses all natural ingredients to create a water-resistant environment that armpit bacteria can’t survive. But don’t let its appearance fool you. Think of this deodorant like a lotion or a cream, simply apply a pea sized amount to each armpit and you’re set for the day.
Face Wash
To achieve healthy, glowing skin, you’re going to need a good cleaning regiment. However, most over-the-counter brands contain harsh chemicals that can strip away your skin’s natural lipids and protective barrier, which can cause more breakouts and reactions. Not only will a natural cleanser replace the harsh chemicals with gentle ingredients that are actually good for your skin, but it will also help nourish and protect your skin.
Product we recommend: Consonant Life Foaming Face Wash
We’re all about products that can do more jobs than just one. This is why we love Toronto-based Consonant Life’s all natural and chemical-free foaming face wash. It’s a 3-in-1 product that is firstly a gentle yet effective cleanser, packed with nourishing botanicals like tea tree oil and grape seed oil to help hydrate skin, eliminate uneven skin tone, and fight blemishes. It’s also capable of removing stubborn makeup and it’s pH balanced, so you don’t need to follow with a toner.
Moisturizer
Considering how important a good moisturizer is for your daily skin care routine, even the most recognizable brands fill their moisturizers with fragrances, toxins and preservatives that can be harmful for your skin. Switching to a natural moisturizer gives you a safer and gentler way to hydrate and moisturize your skin.
Product we recommend: Juice Beauty Prebiotix Hydrating Gel Moisturizer
This super absorbent and lightweight moisturizer from Fresh Beauty is infused with nourishing ingredients to keep signs of aging and free radical damage at bay. Made of a prebiotic blend that includes viola flower, chia and coconut extract, which act as a protective layer on the skin, locking in moisture for a more radiant, hydrated and balanced appearance. Within moments of applying, you’ll notice your skin appears supple and hydrated, and makeup applies smoothly.
Concealer
Concealer truly is your makeup bag MVP. Not only does it cover up acne and dark spots, it can brighten tired under-eyes, and flawlessly brighten a dull and tired complexion. And considering how frequently we use concealer, we really need to be using one that enhances and promotes healthier skin, rather than simply covering it up.
Product we recommend: RMS Beauty “Un” Cover-Up
What we love about RMS Beauty, for starters, is that all products are formulated with raw, food grade (never heard of a beauty brand capable of this before!) and organic ingredients in their natural state, allowing their living, healing attributes to penetrate and rejuvenate the skin. But most importantly, we’re obsessed with RMS’ “Un” Cover-Up concealer because it melts onto the skin while covering imperfections and redness. Bonus: the rejuvenating formula has rosemary extract, which is a natural antibacterial that helps heal any pimples you’re trying to cover up.
Mascara
Your eyes are extremely important, which is why it’s alarming that most women unknowingly applying countless coats of mascara filled with coal tar and petroleum that are contaminated with carcinogens, parabens to such a sensitive area. And trust us we get it, for most women, full, dramatic lashes are an everyday essential, so the thought of switching to a natural formula can seem daunting. But luckily there are a number of natural brands out there that have their own clean mascaras that are chemical and toxin-free, yet still capable of giving you killer lashes.
Product we recommend: Evio Beauty Black Mascara
This Toronto-based beauty brand first got our attention simply because of the fact that all of its products are natural, vegan, cruelty free and gluten free. But when we found out it has its own mascara it was a real game changer. What we love about Evio’s mascara is it doesn’t clump or flake over time, plus it naturally enhances your lashes, while nourishing them.
Multi-Use:
If you’re anything like us, you probably have a ridiculous amount of beauty and skincare products in your repertoire, even after Marie Kondo-ing it. This is why we love a good multi-use stick that helps us cut down on clutter, not to mention there’s nothing more convenient than a product with endless uses. Practically all conventional brands have released their own variations, but as you can imagine, they’re often filled with dyes, preservatives and fragrances, which can be harmful to your skin. This is why we were thrilled to discover a multi-use product made with natural ingredients that can be worn on the eyelids as a shadow, cheeks as a blush-highlight hybrid and lips for a tinted colour that lasts.
Product we recommend: Ilia Beauty Multi-stick
Created by Ilia, which is all about plant-based formulas that actually help to improve your skin while you wear them, this mult-stick seamlessly blends into lips and cheeks thanks to a soft, buttery texture that instantly melts upon contact. Infused with natural ingredients like sunflower seed oil, shea butter and avocado oil, the All of Me multi-stick leaves you with a dewy, natural-looking finish, regardless of where you apply it.
xo
(Story by Contributing Editor, Ainsley Smith)