Nature Conscious Swaps To Improve Your Beauty Routine

Photo by Kalos Skincare on Unsplash

It’s becoming evident that a good number of some the most popular cosmetic products may actually contain some harmful ingredients with unpronounceable chemical names and a range of potentially carcinogenic additives that are proving risky upon deeper inspection. In an ideal world, beauty products would all be safe from questionable ingredients. Because they are not, many people are opting for beauty routines that don't include potentially dangerous products that could do both their body and the planet real damage. With many alternative choices now available, it has never been so simple to make this switch. So if you’re ready to wave goodbye to unsafe laboratory grown cosmetics, read on to find out more about how you can get started.

Read Labels

You should know that even though they are in beauty and self care products, not all beauty ingredients are safe for your skin or the environment.  Don't be fooled by the 'natural' labels stamped on products as many of these may still contain potentially toxic chemicals and additives. Companies are able to do this because the federal government does not regulate these labels. In the US, federal law regulates the types of chemicals that can be used in cosmetics and personal care products. However there are some ingredients that are proven to be harmful that are still allowed despite being banned elsewhere in the world. You should familiarize yourself with potentially harmful ingredients that should be avoided like parabens, triclosan, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, phthalates and synthetic fragrance. It’s important to be aware of the ingredients in your personal care products to make sure you're not getting anything you don't want, especially if there are certain chemicals you’re trying to avoid .

Swaps For The Shower
The products that you use in your daily shower could be putting both you and the earth in harm's way, so this is the perfect place to begin your nature-conscious swaps to make a noticeable difference on your beauty regime. Begin by swapping out your usual plastic bottle of chemical filled shampoo for a natural, cold pressed shampoo bar made from organic ingredients. This is a brilliant way to cut your carbon footprint while caring for your hair without questionable ingredients. You can also find conditioning bars made from rich plant based butters that will last far longer than any regular bottle of liquid conditioner ever could. You can also perform a deep conditioning treatment with raw coconut oil once per week. This will reduce protein loss and restore shine. Your conventional shower gel might also contain potentially harmful ingredients like SLS, parabens, triclosan and synthetic fragrances that you really don’t want your skin to be absorbing in large quantities. Switching to a natural soap that doesn't contain these types of chemicals will be beneficial for your health. Fortunately there are so many companies like Rock Creek Soaps that are committed to offering the most natural, eco-friendly shower and bathing products that take care of your skin and hair just as well as your usual favorites.

Update Your Makeup Bag
Your makeup should be your next focus, as any products that you regularly put on your face will be absorbed by your skin or even consumed when you consider products like lipstick. 61% of lipsticks contain lead, including some from leading beauty brands. You shouldn't risk such overexposure to the chemicals that are in many cosmetics if you want to look after yourself and the planet, but thankfully there are now a variety of more eco-conscious alternatives that you can invest in that will still allow you to continue creating your favorite looks with ease. The first feature+ to look out for when buying new nature-friendly makeup is a sign that suggests the company is against animal testing, otherwise it’s likely the product and it’s chemical ingredients will have been tested on animal subjects in an inhumane and likely painful manner. Knowing what ingredients to avoid is helpful. You want to look for brands that value sustainability, ethical sourcing and production practices as well as ingredient transparency.

This is a contributed post.