So, you want to live a greener lifestyle and you don’t know where to start. Is it finding great green beauty brands to swap into your makeup bag or non- toxic cookware for your kitchen or even making your holiday choices more eco-friendly? One thing is for sure …. there has never been a better time to go green. Among the questions I get asked most is what green product would I recommend switching over to first …. that is a tough question. In this series of blogs I will be discussing my transition to green lifestyle products and hopefully this will give you some great starting points.
Regardless of what product you start with, you will probably fall into two camps. The first camp wants to wait until their old product has died a death and you have got your money’s worth from it. You will need to buy a replacement so why not make the change then. The second camp wants to do a green haul …. in a oner. You mean business and are super excited to dive in to this new greener way of life. Personally, I started by switching over one green beauty product …. then found myself doing a big beauty haul on my next shop.
Natural beauty products, this was where it all began for me. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it absorbs so much of what you put on it …. including all the synthetic ingredients in your bathroom cabinet staples and in your makeup bag essentials. If you are serious about your wellbeing don’t just stop at eating cleaner or exercising more …. It is time to detox those chemicals from your beauty routine. It has become so easy to buy the likes of your favourite high street or drugstore makeup, but where do you start to make the change? Whether you call it clean beauty, green beauty, organic beauty or natural beauty, the wealth of top class green beauty and skincare products on the market has never been so good.
Where to Start?
Like most people I had my makeup faithfuls and having spent years finding these products …. like the long lasting eyeliner my dreams …. and I had the fear of starting that search again as I transitioned over to green beauty brands. Swapping over to green beauty products has been one of best decisions I have ever made, the health of my skin was one of the first places I noticed the benefits. Here are three areas to start your green beauty swap and some green beauty favourites to help you along the way.
Deodorant – the clean beauty way
The first ever product I reviewed on Fifi Friendly was a deodorant. Those pits of yours are super clever! Amongst other things they help your body detoxify through sweating, however this thin area of skin also absorbs the products applied to it. My mum had recently started her breast cancer journey and I had read numerous articles that highlighted the amount of toxins that are filled in antiperspirants and deodorants – parabens, phthalates, triclosan, aluminium and fragrances. In simple terms, these chemicals are viewed by many as carcinogenic and endocrine disruptors that don’t play nicely with the reproductive and developmental hormones in your body.
Trial and Error
In the same way I tried different mainstream deodorants before I found one that worked for me …. the same was the case for clean deodorants. Over the last few years I have tried a few that were pigging horrendous …. and I mean seriously not good …. but there are also some really great natural deodorants out there. I like a deodorant stick for ease but I have also enjoyed using deodorant creams. My top three natural deodorants are by
- Salt of the Earth – Natural Deodorant and Pure Aura
- The Natural Deodorant Co – Clean Deodorant Balm
- Aurelia Probiotic Skincare – Botanical Cream Deodorant
Clean or Organic Skincare
Since I moved over to using clean or organic skincare products my skin has flourished. Each product is laden with active natural ingredients that have transformed my skin from being temperamental, spotty and sensitive to being more healthy looking, less dull, nourished, balanced and glowing. Within a few weeks of ditching even the most expensive synthetic laced moisturiser and cleansers, I was getting compliments on how great my skin was looking. It wasn’t just on my skin that I was noticing the difference. I also noticed it in my wallet. Although some of my new clean skincare products were more expensive, I was in fact using fewer products, they were lasting longer and I was spending less each month.
Green products not Green Washed!
We know that there are serveral “organic” or “green” brands that love to green wash but there are also some truly awesome natural brands in the clean beauty sector whose products and ingredients never let me down. Spiezia Organics, is one such brand and it is literally sprinkled throughout my house. The Spiezia Organics Facial Cleanser is in my bathroom, their Intensive Moisturiser is on my bedside table, Soothe and Nourish Lip Balm is a big favourite of my daughter, the pocket sized Replenish and Protect Mositurising Balm is in my handbag everyday and their Calming Lavender Room Spray is in my living room. That list is the tip of the iceberg and I have not started on my love of their spa treatments!
Other favourite skincare brands and favourite products to checkout include
- Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Repair Night Oil, Eye Revitalising Duo, Hand Cream and Miracle Cleanser
- Mallow + White – Restore Face Mask
- Bloom Remedies – Daily Revive Facial Oil
- Twelve Beauty – Hyaluroil Lip Treatment
Clean or Organic Makeup – it is time to go natural
I love my make up bag! I could just leave this paragraph with that sentence but I figure you are wanting a little bit more information if you have read this far down! When it came to cleaner make up I did a haul. There was no dipping my toe in the water. I committed and dove in. Where I started was at Content Beauty. This is my mothership of all things natural and organic. My first shop with them was done all online …. fairly risky I hear you say …. not at all. The web team were fantastic, gave great advice and my first haul …. which included a foundation …. was a success. Content Beauty do a fabulous sample service if you want to try different colour swatches before you buy.
The Mothership that is Content Beauty
If you are in London I would highly recommend a visit to their brilliant store. They do some stunning beauty treatments, organic makeovers and masterclasses. Content Beauty also have treatment rooms and you book appointments with their Nutritional and Naturopathic Practitioner. I found it quite hard to keep list short but my favourite green makeup products from Content Beauty include
- W3ll People Bio Bronzer and Bio Brightener Stick
- RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow Polish and Swift Shadows
- Ilia Beauty – Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturiser and Pure Eyeliner ( Havana Affair)
- Vapour Organic – Mesmerize Eyeliner (Truffle)
- Kjaer Weis – Mascara
- Juice Beauty – Phyton Pigments Ultra Natural Mascara
- Suki Skincare – Tinted Active Moisturiser
Content Beauty’s founder, Imelda Burke book The Nature of Beauty is one that I highly recommend for some great tips. I love finding new products but my make up bag will always have its new faithfuls. In amongst my Content Beauty favourites are some other natural make up products by
- Zoya Nail Polish – Anja
- Jane Iredale – Jelly Jar Eyeliner, Just Kissed Lip Plumper (LA), PlayOn Lip Crayon ( Saucy), Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain ( Forever Red), Eye Pencil ( Black Brown), Dream Tint Tinted Moisturiser ( Medium)
Whole Foods Market as another great store to try out natural and organic beauty brands. I have always found their beauty teams to have great knowledge and always introduce me to some fabulous options. Block out some time and go and have a look. I have never come out empty-handed!!!
I hope this has given you a good place to start your journey to leading a greener lifestyle. Which green beauty products are working for you, I would love to hear from you. Next up in series is making your home greener.
Bye bye for now.
