Basic Guide To Cleaner Skincare
I started switching to clean beauty a few years ago, and I think I’ve finally made the switch over for almost all of my skincare and makeup products! I’ve shared lots of my thoughts before, but I thought it’d be fun to get the opinion of someone with more experience than I have to answer some basic questions I’ve had specifically about cleaner skincare.
My close friend, Katie Lawrence, was one of my roommates in college, and she represents Beautycounter which is one of the brands I trust the most from an ingredients stand point. They’ve really done their research and have the most consistently clean ingredients that I can find. Katie has been into using cleaner ingredients since before clean beauty was cool (honestly she may be the one who got me started on it years ago?!), so I knew she’d have a lot of good info for us! Here’s our conversation:
JULIE’S FAV CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS:
Julie: What are some of the top ingredients to avoid?
KATIE: Honestly, there are a lot and it can be overwhelming. I recommend downloading an app such as ThinkDirty or EWG (stands for Environmental Working Group) and let the app do the work for you. You can scan a barcode or search by name for products you’re curious about. Beautycounter also has an amazing resource called “The Never List”. That said…
TOP INGREDIENTS TO AVOID:
a) Synthetic fragrance — this word can essentially mean anything in cosmetic products! Can contain any combination of over 3,000 stock chemical ingredients including hormone disruptors and allergens. The formulas are protected under federal trade secrets and therefore do not need to be disclosed. Found in all types of cosmetics.
b) Parabens — preservatives that are hormone disruptors, often found in shampoo, body wash, face cleanser, body lotion, and foundation.
c) Phthalates — pronounced “THAY-lates”. Plasticizing chemicals used to make scents stick to skin or make products smooth onto skin more easily. Found in: synthetic fragrances, nail polish and hairspray.
d) Oxybenzone — linked to irritation, sensitization and allergies, and possible hormone disruption. Found in lots of sunscreens.
e) Sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate — surfactants that can irritate skin and trigger allergies. Often contaminated with a byproduct of petrochemical process called ethoxylation, which is used in chemical processing to make them less harsh. Found in shampoo, body wash, bubble bath.
Julie: Where do you recommend I start if I want to begin switching to cleaner products?
KATIE: If you’re interested in starting to switch to cleaner beauty, I recommend making it more manageable by thinking about the skincare/cosmetic products you use each day, and starting there. If you use shampoo, face wash, and face lotion every day, but typically use dry shampoo once a week, maybe put a higher priority on the daily products!
The other tip I’d recommend for making the switch to cleaner beauty (might be obvious!) is to make safer replacements when you run out of the product you have! This is a more budget-friendly way to make the switch, rather than all at once.
I also represent Beautycounter and would be happy to talk with you. We can figure out a plan to make the transition to cleaner beauty, while keeping in mind your specific skin priorities as well as budget. I’d recommend taking the cleaner skincare quiz to see which line might be best for your skin. I have product samples as well that I’d be happy to send your way. Skin care can be complicated so please feel free to reach out to me at katielawrence015@gmail.com if I can help in any way! And PS new customers can get 20% off through end of this July.
Julie: What product types would you consider essential for everyone and what products are fine to not use if I don’t see a specific need for them?
KATIE: In my opinion, essential products: something to clean, something to moisturize and something to protect. The moisturize and protect can be combined into one product (moisturizer with SPF). Full disclosure here — I’m personally still working on the “protect” habit. I know I should wear SPF on my face every day, but doing that wasn’t naturally in my routine like washing my face was.
Julie: Any recommendations for trying out some products without paying full price right away?
KATIE: My skin is pretty sensitive, so I honestly can’t imagine buying a product without having the opportunity to try it! Three companies I’ve found that have great options to give products a try: Beautycounter, Whole Foods, and Sephora. I have returned opened cosmetic products that didn’t work for me to each of these companies (within the allowed number of days for returns of course, and with some new restrictions during pandemic). In terms of safer beauty, I think Beautycounter has the strictest regulations of these three. I use the ThinkDirty app to know about the ingredients before I buy anything for skin/body from Whole Foods or Sephora.
Julie: Any other tips, tricks, resources/anything else to add?
KATIE: Most people I talk to about skincare are women, but let’s not forget the guys! I bought my husband the Counterman line a few weeks ago from Beautycounter. Well, today he casually asks me, “so, how do I do this? What order do these go in?” and in the course of our conversation, I found out his typical face washing happened with leftover shampoo in the shower. Don’t forget about them! Beautycounter also has kids’ products and baby products that get great feedback, but I haven’t personally put any of those to use.
Quality matters with ingredients, too! When the ingredients are higher quality, a little goes a long way, so it does last. My husband and I both use Beautycounter shampoo (we were just raving about the lather today), and just one bottle will last us multiple months!
Julie: Any equipment that would be helpful to have outside of skincare products themselves?
KATIE: I started dermaplaning before my wedding, which was a game-changer! Check out Youtube for videos, but dermaplaning is a process that painlessly scrapes away the top layers of your skin (basically, it manually exfoliates). It helps remove fine wrinkles, dead skin cells, and peach fuzz, as well as promotes deeper product penetration. Pre-wedding, I went to a spa, and the experience felt similar to a facial. However, since the pandemic, I took the process into my own hands and have never looked back! I just order the mini razors on Amazon and give myself a spa treatment at home once a week. The feeling of applying lotion or foundation the day after is amazing, and I LOVE the peach fuzz being gone, no wax required ;)
