Clean, green and eco brands are rising stars in the beauty industry thanks to their no-fuss formulas that are both good for you and good for the planet. But switching out your conventional faves for “clean” new products can seem daunting, so we compiled a list of ways to add more natural ingredients into your daily regimen.
Here are 11 ways to green up your beauty game this summer and beyond.
If you’re looking to detox your skincare routine, one of the best ways is to focus on your whole body. Waxon’s Bodyshot is made of all-natural coconut oil to hydrate and soothe skin, along with arnica oil to relieve sore muscles and help bruises heal faster. The blend also contains blood orange and grapefruit oil, which add an uplifting scent of citrus as it nourishes your skin.
Waxon BodyShot Skin Quenching Body Oil, available at Waxon Laser + Waxbar.
Founded almost 100 years ago in Switzerland, Weleda has been making natural skin- and body-care products since the 1920s, so you know you’re getting the best ingredients and formulas for your dollar. Their cult-classic body washes are a dream to use, and while they may not lather as much as conventional shower products, they leave your skin squeaky clean and hydrated, not to mention smelling divine.
Weleda Body Wash, available at Whole Foods.
The team at Radford Studio has been working hard to make their in-house line more sustainable, including ditching any outside plastic packaging, trying to find recyclable tubes to house their formulations and more. In the meantime, reach for one of their coconut oil cleansers to help keep your visage soft and nourished while removing dirt and makeup. Their version with seabuckthorn is a glorious multitasker that can be used as a facial cleanser, moisturizer and makeup remover (it even works on the most stubborn mascara).
Radford Raw Coconut Melt with Seabuckthorn, available at Radford.
Adding a toner to your daily routine can help keep your complexion in check—and this 99.9-percent-natural version from Burt’s Bees is a fabulous and affordable option. Made with rosewater, which has mild astringent properties, as well as aloe vera and glycerin, this toner can be used after cleansing, and before you apply your moisturizer, to help remove any stubborn dregs of makeup, oil and dirt, while also maximizing the efficacy of any moisturizer or serum you apply.
Burt’s Bees Rosewater Toner, available at Rexall.
Switching from conventional deodorant or antiperspirant to one without any chemicals, like aluminum, can be a hard sell. But those sweat glands in our underarms are there for a reason: to help the body detox. Green Beaver’s line of all-natural deodorants and antiperspirants gives you plenty of options to choose from as you begin your quest for a healthier daily routine.
Green Beaver deodorant and antiperspirant, available at Whole Foods.
Finding a clean SPF can take a ton of research, but thankfully Thinksport and Thinkbaby have landed in the drug store aisle. Part of a roster of safer products for sports enthusiasts, the Think line of sunscreens harnesses the physical filtering powers of zinc oxide (20 percent, to be exact), works with other clean ingredients that are reef-safe and protects you and your little ones from harmful UV rays.
Thinksport and Thinkbaby sunscreens, available at Rexall.
Another way to get a fresh new start in the skincare department is by adding a fragrant hand soap to your bathroom counter—it also doesn’t hurt when said soap comes in an eye-catching container, either. Known for their chic flowers and housewares, Teatro Verde also stocks products from Quebec-based apothecary brand Atelier La Vie Apothicaire. With scents like lavender-orange and grapefruit-rosemary, your space will smell naturally sweet.
Atelier La Vie Apothicaire Hand Soap, available at Teatro Verde.
If you haven’t heard, wipes are an environmental problem, especially when they clog up our drainage systems. Thanks to Boo Bamboo, you can still have the convenience of a wipe, without worrying about the waste—their bamboo wipes are biodegradable and unbleached, and they still manage to remove unwanted dirt, grime and makeup from your face.
Boo Bamboo Cleansing Cloths, available at Rexall.
What we put on our bodies is as important as what goes down the drain and into our waterways, so switching to an all-natural shampoo and conditioner is another way to help yourself and the environment, too. Australia-based Thursday Plantation’s tea-tree line is well known around the globe and sources its tea-tree oil directly from its organic farm. Its ultra-cleansing shampoo and conditioner are a great way to detox your scalp without stripping your hair, thanks to additional ingredients like aloe vera and jojoba.
Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner, Whole Foods
A leader in healthy suncare, Coola has also added some key ingredients to its star SPFs. The Coola Rosilliance Mineral BB+ Cream Tinted Organic Sunscreen SPF 30 contains rose stem cells, a powerful botanical that helps to hydrate skin, while acai fruit oil soothes redness, and plankton extract helps to diminish the look of dark spots and blemishes.
Coola Rosilliance Mineral BB+ Cream Tinted Organic Sunscreen SPF 30, available at Radford.
