Clean Beauty Swaps

Clean Beauty Swaps

When I first started thinking about switching my products to less toxic and chemical free options it was an overwhelming thought! I knew it was the right decision but I didn’t know how to start or where to turn first so I decided to start with the largest organ on my body – the skin, then work my way up from there. I am going to share a few easy swaps I made that got me started and inspired me to keep going. The best part is that the products I swapped out ended up working just as good or better than the original products! Yes, they might cost a little more but the long-term benefits are more than worth it. It is so important to be conscious of what ingredients are in the products that we use and put all over our bodies every day and sadly we cannot trust everything we hear in commercials or on ads anymore because of the phrases like “all-natural”, “pure” or “dermatologist tested” are thrown around so loosely. The term for this is called greenwashing and because of loopholes in laws brands can make false claims, making the words pretty useless. This means we cannot simply look at the front label of a product and make an informed decision anymore, we have to look at the ingredients and do a little research to come to an informed decision. Here are four switches I made and I have never looked back! 

Baby Oil >>> Honest Organic Body Oil

The oil component in Baby oil is mineral oil which is a cheap byproduct of petroleum refinement. It is harmful because it clogs pores preventing the skin from breathing, it also blocks absorptions of any beneficial ingredients applied to the skin. Growing up we all saw the commercials of moms rubbing baby oil all over their children in the bath and made it look like such a loving and soothing experience but in reality, it is not the best products to put on your skin!

The best swap that I have found is the Honest Organic Body Oil, I have been using it for almost a year now when I need some hydration on my skin and it is amazing! It is fully plant-based and sensitive enough to put on infants. The ingredients include: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil*, Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Seed Oil*, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract*,Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*.

Baby oil is around $4 for 14 fl. oz. and the Honest Organic Body Oil is around $10 for 4 fl. oz. (if you create a bundle it is less) – obviously, there is a pretty big difference in price but there is also a big difference in the quality of the product and that should count for a lot! I have also found that a little bit of the Honest Organic Body Oil goes a long way and the bottle lasts a while! This is a super easy switch that has made a world of a difference for me!

Drug Store Body Lotion >>> Beautycounter Hydrating Body Lotion in Citrus Mimosa

When looking up a drugstore body lotion on EWG.org like some Aveeno products, they are rated a 6-7 and the highest and worst score possible is a 10. This means there are high levels of toxicity from the fragrance that is used to a bunch of other ingredients that are not the best to lather all over our bodies! CLICK HERE to check out the exact ingredients and the ratings of each of them! It is such great information to really educate and help to understand what is being absorbed into our skin every day! 

The Beautycounter Hydrating Body Lotion in Citrus Mimosa is easily one of my favorite products. The consistency of it is perfect, it is not to thin or thick and spreads easily on the body! After applying my skin feels quenched and the scent of citrus is perfect. It is great to say that all of the ingredients are safe and I can feel good about putting this product on the largest organ of my body! 

When comparing the fl. oz. and cost of these two products they are very comparable. The Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Moisturizer (notice how they added “smart essentials” in the title – greenwashing!!) is a 2.5 oz. bottle for $9.30 and the Beautycounter Hydrating Body Lotion in Citrus Mimosa is an 8 oz. bottle for $25. So worth it to make this switch! 

*DEAL ALERT*

Right now Beautycounter has a clean swap deal going on! (This blog post was written before this deal came up but it is the same concept of what I am talking about!) If you buy either a body lotion, eye cream, face mask, shampoo, mascara or lipstick you get to choose one of four deluxe sample product for free! (These are not your average size samples!!) This is the perfect way to try two products for the price of one! CLICK HERE to check it out and let me know if you have any questions! 

Petroleum Jelly >>> Honest Organic Healing Balm

Petroleum jelly may seem satisfying when applying but the reality of what it is doing is much different. It repels water which means it is keeping air and moisture out which completely dries where you apply it. It is very hard to get off the body because it is so thick and it actually seals in dirt which creates more skin issues. 

On the flip side, the Honest Organic Healing Balm uses ingredients like organic sunflower, olive, and coconut oils work with enriching shea butter to nourish, moisturize, and help relieve extra-dry and sensitive skin. Tamanu oil helps restore and balance skin moisture and Calendula helps gently calm and soothe. The best part is it is made without petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin, parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances.

There is a price difference, petroleum jelly is about $5 for 13 oz and the Honest Organic Healing Balm is $13 for 3.5 oz but it lasts forever! I have had the same bottle for a very long time because a small amount goes a long way! It is the perfect size to throw in your purse and it is the perfect size for traveling as well! This product is a serious game changer and one that every family should have in their home! 

Drug Store Balms >>> Beautycounter Cleansing Balm

The last product I am going to talk about is balms. A drug store balm like Palmer’s Raw Shea Balm looks like it would be a great product with the words like “raw”, “Vitamin E” and “24-hour moisture” plastered on the packaging along with a coconut and rustic feel (once again…greenwashing). But in reality, it is full of parabens, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrances which are all terrible ingredients that should not be applied to the body. 

The Beautycounter Cleansing Balm is the perfect swap! I use it to take my makeup off (it comes with a muslin cloth) and has vitamin C to brighten the appearance of skin and raspberry and cranberry seed oils to hydrate. It could also be used as a face mask! Best of all the ingredients are so good and the container is large and lasts forever! 

Once again, there is a price difference. Probably the biggest price difference between them all. But when thinking about the quality of ingredients that are being swapped out there is no contest. The long-term effects of using the wrong products will cost more than these swaps ever will. 

I hope this was helpful in sharing some insight on why I have made the swap to cleaner products! I would love to hear any swaps you have made or your thoughts on this post in the comments below! I hope you have an amazing weekend! xo