It’s 2019, and we have the world at our fingertips. With that comes a little too much knowledge, especially when it comes to the things that can cause our bodies harm. It’s hard to not to be scared of everything we’re seeing, but the best you can do is change one day at a time. Over the past few years, I’ve heard a lot about the food industry and what the harmful chemicals we consume on a daily basis can do to our bodies. Because I’m gluten-free, I’m already mindful of the ingredients that I’m ingesting, and I find myself eating more clean as a result. I rarely buy anything that isn’t organic, and I try and keep the processed food to a minimum (when it comes to eating at home).

I’ve also been hearing for years how important it is to get rid of expired makeup, choose things without paraben, not wear aluminum deodorant, blah blah blah. I don’t know why, but it was easier for me to ignore these dangers than it was to ignore the dangers of food. I separated food health from cosmetic health – I guess because I didn’t want that to mean I had to throw out/waste all my makeup and buy new, more expensive stuff. I was basically just plugging my ears and covering my eyes to it all until very recently. In hindsight, that’s bizarre, because we are putting these things in and on our body on a daily basis.

As women, we are more at risk with the things we buy (not to mention, we pay more – but I’ll save that for another day). From makeup to hair product to tampons to condoms , there is rarely a day that goes buy that we aren’t overloading our bodies with toxic chemicals and carcinogens. But these things are so cheap! It’s so much easier to just get the cheapest brand from Rite-Aid or Target! But, we only have one body and one life. And we need to get better at protecting ourselves.

This past year, I’ve been reading about the harms of aluminum deodorant. While there is no scientific evidence that antiperspirants cause breast cancer, it’s concerning to be putting chemicals that close to our breast tissue and lymph nodes once, twice, or even more every single day. In no way have I stopped buying or wearing deodorant. I’ve just made smarter choices, even if it costs me a little more in the long run. From there, I started changing the everyday products I’ve been using in the shower for similar reasons. All of our daily-use products are full of chemicals and toxins that disrupt hormones and contain carcinogens. I’ve made the transition within the last year to use primarily ‘clean’ options in my daily shower routine (will talk more about this in a future post).

Recently, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of STUFF I have in my life. After moving from a legitimate house to a small apartment in Hoboken, I’m experiencing a bit of suffocation from the amount of items I possess. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve gotten rid of a ton of stuff. But, I still think there’s more work to be done. I recently embarked on the journey of purging my old makeup. Anyone who loves makeup knows how heartbreaking this can be (hence, why we all avoid it). Not only do we love what we have, but we’re also thinking of how much $ we’re tossing in that garbage bag as well. The fact is… it needs to be done. 90% of my makeup had expired a year/years ago, and that’s only making the toxicity of these items worse. I got rid of so much. And it was in this moment that I realized, I don’t use or need all of these things.

Seeing this as a clean slate of some sort, I took this opportunity to replenish my makeup supply with clean. products. only. When I say ‘clean’, I’m referring to products that are high quality, natural, free of harmful ingredients, and safe. This being said, I’m very aware that this comes at a cost and not everyone has the financial luxury of doing this. However, instead of going out to dinner 2x ($30-$40), you can put that money toward items that will last for months rather than a single sitting. If I’m really trying to convince myself, I’ll take the the cost of a product and divide it by lifespan. Say a product lasts you 3 months. Divide the cost by 90 days and see if that is an investment you want to make for yourself (apologies in advance for the enabling I’m doing here…)

Here’s the fun part – deciding on which brands/products to choose. I’ve been on a few different websites, and I’ve found that Sephora’s Clean Makeup page has been the most helpful for me. You can find anything from skincare to makeup, and I’ve found a substitution for pretty much everything I use on a regular basis. Plus… I’ve been able to rack up those Beauty Insider points! Here is what I used then vs. what I use now:

FOUNDATION

Then: Maybelline Fit! Me Matte + Poreless Foundation ($4-$8)
I’ve been using this foundation for the past few years, mainly due to it’s great coverage. It goes on and blends very smoothly. And that price is hard to beat. However, I’ve noticed that my skin is just not loving it anymore. My skin has started to look blotchy and uneven throughout the day, which is the opposite of what foundation should be doing.

Now: Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation ($54)
I know, that’s a hefty price jump. For me, it’s absolutely worth it. Foundation is the most instrumental part to my makeup routine, and I genuinely feel this product has improved my skin. It has aloe leaf, rosehip, jojoba and marula oils which help with irritation and redness – it’s skincare and color correction in one product. My skin has been uncharacteristically dry these past few months, and this really helps with hydration. It felt a little greasy at first, but it stays light throughout the day keeps my skin feeling smooth. Below is a completely unedited picture of myself wearing this foundation – the product speaks for itself:

BRONZER

Then: Too Faced Bite-Sized Chocolate Bar Bronzer (Free, Sephora ‘Birthday Gift’)
I’m not going to lie, I was a little bummed about tossing this one. 1) IT SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE and 2) it was the perfect shade of ‘not too orange’ and ‘I now have cheekbones’. It was definitely a good product, but the ingredients aren’t so great.

Now: RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer ($28)
I think this is a totally reasonable price for a high-quality bronzer. This was my first time using a cream bronzer, and I was a little hesitant at first. You can use your fingers, but I highly recommend an angled foundation brush to really add dimension and make the product visible. It’s more subtle than other bronzers I’ve used, and I’m still getting used to application. So far, it’s a ‘yes’ from me. I also love the branding – it has such a cute but clean feel to it! It also has Vitamin A and beta-carotene, which the skin loves.

BLUSH & HIGHLIGHTER

Then (Blush): MAC Powder Face Blush ($25)
I’ve always been a fan of MAC when it comes to blush. It’s gives a nice flush, without being too bold or pigmented. Mine was definitely over 4 years old, though, so… toodles!

Then (Highlighter): Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Highlighter Palette ($35)
I’m a big fan of Urban Decay. They could be more ‘clean’, but they’re at least cruelty-free and making moves to improve their line. Really great quality make-up and my favorite brand when it comes to eyeshadow palettes. Unfortunately, the product I had was way past expired.

Now: Kosas Color & Light Palette ($32)
I’ll be honest… I don’t know if I LOVE this product. It is REALLY pigmented, so the smallest amount goes on very heavily. Naturally, I wasn’t aware of this and used a big fluffy brush while I was rushing to leave the house… and it was a disaster. I would use a firm blush brush and a very, very light hand. The product was also a lot brighter/more orange than was advertised on Sephora’s website. Had I known it would be so neon, I would have gone with a more pink shade, especially now that summer is coming to an end. On the contrary, the highlighter didn’t really seem noticeable to me… but I’ll have to experiment with application more. I don’t want to give it a ‘no’ until I try a shade that is better for my complexion first. Love the packaging for this as well.

MASCARA

Then: Maybelline Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara ($5-$9) and Maybelline Magnum Volum’ Express Mascara ($5-$9)
Cringing very hard at the amount of terrible stuff I was putting so close to my eyes! It got the job done, for sure, but I don’t even want to know what toxic things are in these products…

Now: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara – Mini ($13)
I am a big fan of this one. I got the mini for hygiene reasons (by the time you should be switching out your mascara, you’re not even halfway through it…) It’s definitely not as thickening as others I’ve used, but it gives me a natural, defined set of lashes. The thing I really like about this one is the two-sided brush – one is an actual comb to distribute the product throughout your lashes, whereas the other side is for application. Comes off pretty easily too!

DEODORANT

Then: Dove Go Fresh Antiperspirant Deodorant ($6)
While I loved the smell of this line, I no longer wanted to use aluminum antiperspirant. Plus, I was noticing that with certain deodorants, they would just randomly stop working?

Now: Kopari Coconut Deodorant ($14)
This is a combo between gel and stick – it goes on feeling more wet and dries a few minutes after. I’ve used a few different types of ‘natural’ deodorants, and this has been my favorite so far. I’ll sometimes have to apply once more throughout the day, but it definitely keeps sweat at bay. My one warning is to definitely smell it first before purchasing – I’m a fan of the smell, but I can completely get why someone wouldn’t be.

TAMPONS

Then: Playtex Simply Gentle Glide ($7, pack of 30)
So, once I heard 1) tampons are NOT regulated 2) what is normally in them (chemicals, dyes, synthetic fibers), and 3) that vaginas are the most absorbent part of the body, I ran for the hills with generic tampons. I thought the ‘Simply’ brand was better, because it didn’t have colors/dyes and was BPA free, but you can only trust big-name brands so much. I was also having a major, consistent issue of accidentally buying ‘lightly’ scented tampons every other purchase, because it’s super subtle and easy to miss on the box. I don’t know why/how companies are even allowed to make scented tampons, given anything scented is literally so bad for your PH levels and always causes an issue for me/other women I know.

Now: Honeypot Mixed/Variety Tampons ($8, pack of 24)
I have become such a huge believer/advocate of making reproductive health a woman’s first priority. I have dealt with/still deal with some major issues (excruciating cyst bursts, hormone regulation problems, abnormal periods, etc.), and it has changed how I prioritize my annual exam. It is not an ‘if’, it’s a ‘must’, especially with the various types of cancers we face as women. Annual screening is the easiest and most effective way of catching anything that could be detrimental to your reproductive health. I am lucky to have a great relationship with my ob/gyn, and I suggest you find one that you are extremely comfortable with, if you haven’t already – it makes the world of a difference. Periods are inevitable, and the very least I can do is not add to the problem with toxic tampons. I like that these are plant-based, affordable, and still feel like plastic (cardboard tampons should be considered a form of torture). I also like that they tell you where to open, because a lot of brands surprisingly do not do this, and it’s easy to open the wrong side when you’re in a hurry.

CONDOMS
Then: Trojan Condoms ($8, pack of 12) As a woman, I’ve found that we tend to put our comfort aside at times out of fear of ‘killing the moment’ or ‘being high-maintenance’, but sex is supposed to be a mutually enjoyable experience. The more comfortable you are, the more comfortable your partner will (and should) be. I am not on birth control (my previous experience on it wasn’t very positive), so condoms are a non-negotiable for me for contraception. Unfortunately, the cheaper/readily available condoms are full of really gross and harmful chemicals, and I really do not want that anywhere near the most absorbent part of my body. Glycerin, which is found in generic condoms, can actually increase risk of yeast infection as well. Big yikes. To make things worse, I found that anytime I would use a Trojan condom, I would be non-stop itching after. I obviously had no choice but to switch.

Now: Sustain Natural Condoms ($14, pack of 10)
I know, more money for less condoms… but 100% worth it. You can barely feel these, they are durable, and they don’t itch at all afterwards. They’re triple-tested and also fair trade! Hell yes to sustainability. You can also save a bit if you subscribe on Amazon.

So, there you have it – my transition from toxic to clean. Now let’s talk cost:
Then (approximate total cost): $106
Now (approximate total cost): $163
Total approximate difference: $57

Around $60 more to protect yourself and invest in your future health (think 3 dinners out to eat or 2 weeks of Starbucks drinks). I don’t expect anyone to make all/any of these changes overnight. But what I do ask is that you do your research. You will really be shocked and disturbed by what you find. Life is truly too short to ignore the things we can easily prevent by prioritizing our health over our looks/convenience. There are plenty of other brands/options out there, so please don’t feel limited to only the items I’ve listed. I also recommend finding products that combine (highlighter/blush duo) versus buying one of each product – that will help save on cost. Please reach out to me if you have any questions at all!

Truly,
Taylor