Everyone’s talking about clean beauty these days, but what is clean beauty? Words like “clean” and “organic” come into play, but not all products that label themselves that way are actually clean. The EU bans more than 1,300 ingredients from cosmetics while the US bans about 30. There is so little regulation, so I’ve chosen to stay away from anything with carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. I am not an expert, so if you want to learn more about clean beauty, I found this article helpful and recommend doing your research.

Clean Beauty: The Best Skin and Hair Products

So why clean beauty?

It all started when I was pregnant with Margot. Like many moms-to-be, I looked up what chemicals to avoid, said goodbye to my beloved keratin hair treatment (that was a sad day but it was for the best), and started using formaldehyde-free nail polish. It took about a year until I was ready to take the plunge. I thought about what I was putting on my face and what Margot was absorbing into her skin when I rocked her to sleep. I started thinking more about what was being absorbed into my skin. Was it safe? Would it cause problems long-term?

After I had Margot, I was back in the salon within a week for a keratin treatment, desperate to get rid of the frizz. As she snuggled her little face into mine and gave me open mouth kisses, I thought about how close she was to these harsh chemicals. I since switched over to Magic Sleek, a cleaner straightener. My stylist actually recommended trying something else since my hair isn’t as straight as it was when we first started using it, which can happen. I’ll report back as soon as we figure out what’s best.

See more of my favorite clean beauty products here

So how did I figure out what to invest in? 

It all started when my friend  brought over a clean nail polish for me to try, and then a few samples from Credo. She never pushed anything on me but shared some really incredible products and was always there to answer my questions. Brooke only puts the cleanest and healthiest ingredients on and in her body and is just so thoughtful with everything she does. We align in so many ways, yet here I was putting some not-so-great stuff on my own skin. She shared some of her favorites, I did a lot of research, and I looked everything up on EWG and ThinkDirty so I knew what to use and what to avoid.

Indie Lee

Brightening Cleanser

A cleanser, makeup remover, and mask in one. Cleanses and protects your skin.
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Indie Lee

Toner

I bought a mini bottle of this and loved it so much that I decided to invest in the full-sized one.
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Goldfaden MD

Moisturizer

The ratings for this moisturizer speak for themselves. I love it! It's not too thick but still very hydrating.
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Beautycounter

Plumping Oil

I've had this for a while and used it on and off, but when I made the switch to clean beauty, I started using it daily and my skin definitely looks smoother.
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Tata Harper

Eye Cream

A splurge but so worth it. I've struggled with sleep the past few weeks and this stuff is pure magic.
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Beautycounter

Supreme Cream

This is really thick and feels so good when applied before going to bed.
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Drunk Elephant

Facial Oil

Great for dry, winter skin.
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Primally Pure

Complexion Mist

This is really light and refreshing.
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Primally Pure

Body Oil

My friend made a really good point. Our bodies don't make lotion but they do make oil, so body oil makes a lot more sense for our skin. It took a minute to get used to oil vs. lotion but it's so hydrating and feels amazing.
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Primally Pure

Deodorant

I've been using this for years so I can't really speak to other natural deodorants, but it's a brand I buy and love. The lemongrass scent is my favorite – it's so light and not overpowering.
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Dr. Rogers Restore

Healing Balm

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Captain Blankenship

Hair Oil

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A few weeks ago, I asked you to share your favorite clean beauty brands with me and made a list of the top mentions. Here they are.

Beautycounter
Tata Harper
RMS Beauty
Ilia
Lilah B
Goldfaden MD
PYT
Primally Pure
Kopari
Tula
Lily Lolo

When you’re ready to dive into clean beauty, I would recommend shopping at Credo and Clean at Sephora. Follain was recommended as well but I haven’t shopped there yet.