My Clean Beauty Journey

Alright guys let’s chat about one of everyone’s favorite topics – beauty! And specifically, clean beauty.

I’ll be the first to admit my entire beauty routine is not 100% clean, but I’m always trying to improve and incorporate more clean products into my routine. The world of clean beauty can be seriously overwhelming (trying to keep track of which ingredients to avoid and which are okay), not to mention expensive.

One of my biggest frustrations with the ‘wellness’ industry is that it can feel exclusive. Let’s face it, the way our food system and economy is set up, making the healthier choice – whether that’s with food, household products or beauty – is almost always harder. More expensive, harder to access, or harder to understand.

But it shouldn’t be! Affordable, clean products should be accessible to everyone, which is why I’m so excited to be partnering with CVS to share CVS’ Clean Beauty Initiative with you guys!

If you didn’t know, CVS has pledged to remove parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde-donors from all its in-house brand products by 2020 (so awesome!). And if you’re not up to speed on all the different chemicals to look out for (more on those below), just look for the little green “Paraben and Phthalate Free” sticker on CVS Health and Beauty 360 products packaging to make it easy to identify better-for-you products while shopping.

MY CLEAN BEAUTY JOURNEY

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I had MAJOR struggles with adult acne at the beginning of this year. Like it was BAD. Luckily I was able to clear my skin up (full story on how I did that in this post), but one of the steps I had to take was eliminating all oils from my makeup and skincare routine. And if you know anything about clean products, you’ve probably noticed ALOT are oil-based, especially in the higher-end, expensive brands I loved before my skin became so sensitive.

Thus began A LOT of research. Having to simultaneously find products that were oil-free, non-comedogenic (wouldn’t clog my pores) AND free from the top potentially harmful chemicals I try to avoid was a major challenge at first. But as I got better at understanding the labels and knowing what to look out for, it got easier. One of the biggest surprises for me in all this was that I ended up finding some of the best products my acne-prone skin at my local CVS (more on that below), rather than the specialty makeup shops I’d been frequenting previously.

Again, my clean beauty journey is definitely still a journey. Not all my makeup and skincare is completely natural and clean, and that’s okay! It’s a work in progress.

One of my favorite quotes is “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good”

So whether you’re already a clean beauty queen, or have no idea what I’m even talking about – it’s okay! Small changes add up to a big impact over a lifetime, so even you’re just swapping one product for a cleaner alternative, that’s something to be proud of!

CLEAN BEAUTY 101 

The world of clean beauty can be seriously overwhelming. There are so many different chemicals involved in beauty products, many of which we still need more research on, so think of this as a quick intro to some of the key components to look out for, but know that it’s definitely not an exhaustive list.

First, a little background on the beauty industry in the United States. According to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetics don’t need FDA approval before going to market (with the exception of color additives). Basically, the companies who make cosmetics have a legal responsibility to ensure their products are safe, but the FDA does not require any specific testing or proof to demonstrate the safety of products or ingredients in beauty products. Basically, we have a fox guarding the henhouse situation, so educating yourself and being a conscious consumer is so important!

Like I said, there are A TON of different chemicals used in cosmetics – not all bad, not all good, and a lot of which still need further research. Here are a few that stand out as some of the most common offenders: 

PARABENS

What are they?

Parabens are a group of chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics. On the label, you’ll commonly see them listed as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or ethylparabens.

Should I avoid them?

The biggest issue with parabens is their potential to be endocrine disruptors aka they mess with the body’s endocrine system which controls our hormones. Endocrine disruptors can affect the body by mimicking naturally occurring hormones (like estrogen) which have the potential to block endogenous hormones from doing their job, cause overproduction of hormones, or disrupt hormone metabolism.

We know parabens can be absorbed through the skin without being broken down, and intact parabens have been found in urine and even in breast cancer tumors. Because of their potential to be estrogenic, they can be a concern for fertility and hormonal conditions.

PHTHALATES

What are they?

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in a variety of products ranging from cosmetics to detergent to packaging, often as a “plasticizer” (aka make plastics harder to break) or a solvent. Diethylphthalate (DEP) is the most commonly used in cosmetics.

Should I avoid them?

Phthalates can also be endocrine disruptors, and because they’re in so many products, we’re exposed to them more often than just beauty products, unfortunately. Much of the studies done on phthalates have been done on animals, or epidemiological studies (can only show correlation, not causation), but the findings show a correlation between phthalate exposure and male reproductive system harm.

MY FAVORITE CLEAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS 

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion Another one of my favorite discoveries during my acne phase, this cleansing is oil-free, while still being super hydrating thanks to the hyaluronic acid. It removes makeup, and just leaves my skin feeling clean and balanced without overdrying my skin like a lot of acne-focused cleansers. ($9.69 at CVS)
• Thayer’s Natural Witch Hazel Toner – this is my GO-TO toner. It’s super gentle, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and balanced, not tight and stripped like some of the other toners I’ve tried over the years. Not only does it help to remove any stubborn makeup, but it also helps to balance the pH of your skin, so that any serums or moisturizers you use after can have the most impact. Think of it as setting the stage for the rest of your skincare routine. This toner was a game-changer when trying to reset my skin after my bout of adult acne. ($10.99 at CVS)
• Burt’s Bees Lip Balm – This is probably news to very few of you – Burt’s Bees lip balm is just the best. I’ve been using Burt’s Bees since I was in high school (long before I cared about whether my products were clean or not), and it’s still my go-to, everyday lip balm. It smells good, makes my lips feel soft and hydrated, and can even hold up in the windy winter months. ($3.99 at CVS)
• Beauty 360 Purifying Grapefruit & Charcoal Sheet Mask – Let’s be real – who doesn’t love a sheet mask? Aside from giving your skin some extra TLC, they’re just fun! This one leaves my skin feeling super hydrated and smooth. ($3.99 at CVS)

This post was created in partnership with CVS Beauty. As always, all opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting the brands that support Elyse Wellness ♥