Clean Swap
Do you know what you're putting on your skin each day? My guess is if you're anything like me, I didn't know until someone told me. The reality of it is, most people don't know what they're putting on their bodies. Sure, it might be your favorite lotion or perfume, but really, do you know what's in those products?
Did you know there are over 10,000 ingredients commonly used in personal care products and only approximately 10% of those ingredients have ever been tested for safety on human health. So many of these ingredients/chemicals are linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and even hormone disruption. You can imagine then, as someone who is recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, that I don't want or need anything else disrupting my thyroid and hormones production. No thank you. Even products that say "all natural" can't always be trusted, because the bottom line is there is a lack of regulation across the board. In fact, the US hasn't passed a major federal law regulating the ingredients in the cosmetics/personal care industry since 1938. That's pretty eye opening in and of itself. The good news is, the more we know, the more we can implement change. I'm so thankful for Beautycounter and for founder Gregg Renfrew for seeing the need for change and being bold enough to do something about it. Because of her courage to counter the beauty industry (hmm.... is the Beautycounter name starting to make sense yet?), I'm better educated about what I put on my body and more empowered to make safer decisions for myself and my family. Sure, we all want to feel beautiful, but ultimately, I think we can all agree that what we want more than anything else is better health for ourselves, for our partners, for our kids, and for everyone. Beautycounter is a movement. How amazing is that. One of my favorite videos titled, We All Deserve Better, can be viewed by clicking here.
Beautycounter turns 5 in March and with that comes the challenge to make a clean swap. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, there are many ingredients/chemicals allowed in the personal care industry that Beautycounter will never use. A few of these include harsh sulfates, formaldehyde-releasers, artificial fragrances, PEGs, mineral oil, and carbon black. Are you ready to come clean yet? Start small. Take a look in your cabinet and find one product you can switch to safer. Let's start by replacing six of the worst offenders:
1. Eye/Face creams- Many traditional eye and face creams are made with preservatives which can potentially release formaldehyde and wreak havoc on the immune system. Formaldehyde? Now that’s an eye-opener. Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream and Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion are naturally preserved with phytic acid from green rice.
2. Face Masks- Traditional facial masks can be formulated with PEGs, which are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners or solvents, that can possibly be contaminated with trace amounts of dangerous chemicals. Your masks should have nothing to hide. At Beautycounter, all our masks contain naturally-derived glycerin, which helps condition and soften skin.
3. Body Lotion- With more skin to cover, body lotions o er the most exposure to potentially toxic ingredients, like mineral oil. Permitted in beauty products, mineral oil is a conditioning agent that may be contaminated with trace amounts of toxins and can su ocate skin. Let your skin breathe easy. Beautycounter Hydrating Body Lotion contains a moisturizing blend of marula and mongongo oils which are rich in essential fatty acids to revitalize and nourish skin.
4. Lipstick- As lipstick is applied on your mouth, it’s no surprise we ingest what we put on, including arti cial fragrance. Arti cial fragrances can be a blend of ingredients that are not required to be disclosed by U.S. law and can include trace amounts of phthalates (potential endocrine disruptors). That leaves a bad taste in our mouths, too. Beautycounter Sheer Lipsticks are vibrant in color, transparent in ingredients, and scented only with natural vanilla.
5. Mascara- Carbon black, a pigment used in mascaras to create the deep black color, has been linked to a range of adverse health e ects. Mascara shouldn’t be that scary. Beautycounter Volumizing and Lengthening Mascaras are pigmented with naturally-occurring iron oxides.
6. Shampoo/Conditioners- Harsh sulfates, such as SLS and SLES, are found in many shampoos and can cause skin irritation. Your scalp deserves a lot better. These Beautycounter shampoos feature PureFoam Cleansing Technology which is derived from beetroot sugars to deliver the rich lather and cleansing performance you love in a gentler way.
Have any questions? Please let me know or visit the website here to learn more about this particular campaign! Either way, I'd love to help you find something that works for you, whether it's Beautycounter or not, we all deserve safer!