Toxins, parabens, synthetics...oh my! Once you start learning about natural, clean beauty and ingredients in cosmetics, it can be easy to fall into the trap of getting overwhelmed and wanting to throw EVERYTHING out and start fresh the next day.
I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way! (phew, right?)
Here are some practical tips for making the switch to green beauty products, without losing your sanity or getting totally defeated:
DON’T MAKE THE SWITCH OVERNIGHT
Seriously, go at your own pace. It took me over two years to fully get to a comfortable place with my products. If you just bought a product that isn’t 100% clean, organic, etc...that’s okay! Use it up and when it’s gone, swap it out with something better! It’s not practical or affordable to completely ditch everything and have all brand new products the next day.
SWAP OUT YOUR MOST-USED PRODUCTS FIRST
Take stock of the items you use the most. Deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, and foundation might be typical products, for example. Anything you’re using daily would be good to replace first instead of something you barely ever use.
TRY SAMPLES BEFORE BUYING FULL-SIZE
There are a ton of green beauty brands popping up which is great, but can also be overwhelming to know which ones you’ll like. Try sample sizes when you can! That way you can test out products without committing to paying big bucks for the full-priced sizes. What works for someone else might not work for you, which is why samples are an amazing way to see for yourself.
FIND A GOOD SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
There are also a lot of good options for clean beauty subscription boxes! By joining these, you get to try a lot of new products and brands, and sometimes at a discounted price. It takes out a lot of guesswork and is an awesome way to discover new products.
LEARN ABOUT INGREDIENTS + WATCH OUT FOR GREENWASHING
When deciding about a new product, always read the ingredient label first and research those ingredients. Decide what you’re comfortable with using and stick to it. Ignore the claims that are on the front of the label like “natural” or “made with organic ingredients” because truth is, those claims are barely regulated and can just confuse you even more. Become your own advocate instead of blindly trusting someone else. Also, you can narrow it down to few brands that you trust and stick with them or only purchase products that carry USDA certified organic seal. Check out Papillon USDA certified organic products here.
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF
It’s easy to see someone else’s journey and compare it to your own. Maybe your friend has a 100% organic and natural beauty shelf. Instead of beating yourself up about it because you still have some conventional products you want to swap, try to remember what it probably took for her to get there. Don’t compare your chapter 1 with someone else’s chapter 15. Honor where you’re at in your journey and how far you’ve come. Switching to cleaner products is super personal and everyone is totally allowed to have their own standards!
At the end of the day, it’s about progress, not perfection. You totally got this!
Written by Becca Tetzlaff:
Becca is a blogger, wife, and dog mom from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She’s on a mission to get the word out about chemicals found in our everyday items like makeup, food, and personal care products. She provides education on ways you can live a more holistic life and easy swaps you can make in your routine to naturally safer products. Check out Becca’s blog organicallybecca.com
