It has been over a year, that I have decided to use non-toxic skin care and safer make-up on daily bases. The reason why is shocking and I need to share this with all of you! When I was reading an article after article, that many of the skincare and beauty products you use on a regular basis contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, neurotoxicity, hormone imbalances and so much more!

I didn’t know about these disturbing facts until recently. Like most people, I assumed that the products on the shelves must be safe. Otherwise, how could they get approved for human use? Well the answer is simple, when it comes to the personal care industry there are very few regulations, so products don’t have to be tested for safety. The governments in Canada and the US have basically turned a blind eye to the skincare and beauty industries, allowing them to use ingredients that are known to be harmful to human health. Scary, isn’t it?

Since our skin is the body’s largest organ, it makes sense that whatever we put on it would be directly absorbed by our bodies– as if we were actually eating it.

Every day, the average woman applies over 500 synthetic chemicals to her body. Products like shampoos, hairsprays, body lotions, deodorants, sunscreens, makeup, and even perfumes contain these harmful chemicals. Linked to a large number of health problems, they cause everything from skin irritation and allergic reactions to cancer and issues having children. There is a lot of concerning research regarding these chemicals, but companies continue to use these dangerous toxins because they are cheap and there are often no laws restricting them (yet). You can read more about here.

There are over 80,000 chemicals on the market today with NO safety data, and many of those can show up in skin care and beauty products because the industry isn’t regulated the same way food products are.

Companies are allowed to use known toxins and carcinogens, without even disclosing these ingredients on the labels. Yes that’s right, let that sink in. They don’t have to disclose the ingredients in their products on the labels. You could be exposing yourself and your families to numerous toxic compounds without even knowing it. And this doesn’t just apply to products marketed to adults. This applies to baby and children’s products as well. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

What’s even worse is that the majority of the ingredients you put on your skin get absorbed into your bloodstream in less than 30 seconds of application. So it’s not just your skin that is being exposed to those harmful chemicals, but the rest of your body as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=pfq000AF1i8&feature=emb_logo

What makes me really concerned, is the fact that the United States hasn’t passed any legislation regarding the safety of personal care products since 1983. 

In the past 20 years, the European Union has banned over 1,300 chemicals that can be used in personal care products. The United States has only banned 30 to date. What ?! Yes, it’s sad, but that’s a fact. For example skin care company Beautycounter has made their own Beautycounter’s “Never List” which contains 1,500 chemicals that they will never use in their products, including the 1,300 chemicals banned in the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern.

Until the government will be enough concerned and will start banning those toxins and harmful ingredients in skin care products, it’s up to us to do our own homework and try to find the safest beauty options on the market. I love using EWG’s Skin Deep Database, as they rate products on a “hazard scale” of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest-hazard option and 10 being the highest hazard option, using as much safety data that is currently available.

It can be so challenging finding safer makeup and skin care products that really work, so today I’m going to share some of my favourite options that I’ve been using for past year, and I am very pleased how they deliver under “safe” label.

These are my so far skin care products, I am using on daily bases, starting with safer makeup, skin care, hair and body care, deodorant, kids care and men care.

SAFER SKIN CARE

1.Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion

I have a mixed mature skin and it needs lot of hydration. This lightweight lotion adapts to the skin throughout the day* to keep up with modern life. Not only does it provide up to 24-hours of hydration** —it offers the essential building blocks of hydration, nutrition, and oxygenation to keep skin soft, smooth, and glowing. This cream is in my daily morning routine. And what’s more exciting, is that this cream comes in glass bottle, so 100 % recyclable. Convenient push button will deliver the cream in your hands in one movement. (No messy opening/closing bottles with cap).

2.Countermatch Pure Calm Cleansing Milk

I hate washing cleansers. The idea of getting wet, all over my face, water dripping on my neck, night after night. No, I like better this Cleansing Milk. You use your cotton swab, use few pumps and directly on my face to clean all the impurities and make-up. This ultra-gentle cleanser removes makeup and impurities without harsh surfactants that can strip away natural oils. Its conditioning formula respects the skin’s balance, replenishing essential hydration so skin feels soft and nourished, never dry or tight. (Again, bottle with pump, easy use)

3.Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum

This is my favourite serum to use, when my skin is starting to show some dry spots, especially in colder seasons. But also when I spend longer time on the sun, during the summer. If your skin is dry, this is the best nourishing treatment you could offer to your skin. Mostly I use it under my Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion. It creates amazing hydrating feeling, my skin absorbs this serum in a matter of seconds. I highly recomment this product for dry to mixed skin.

4.Counter+ No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil

This is my most favourite product from Beautycounter, Brightening Facial Oil in scent of citrus. This is a pure bliss on my skin, especially in winter season, when the skin is so irritated by the cold weather. Your daily radiance boost. This citrus-scented facial oil quickly absorbs and penetrates skin to awaken and replenish. Lightweight and silky smooth, our proprietary blend of oils is designed to help hydrate and improve the appearance of skin radiance. Omega-rich marula oil provides intense hydration, while antioxidant vitamin C helps brighten and even skin tone.

There is other glow facial oils, you might be interested in, so Beautycounter had made a special edition of travel size samples, if you would like to try all three of them for a small price.

SAFER MAKEUP

1. Flawless in Five

Effortless Beauty in Five Minutes

INCLUDES SIX SAFER, HIGH-PERFORMING PRODUCTS:

• Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation or Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer
• Touchup Skin Concealer Pen
• Color Define Brow Pencil or Brilliant Brow Gel
• Lengthening or Volumizing Mascara
• Satin Powder Blush
• Lip Gloss

This Flawless in Five package is my daily essential makeup routine. Five minutes, safe products on my skin and I am ready to go, rock the day. What I love about this package, is that you have a choice of foundation or tinted moisturizes (I chose Tinted moisturaizes with SPF20), define brow pencil or brow gel (Brow gel is amazing, I have a thick and ong eyebrows and this gel keeps them on their place), lenghtening or volumizing mascara (I chose volumizing, it’s always better to have a volume in your eyelashes, then the length).

All choices are also adapted to your skin tone, for example for the foundation cream and the moisturizer, you have 5 skin tones to choose from. Same thing is or the Concealer Pen, Brow gel, brow pencil, powder blush and lip gloss (multiple choices here).

2.Sheer Lipstick

The ultimate everyday lipstick is one of my favourites and I am usually wearing Rose shade. This silky-smooth and ultra-moisturizing formula gives lips a sheer wash of color and a touch of polished sheen. It also includes jojoba esters and carnauba wax to condition and hydrate lips and no synthetic fragrance—just a sophisticated hint of natural vanilla. The shade range is designed to complement all skin tones, and the formula is super buildable—layer it on to intensify the color, or try it under Lip Gloss for a more lustrous look.

 

BATH & BODY

1.Sugar Body Scrub in Lemongrass

Energizing exfoliation. When I take a bath, I always love to pamper myself with this sugar body scrub with pleasant scents of lemongrass.

 

2.Citrus Mimosa Hand Wash & Hand Cream Set or Hydration Body Lotion Citrus Mimosa

Two gentle formulas designed to revive dry hands. Both the Hand Wash and Hand Cream are packed with nourishing ingredients, such as organic aloe and calming chamomile, and leave a subtle, refreshing citrus scent. They also have hydrating body lotion in lightweight formula & the same lovely citrus scent.

3. Kids Bath Collection

This bath collection that is gentle, effective, and kid-friendly. This assortment includes the berry-scented Kids Body Wash, along with Nice Do Shampoo and Not a Knot Conditioner, both of which feature an orange-vanilla swirl scent kids love. Ingredient-conscious moms will love this formula that is free of irritants and hidden, harmful ingredients.

4. Deodorants & the ugly truth about them

The ugly truth behind drugstore deodorant and what you should use instead. Maybe the drugstore was the only place to purchase deodorant while you were growing up, so it’s still your go-to. Maybe the popular magazines listed award-winning antiperspirants, so you continue to shop for their top pick. Maybe no one ever told you about the dangerous ingredients you’re applying to your pits, so you keep swiping the same chemical-laden, conventional deodorant day after day. Read more here. I have been using deodorants from PRIMALLY PURE for over 6 months and my whole family uses them as well. My favourite is Geranium deodorant. Primally Pure natural deodorant contains a small amount of baking soda to combat odor and is fortified with kaolin clay (powerful detoxifier) and non-nano zinc oxide (soothes irritation). Made with other good-for-you organic ingredients including grass-fed tallow, fair trade coconut oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax and essential oils. Geranium has a gentle, floral aroma that aids in eliminating odor, reduces inflammation and rejuvenates skin. Of course they have more scents for the whole family like: Charcoal deodorant for men or calming Lavender deodorant for my daughter. Lavender is highly versatile helping to heal irritation, calm inflammation and combat bacteria. My son has chosen Unscented sensitive deodorant, because he is little sensivite to any scent. They have 8 different scents to choose from, so I am sure you have plenty to choose from. And what’s the best, I have teamed up with Primally Pure to offer you on every purchase of any of their products 10% OFF. Use code JULIA10 at the check-out to take an advantage of this offer.

5. Attitude body wash & body cream

This natural body wash delivers a soft and wonderful aroma that reminds us of orange and cardamom. You (and your skin) will simply love it! This natural body wash delivers a soft and wonderful aroma that reminds us of orange and cardamom. You (and your skin) will simply love it! Not only our body wash is good for you and your skin, it is also good for the planet! We only use nature’s best ingredients to wash your derma, while caring for our environmental footprint.

6. Attitude Shampoo & conditioner

This collection of shampoos from Attitude are EWG verified, hypoallergenic and dermatologically-tested. My favourite is Volume & Shine Shampoo, including moringa seed extract, known for its antipollution properties. All surfactants are made of plant-derived glucose and fatty alcohols, free of ethoxylated bi-products contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals (1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide), such as SLES/SLS. Free of potentially harmful preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, parabens, formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasers, benzyl alcohol and MIT. They also have a sensitive and hypoallergenic collection.

EWG