Makeup Clean Up: Discovering Better Beauty Products Part 2

Because of harsh chemicals in makeup, I wore little or no cosmetics for about a year. However, I recently decided that instead of omitting makeup, I would find better, natural beauty products. I knew that Lakewinds thoroughly assesses its skincare products and holds them to the highest safety standards, so I went there to start investigating. (Read part one of my makeup clean-up process here.)

Body: Being the largest organ in our body, our skin deserves some extra love and care. Typically I would buy soap, body wash, shaving cream and lotion wherever it was convenient, like if I was picking up a prescription at the pharmacy. Little did I know that I was basically feeding my skin toxins. Yikes! Lakewinds had everything I needed to clean up my act in this area, with Dr. Bronner’s organic shaving soap, Acure body lotion (the energizing mandarin blend is my favorite) and locally made soap from SunLeaf. It lathers well without any preservatives or petrochemicals, and I love that it doubles as a moisturizing shampoo.

Makeup: My makeup bag used to be full of department store products, so discovering the Mineral Fusions brand has been a breath of fresh air. I stopped using makeup after I found out about the harmful chemicals in makeup from department stores, so to be able to find natural beauty products that I could trust was refreshing. Mineral Fusions is made from micronized minerals, so it actually sits on the surface of the skin and isn’t absorbed into it. This is the reason I love the foundation and powder — you don’t get a “cakey” look. It looks super natural yet gives you full coverage. Secondly, since the makeup lays on the surface of the skin and allows it to breathe, it doesn’t clog your pores. I also noticed that you don’t have to apply nearly as much product as you normally would because there are no fillers, which are common in other makeup. Lightly brushing and blending with natural, eco-friendly Honeybee Garden tools, the application is nearly foolproof. And this is coming from someone who feels like she knows nothing about makeup application!

Hair: Although the wall at your hair salon is full of shampoo, conditioner and hair gels, it’s important to know that many contain harsh chemicals (such as the ones I list in part one). It can be a tough switch because we start to worry about consistently facing “bad hair days” due to natural versions not being as effective. At least that’s what I thought before I tried Acure’s Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner. What a surprise to find my hair soft and even more manageable than before. Using plant-derived oils and fatty acids, the shine is impeccable.

Cleaning up your body wellness routine takes a little bit of effort, but once you start, your skin will truly thank you. And the good news is you don’t have to do it alone. Definitely, take advantage of all the trustworthy products you’ll find at Lakewinds and lean on their knowledgeable staff to help you with specific needs. The personal care industry is working to clean up its act, in large part because of the pressure from us as consumers, increasing the demand for cleaner products and more transparency. Just like with food, we’re all in this together!