Makeup Clean Up: Discovering Better Beauty Products

Most of us have become accustomed to checking ingredient lists on the food we buy, but there’s another aspect we need to think about — what we put onto our body. It’s just as important as what we put into it, yet turning the bottle around and inspecting the lengthy ingredient list can be daunting. How are we supposed to make sense of all those chemistry-class-sounding words?

When I started the process of cleaning out my medicine cabinet and makeup bag, I turned to Lakewinds, knowing they vet all skincare products and hold them to the highest safety standards when deciding what to carry. Instead of having to decipher what was good and bad on my own, I could be confident knowing that anything I picked up from the wellness department was safe and clean.

You can find the full list and body care quality standards information on the Lakewinds website, but here are some of the common chemicals in makeup that should send a red flag if you are analyzing your own routine:

• Stripping alcohols (ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, alcohol denat, SD alcohol) are used in many acne fighting products, yet they remove the skin’s protective “raincoat.” Without those natural layers, alcohols can cause irritation and excessive drying. They also promote premature aging of the skin due to over-drying and brown spots when alcohols react with sunlight.

• Parabens, which can be synthetic or natural, are used as preservatives in all kinds of cosmetic products from skin creams and lotions to deodorants and shampoo. They can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes, and some studies even suggest they cause hormonal changes in the body.

• Also avoid synthetic preservatives or fragrances and soaps with nasty ingredients like tricolosan, and antiperspirants containing aluminum.

With some research and then help from the Lakewinds’ Wellness staff (thanks, Michael Wainwright!), I took a holistic approach to finding what worked for me in each area of body wellness.

Face: I’ve bounced back and forth continually as I try to determine the best skin care routine for me. I’ve tried everything from cheap conventional cleansers to ultra-expensive lotions, yet nothing seemed to provide radiant, vibrant skin. There are several amazing natural beauty products and lines available, and the organic Evan Healy products have given me the clearest, healthiest skin I’ve had in years. The line of products is divided by skin condition, so the hard work is already done for you. Since I’ve always had sensitive skin that tends to get dry in some spots but oily in others, I went with the Blue line. The creamy cleansing milk is made with regenerating plant oils and white kaolin clay, leaving my skin feeling clean and refreshed. The lavender Hydrosoul is the toner, calming any redness in my skin, which I then follow with the Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer. Finally I feel hydrated but not greasy!

I’m also using the rosehip serum for extra moisture, especially during the winter, along with the eye cream to help with inflammation. And for those pesky blemishes, I am hooked on locally made Vika’s Essentials Acne TNT. She bases all of her recipes on Ayurveda principles, and this particular product uses turmeric and sandalwood oil. I’ve never used a spot treatment as effective as this one, and it’s natural!

Read more about avoiding unhealthy chemicals in makeup and cleaning out your routine in part two!