Hello from North Carolina! I’m down here for the weekend and ran into a little bit of technical difficulties with hotel Wi-Fi but finally got this clean beauty post up and published. It’s one I’ve been working on for awhile and “cleaning up” my beauty routine is an ongoing project for me.
I know I sound like a broken record and you’re probably thinking “Dear god, Lauren, are you going to mention that darn survey AGAIN?” Well, yup, I am. In my survey I wanted to know what you guys thought about clean beauty. It’s been something I’ve given a lot more thought to as I rapidly approach 30 and I wanted to see if clean beauty was a topic you’ve thought about, too.
Several years ago, I saw a PSA about the warning signs of skin cancer and it shook me to my core. I immediately made an appointment with a dermatologist and after that made sure I applied SPF before leaving the house and I started wearing more hats when I was out in the sun.
Since then I’ve also become more aware of what I’m putting on my skin. I knew I wanted to “clean up” my beauty routine, so to speak, but I wasn’t sure what that exactly meant. To clarify, I consider my beauty routine not just my makeup but also my cleansing products, lotions, masks, etc.
There’s a LOT of information out there about what clean beauty is. And bear with me while I state the obvious: Everyone’s skin is different. We have different triggers that cause flareups, and not every product works for every complexion or skin issue. And everyone has a different idea of what clean beauty entails. And while ideally we’d all be Goop-esque goddesses sipping cucumber-lemon water with poreless complexions who can afford the “cleanest” of clean beauty products, that’s not the case. Definitely not the case for me.
I’m a woman. On a budget. With combination skin and some rosacea who gets a pimple in the exact same spot when it’s my time of the month. Looking for clean skincare swaps that get the job done and don’t break the bank.
Here’s what I learned about clean beauty…
I Googled. And Googled some more. There’s just so much information about clean beauty out there. I also picked up a copy of The French Beauty Solution from my local library to glean nuggets of wisdom from the founder of Caudalie, who aims to keep her products as natural as possible. The French Beauty Solution was an interesting and quick read, I definitely appreciated Mathilde including scientific resources into her reasons and she walked through the research clearly so even those of us non-science-minded folks could follow along.
Flashing back to middle school science class, the book was a good reminder that the skin is the body’s largest organ and what you put on your skin is absorbed into your system. After letting that sink in (no pun intended), it only motivated me to look into my products all the more and see here I could make some changes.
The big takeaway I had is that our FDA allows a lot more (like a thousand plus more) products into beauty products in the U.S. than in European beauty products or other countries with beauty industries. Definitely an eye-opener.
My personal philosophy on clean beauty: Clean beauty is a balancing act
I approach clean beauty the same way I approach my diet. I’m not striving for 100% but if I can strike a good 80/20 balance on healthy meals/indulgences when it comes to what I eat, I won’t lose sleep over it. Life’s too short not to have wine or enjoy a delicious cupcake.
The same goes for clean beauty. If 80% of my beauty routine is on the cleaner side and the 20% includes products I swear by, I’m a happy camper. Think of it how like you’re swapping out your pasta for zucchini noodles but you indulge in a glass of wine. Make sense?
Like I say in virtually every post, I’m on a budget. And there are certain beauty products that I love and refuse to live without (I can only hope IT Cosmetic’s CC Cream feels the same way about me) and while they aren’t 100% organic, they get the job done, are within my price point, and I’m keeping them. And friendly reminder IT Cosmetics is made without parabens or phthalates and is cruelty-free!
Here’s how clean beauty looks for me
Around the time I started looking more into clean beauty, I started seeing Beautycounter pop up in my friends’ Instagram posts and Stories. When I saw them in person at barre and on the weekend, I asked them about their favorite Beautycounter products and was blown away by the responses. They were so enthusiastic and raved about their products so I took notes and ordered several for myself to try.
My favorite Beautycounter products I use every day
When I wake up in the morning, I usually immediately hit play on Pandora and hop in the shower to start my day. I shampoo and condition my hair every other day but I always reach for the charcoal cleansing bar.
Charcoal Cleansing Bar
This was a big switch for me since I’m the queen of body washes and gels and I can’t remember the last time I used a bar of soap. But this charcoal cleansing bar is a game changer. If you’re scent-sensitive, this cleansing bar has no scent in it and is ideal for oily (hello, me) and blemish-prone skin. It raises the bar (I had to) and I can already tell a difference in my skin feeling clearer and smoother. And if you live with your significant other or they’re over a lot, the charcoal cleansing bar looks more masculine. You know, for their sensitive skin and egos 😂
Rejuvenating Day Cream + Countermatch Adaptive Moisturize Lotion
The Rejuvenating Day Cream was the #1 product when I surveyed my friends and it’s no surprise why. It’s lightweight, non-greasy and smells vaguely citrus-y, which gives a great start to my day! In the morning, after I apply my eyeliner, I apply the Rejuvenating Day Cream and let it absorb into my skin before I apply my CC cream. And at the end of the day, I wash my face with Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Oil Cleanser and then slather on the Countermatch Adaptive Moisturize Lotion before crawling into bed. The Countermatch Adaptive Moisturize Lotionis very calming and soothing, I keep it near my cleanser as a reminder to apply it. There’s really no scent or fragrance in the Countermatch Adaptive Moisturize Lotion so if you’re looking for a no-frills, gets-the-job-done moisturizer, this is your best bet.
Lip Conditioner
This lip conditioner came into my life at exactly the right moment. I woke up one day and had zero moisture in my lips thanks to the weather being all over the place. Beautycounter’s lip conditioner smells peppermint fresh and I keep it in my purse so I can apply it throughout the day. This lip balm comes packed with avocado oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil and will moisturize your lips in no time flat. I’m in love. The lip conditioner is my #1 favorite product from my Beautycounter order! I also loved it for traveling since airplanes can be so drying for my skin.
Volumizing Mascara
It was serendipitous that just as my mascara was running on serious fumes that I was putting together my Beautycounter order. I’ve been a longtime user of Revlon and Maybelline mascara from the drugstore but decided to take a chance on Beautycounter Volumizing Mascara – and was surprised! I liked that their mascara wasn’t clumpy and applied so smoothly. Their brush definitely did the trick to create fuller-looking lashes.
Sheer Lipstick
I tossed in a sheer lipstick in Rose into my order on a whim. Normally I opt for matte lipsticks, especially for work hours when I like to “set it and forget it” when it comes to lip color. While the sheer lipstick didn’t last as long for me as my usual matte lipstick, I did like that it left my lips feeling soft and not incredibly dry like with matte. You win some, you lose some.
