Do You Use Clean Cosmetics for Your Health, or the Planet’s?
Happy earth week something-something-something-about-how-every-day-is-earth-day, yes? Sure. But here’s a question we have been wanting to ask for some time, and before you answer, a rule:
Chances are everyone is going to say “both” but let’s eliminate that as an option and go with: What FIRST made you go clean? That second when it clicked and you said to yourself: I gotta clean up my act: What was the trigger? Was it concern for your health? Or concern about the planet?
Here, we’ll go first: As careful and thoughtful as we’ve always been about the environmental impact of our own behavior, the truth is for us, it was health (with a dash of political rage).
Your turn. Go!
Image (don’t ask, I’m just in a good mood today) via
Short answer is health (mine and my family’s).
I had already been making product choices for years that I thought were good for my health and the planet’s – vegan, biodegradable, etc. It was mounting health issues, especially skin issues, that gave me strong motivation to reassess every product I use in my home, especially those I use on my body. As I continue through my process of getting/keeping clean, concern for the planet is still a big factor in my choices of products. For example, given products that are clean and work well, I’ll be likely to choose from a locally produced line.
I definitely started using clean cosmetics for health reasons. my skin was very unhappy and once I started using clean cosmetics, my entire body feels better and my mind feels clearer. Of course the earth came into play after I was settled into the routine of buying clean cosmetics and other products.
Health. After reading your book I realized that dirty skincare is bad for my health. Then I realized that it is bad for the environment as well, since all those chemicals are then going into the environment when we shower. I am slowly becoming more environmentally aware and have started recycling (we don’t have curb-side here) and am seeking out environmentally friendly products.
My health. It was through you guys actually, and from the book, that I really started paying attention to what I put on my body. But I do love that helping your body out with non-chemical stuff, also helps the planet. It’s a win win!
my own health! but i go back and forth, sometimes its just for the planet!! depends on the product…
The planet. I actually started with organic and local food, environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, etc and cosmetics just ended up being a logical extension of that. The reasoning with all of these things being: if it’s not good for the earth how can it be good for me to consume/inhale/absorb?
I do think it’s funny (sad?) that so many people have changed their eating habits but don’t give a second thought to things like their moisturizer. It took me years to make that connection!
Like everyone else so far: my health. Most specifically, my skin: both body and face were insanely itchy and dry, and no moisturizer–whether extremely high-end from the dept store or “natural” from the health food store–gave relief. This went on for many miserable years and included on/off adult acne, until I read your book and began really looking at ingredients. Since the moment I started using super-clean products, my skin began recovering. Almost instantly. So, it was all about moi! :)
Health (mine & my daughters’)
My dad died of lung cancer when I was 14. He had been a smoker for years and years, but also fought in Vietnam & Korea. So he also had the misfortune of exposure to Agent Orange. My opinion is that both carcinogens worked together to contribute to his death.
I honestly never realized that -this- was why I have been so against chemicals & chemical companies until just a couple of months ago. It sort of just became a knowledge that I carried inside of me as I grew into an adult. So many people are suffering because of what humans put into the environment. I want people AND the earth to be healthy, but I can honestly say that my desire to NOT die of cancer truly motivates me to use clean products on myself, my family, & my home.
Cosigning with Jess – for me it all started with Food Inc, sure being green and organic were buzz words for me before that, but that film had an arresting impact on me and led to a landslide of research (as my friends and family can attest to).
This post is a bit serendipitous as I was having this discussion with a colleague over lunch just a few hours ago – on how many folks eat locally, support CSAs, avoid GMOs and yet still go to Target and Sephora and egads the Department store blindly reaching for that next tube, bottle or jar of magic.
But then again, I’ve only been on this path for a little over 2 years, cheers to you for spreading the word!
Actually, neither. it was my VANITY that got me started – I had been having terrible skin troubles and a terrible time finding good, effective skin products and makeup. When I discovered all-natural and organic stuff, I was hooked. It was only after that that I started realizing how much better this stuff was for me and the world!
I made the change for health reasons. Like a previous commenter, I’ve lost loved ones to cancer and I see day-to-day chemical exposure as a major factor. I want to do everything I can to avoid the same path. Also, my husband and I plan to start a family soon and I’d like to be as chemical free as I can be when I carry a child. Also, I’m concerned about cosmetic ingredients effect on fertility. Its funny, I choose organic food products both for health and environmental reasons and hadn’t really thought about that with cosmetics, I will now!
Health – mine and my husband’s, especially since we’re trying to conceive.
Mine was definitely health, but the planets health was just a MEGA bonus to me…and actually now that I think about it, vanity too because I looked like crap before and I knew it had something to do with the nasty chemicals.
I was lead to a few environment friendly blogs through the blogs I liked to read.. And I think the thing which caused the switch for me was more knowledge about the products through these blogs and then is when I realized how little I knew about cosmetics..and that how harmful they were in long run.. And when I started cleaning up my cosmetics..So I will say my health was the reason.. And then something in me wanted to clean up everything(or at least try) around me and do something to help this planet.. Of course I have started the process from my home.. For example using less of paper towels and more cloths, recycling etc..
I have to say this blog is a great inspiration..so happy to have found it!!
I actually initially made the change for sustainability reasons. I had been reading a lot of books about “going green” and I learned that there were options for organic cosmetics, biodegradable packaging, etc. Then as I read more, I learned about the health risks of unnatural products and now it’s for both reasons that I mostly buy natural & organic.
Health! Totally! Oh yes, there was anger too. Once I realized what was IN these cosmetics and thus what was in ME because of it, I was outraged. That these chemicals COULD be used, that they WERE used (despite companies knowing some were unsafe and even ones they weren’t sure of – hello! better safe than sorry! make that your policy big companies!) and that I had been duped into thinking they had my best interests at heart for so long. I always new business was all about the benjamins, but for some reason it never crossed my mind that the beauty industry would ever be so shady. We slather our bodies in beauty products, become so loyal to our favorite brands, we form a sort of relationship with these products – like they’re our best friends, \I can always count on you, Hair Gel! You always hold my flyaways in place! What would I do without you??\ When really they’ve been stabbing us in the back the whole time.
Okay, so maaaaybe that come off a tad dramatic, but it’s certainly how it felt!
Health! I’d started reacting to fragrances, so my first switch was to fragrance-free products. Then, while researching “less-toxic” products, it hit me – why should I just settle for less-toxic? Why not go all the way to healthy and beneficial instead? So, I ditched every product and started making my own organic hair, skin & face products that are good enough to eat. It was really hard giving up my favorite eye cream, favorite zit emergency treatment, favorite exfoliating mask, etc., and I went through a transition period when my skin was not happy at all. But, after just a few weeks, all the problems went away. No more monthly cystic acne, no more dark circles under my eyes, and a big reduction in flakiness that meant no more need for heavy-duty exfoliation. I still make most of my own products, but am loving all the new things you’ve introduced me to through your book and blog – like the Pai muslin face cloth (a miracle!), Juice lipstick, and reverse face washing. Thank you for all the terrific work you’re doing to help us be healthy and beautiful and, oh yeah, be a little nicer to the planet, too.
It was totally health, in the beginning. I was nursing out first baby and now being pregnant with our second it is still a big focus. I have made a solid effort to clean up my personal products as well as my family’s and then continued with our cleaning products. I feel like if I can start our kiddos off being in that habit it will help the way they make their own decisions later. And of course the environmental benefits are a bonus! We are conscious about those things as well – hence biodegradable laundry detergent and dish soap.
I started for my baby’s health initially. Reading about how phthalates affect the males in our population and how I could be passing these to my baby had me freaked out! I then naturally moved towards cleaning my body (and home) for me and then started trying to clean my friends’ bodies! One of my friends actually bought me your book and it’s been no turning back since then. It’s a big snowball because now I’m looking at what I eat and how to minimalize my stuff! Crazy how addictive this can be.
I discovered I was allergic to parabens so first I started working to eliminate those. I’m a swimming instructor in the summers and I wear a lot of sunscreen–it needs to be good and work well. By good, I mean no itching, breakouts, not greasy and doesn’t take a lot of upper arm strength to apply and blend in (cough-california baby-cough). Two summers ago I stumbled upon this article about how chemical sunscreens can lead to skin cancer because of the way they convert light energy into another energy which damages the cells. I looked around on the skin deep data base and found one that worked for me. it’s sadly been reformulated so the quest is not over. (thanks so much for your picks and tips, by the way!)
about a year ago i discovered lush, and i love some of what they stand for–the shampoo bars to eliminate plastics and the compostable bags that they use. so then that’s kind of when it shifted to the planet for me. but health comes first. which means for now i’m using aubrey’s shampoos, etc (bc i’ve learned that there’s a lot about lush i don’t like), but ideally i’d like to find a product i love that the planet does too. i do try to consider what i’m pouring down the drain even if it doesn’t affect me as much (like dish soap–within the range of less toxic ones, which is best for the fishies). it’s a process, and i’m so grateful for your book and blog and to help guide me!
I started moving to clean, gentle, organic products for my health. I was amazed and inspired by reading your book. I was particularly struck by how little regulation exists to protect us from corporate use of dangerous or questionable ingredients. That is a terrible situation (but one not easily bhanged, given vested interests in the various industries).
After decades of my using conventional products, I am now trying to use only gentle (organic) products. I am reading ingredient lists on products religiously, and am trying the brands you recommend in the book (and have found a few other great brands). By the way, thank you for including a good variety of brands in your book. It has been a fun adventure to try many of them. I have liked all of them (well, almost all) that I have tried. So thank you so much for your book and blog!!!
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For me, it started with my family’s health. Both my husband and daughter have finiky stomachs and have had to switch to “organic” to eleviate MSG and it’s many surnames for my husband. Then came my kick with avoiding HFCS, and my kids hate me for that one. It’s in everything-even their medicine for goodness sake! For my daughter, she was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after many trials and tibulations. My allergies and asthma led me to switch to Seventh Generation and Method cleaners and my asthma has improved SO much. Now I’m giving the evil eye to GMO’s. Really, when will humans learn, “Nature” is that way because that is how it is suppose to be! Don’t mess with it! “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” (I’m dating myself with that quote!”)
Anyway…when I was reading another blog site one day, your book was mentioned (it had just been released) and I had to get it to see what it was all about. Then my wheels started turning, and learned about the EWG website and then there was no turning back. I grabbed just about everything with a label and put it through the EWG ringer! I have even put it on my smart phone so when I am out and about with my girls I can check to see if what they are wanting is acceptable. [My girls (teenagers) hate me for this, too! -they'll love me for it later! :o) ] I started to purchase brands mentioned in your book and then on your blog site and have taken advantage of the Friday deals (thank you for that by the way). Now I’m busy trying them and trying to figure out what works best for me. I’m just glad to know that my house is greener, my food is greener, and now my skincare is greener. Just like Naydja said, so many people don’t connect the skincare piece to the health piece. The skin is such a vital organ and our body depends on us to take care of it. OK, enough of my soapbox. Thank you for your site and the awareness it is bringing to all of us!
I’ll be honest. I had been doing my best to make decisions that were “for the planet”, but those did not involve skin and beauty. When I did decide to explore cleaner products for skin and beauty, it was for my own health. I considered that my skin is an organ and that everything I put on it is absorbed into my system and I didn’t like the long list of chemicals on my shampoo, body wash and moisterizer. Hair loss and a ruddy complexion were my impetus. The fact that clean products are good for the planet is a bonus.
My cats’ health. I have uber-dry skin, & usually kept it coated with lotion (regular stuff). One day, my guy said he wished I wouldn’t put that on my hands & then stroke the cats (which I did unconsciously, since their fur absorbed my hands limited oils), since they lick themselves clean. 2 of my cats had kidney failure (genetic) & didn’t need the extra toxins, so this rang a bell for me & I started looking into natural products. There weren’t as many then (about 8-10 years ago) and I had to start looking into it to find any information. Parabens were in EVERYTHING.
Then I noticed that the cats stopped trying to lick me clean. I realized they had been trying to get the chemicals from regular lotions off my skin. The natural products worked really well, better than the regular stuff, and wondered why I thought it was OK to put on my own skin when I wouldn’t do that to my cats!
Finally, I realized how much better the natural products worked, and that my unidentified skin condition really quieted the more I switched to natural products. I was reacting to the chemicals.
While I do care deeply about the health of the planet, this is honestly how my awareness to the issue of toxins in regular hygene & household products came up. Gotta start somewhere, & despite the fact that this whole story makes me sound like a crazy cat lady, I like that it was my animals that drew my attention to the whole issue. They know!
I originally got in to clean cosmetics because I was looking for products that are cruelty free. I thought I was making big improvements when I switched to cruelty-free products, but once I found this Web site (via the Daily Good) I realized how much there was to learn. Now, I’ve made major changes in terms of what products I use, and now even my mom is on the bandwagon!
I did it for the same reason I went vegetarian and then vegan: for the animals and for the planet. For me, going veggie, organic, and clean went hand in hand.
Environment (kind of).
I started changing to cruelty-free cosmetics a while ago, because I have a soft spot for animals. Kind of like what Crina said, except mine was more of a domino effect starting with going vegetarian/cruelty-free and then morphing to clean products as I learned more.
The health benefits are just an awesome side -effect for me! :)