What Naturals Do You Buy At the Drugstore?
A little over a year ago we did a very amusing interview with a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. The story never saw the light of day (hey, these things happen all the time in publishing), but the exercise was super fun. His idea: Take the clean girls to Walgreens and send them loose in the aisles to find clean alternatives to common products like Nivea body lotion, Secret deodorant, Pantene conditioner, Tressemme shampoo, Neutrogena face wash—you know, the stuff everyone uses, every day.
This was our first big newspaper interview, and we were pretty caffeinated, and I’d just landed in L.A., and we’d just gotten an email that the TIME article about our book was out, and we were together, and and and—you get the picture. It was such a great day!
But as we wandered the aisles, we were shocked at the dearth of truly natural products. (Maybe that’s why the article didn’t work?) There was garbage in every green-leaf-adorned bottle and tube, to the point where I remember feeling kind of bad for the writer. “Is this one bad too?” he’d ask.
“Uhh, ahhh, I mean… Sorry!”
At one point I picked up a bar of Dove soap that I’d used on and off years ago. It had green tea and cucumber in the name and there was a green leaf the box, so I flipped it over and read the ingredients for what was, I’m pretty sure, the first time. Here they are:
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Stearate, Water, Sodium Isethionate, Lauric Acid, Sodium C14-C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate , Blue 1, Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5.
Heh. No cukes, no tea. Nevermind that cucumber and tea don’t make a ton of sense in a bar of soap anyway—it sort of became a symbol in my head of how much we’d learned, and how little we knew before, without even knowing we didn’t know it.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a major pharmacy for anything other than bandaids, so I thought it would be instructive to explore again. I hit a Walgreens, a Duane Reade and a CVS. Here’s what I found.
I was especially surprised to see a lot of Lavera products, including the sunless tanner Alexandra loves and the sunscreen I lived by last summer. I saw Dr. Bronner’s, a brand that continues to expand in a way I find inspiring (let this be a model for more mainstream expansions, yes?). There was a great selection of the Yes To line, which isn’t as clean as we like, but at the price point and availability, OK in a pinch. There was some Alba, Giovanni and Aubrey (the gateway-brand triumvirate, also better than many in a pinch) and—gasp—100% Pure! They had my sunscreen! I also saw Natracare organic cotton tampons for less than at my health food store, Organic Wear, tons of three-free nail polishes—and each of the three stores had almost all of these on offer.
Bottom line: There was a lot to choose from, and it wasn’t half bad.
So it got me wondering: What, if anything, do YOU buy at the drugstore? Anything? And have you seen any of our beloved lines expanding to major retailers? Share, share.
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I buy my \drugstore\ items at Target. Just yesterday I was there and saw that they had Lavera, Giovanni, and Dr. Bronners. I love the Lavera mango hair conditioner, and the Dr. Bronner’s almond soap.
I buy the Physicians Formula Organic Wear religiously. Also, did y’all know that Wet N Wild has some clean products? Yep. And their super cheap. Check it out!
Target now has an aisle of natural products. You can buy Yes To, Alba, Giovanni and a bunch of others. I almost always find products on clearance there.
I find Burts Bees and Dr. Bronner’s soaps, and epsom salts at my drugstore. I have also seen the Yes To line, Lavera, and Welda products.
Alba Bath and Body Gel and Burt’s Bees Lip Balm. Normally, I don’t need anything else on a regular basis. If I’m at Trader Joe’s, I can also pick up Dr. Bronners, (which i use for my laundry and other household cleaning, not as a personal product).
I’ve seen Burts Bees and Alba, that’s about it. Mind you, we only have one drug store to choose from and that’s Shopper’s Drug Mart. I still see the trend, even IF the products I see are more “green-washed” than green. And green doesn’t necessarily mean clean. I still have to order most things online.
Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Blush/Bronzer Combo is really great, as is their Jumbo Mascara (in the birght green, leafy tube…I like this one better than Couleur Caramel). Shea Moisture brand at Target is also really good and clean. Target also carries EcoTools brushes. There’s not much, but some!
* YesTo Carrots Shampoo (Walgreens, Target- not as green as I’d like to be, but it’s cheaper…& smells like yum. It’s the first step in getting my fiance to green up his routine & he loves the smell so I am coddling his growing enthusiam)
* Chicken Poop Chapstick (a local Wichita venture that is pretty danged awesome, and it sells @ Quiktrip, Walgreens, etc.)
* Dr. Bronners is everywhere now!! Love it!! (Dillons -Kroger grocery around here)
* Giovanni Conditioner (Targer, Dillons, Walgreens- again, I’d rather use something w/ less ingredients)
* Physicians formula makeup (Dillons & Target (which has iffy’s in it, yeah?))
* Baking soda! (I get my Red Mill baking soda @ Dillons)
* I get a lot of my food products @ Dillons,,, they have amazing organic sections now! Especially the new “super” Dillons. It’s like a mini Food for Thought right in Dillons, which is conveinent for those of us that can’t always get there w/in their hours of op!
And btw, what is it about Aubrey that you find iffy? I love their products… what am I missing?
Curse this being poor & pre-made clean products being SO dang expensive :S … So, I mostly just go w/out or make my own. I just can’t afford all of this stuff… it’s not that it’s more expensive in the long run, but upfront costs kill ! Right now I am using mostly dirty make up =[ I just cannot afford to spend more than 6-8 bucks on eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, etc. … So, I only wear makeup about 4-6 times a month, if that.
I’m really lucky, I live and work right nearby the newly opened flagship Duane Reade store, so I get the entire collection of everything DR stocks at its various stores almost on my doorstep. Especially since I have a loyalty card, I buy all my… Burt’s Bees; 100% Pure; Butter London (pricey but gorgeous line of nail varnishes); Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. There are a couple of other brands (Alba; Monica; a few names I don’t remember off-hand) which I think are clean / mostly clean but since I’m happy with the stuff I currently use I haven’t taken too close a look at them – it’s just nice to think the availability and scope of options is improving.
I would love to see more of the clean make up in the stores because that’s something I like to see and play with before buying. I do take advantage of the sample packs available on Spirit Beauty Lounge but it would be free to play with testers, rather than the $25 (+ shipping if my order is <$100) so that would be fantastic.
First, I want to say that I am totally in love with your blog, just ordered your book, and can’t WAIT to read it! And, this is also the first time I’ve gone from lurker to commenter on a post on any blog, ever! :) Thanks for showing that it’s possible to be a modern girl and still live clean and green!
I buy Dr. Bronner’s soap and Physicians Formula mascara from Target, too- it’s the only chain close by that has anything remotely green, though it’s frustrating that they’re often out of stock. I also buy mostly online, and would just DIE to have a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods nearby!!
I don’t really do drugstore stuff – there’s not enough for it to be worth the trip. And I don’t think any local places have anything more than Dr. Bronners. I either get stuff at my neighborhood healthy store or Whole Foods, or online.
Yes to Carrots, Burt’s bees and Eco Tools! I usually find them at Target. I can find nature’s Gate at my local grocery store.
I keep reading about Physicians Formula mascara from all of you and I may just bite and buy it. I am currently using dirty mascara that I love and have used for (ahem) years. The line is kind of a family tradition, but I’m willing to try based on all of your testamonials.
I don’t use anything on my nails, except the buffer kit – also from my neighborhood pharmacy.
I really love the Shea Moisture line which I find at Duane Reade. It smells amazing! Their lotion is great for the winter time (it’s pretty thick) and I just discovered they have hair care as well.
http://charmschoolbeauty.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/406/
yeah, i too am curious about the physicians formula mascara. i’ve heard such good things and such bad things across the board!
So thankful that Target carries Lavera, even if you have to squint to find it. So many other “naturals” (even Giovanni &Alba) are kind of abusing the 100% natural claims until “natural” is regulated. (Now, if only they’d carry recycled paper towels–I mean, how hard is that?)
That’s why I still prefer picking up body care products at Whole Foods: they have a higher bar for “natural.”
At my downtown, non-chain, like 100 years-old pharmacy, the dust on the makeup is more natural than the products, but I try to go there first for tried-and-true basics like witch hazel, etc. However, this is the same place where I found amazing lambswool inserts for too-big dress shoe pumps–fills up that half-size with aplomb, and feels great! I guess some things from yesteryear ARE natural without the No-More-Dirty-Looks forethought.
I go to Duane Reade for my 100% Pure body scrubs and mascara. Their DR rewards card comes in handy too!
I buy my Dr.Bronner’s at Target and recently bought the Lavera tanning lotion there was well.
Love love love the physician’s formula mascara! Only thing is, for day I like to blot off a bit of the product. Otherwise it looks a little too thick and clumpy. I also buy Giovanni, Burt’s Bees, Dr Bronners, Organix, and Yes To at Target. Love the prices and the selection at most stores.
I keep hearing that the Physician’s Formula mascara is clumpy and thick but I haven’t had a problem with it. Maybe because I only apply a swipe or two to the outer half of my upper lashes…. I’m super conservative about mascara.
Tom’s of Maine deodorant (the sensitive skin formula is their cleanest one) and fluoride free toothpaste, Physician’s Formula mineral powder and mascara, Kirk’s CocoCastile bar soap and…. well, thats it. I use my fingers to apply most make up, so no brushes, but EcoTools, Yes To and Alba are available at my local Walgreen’s and CVS, even though I don’t use them. I get everything else from Whole Foods – Acure Organics facial care, Pacifica perfume, John Masters shampoo, and Light Mountain henna. ACV for my conditioner and a homemade coconut oil sugar scrub.
I’m actually trying to get most products at grocery stores because I think it’s a bit of a waste and hassle to buy online all the time and have everything shipped. Also, at local stores you can return products if you end up not liking them or see that they have horrible reviews; this is great as it helps you reduce the amount of clutter in your bathroom. For hair, I love the Giovanni Root 66 shampoo and conditioner – it actually volumizes my hair and is easy to find pretty much every where. The GeoGirl line at Walmart has impressed me; their FeatherLash mascara (I’m on my 2nd tube) absolutely makes me look like I’m wearing falsies and the concealer is decent. I’ve tried the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash mascara and it’s really good but doesn’t lengthen as well as the GeoGIrl one. Some products in the Pixi line at Target are clean such as the eye shadows which are great quality and silky smooth. For a cleanser I use organic honey and for face powder I use pure cornstarch – both can be found at your grocers.
Hi all,
Thank you all so much for all the input. @ Steffie. Thank you. I was just thinking about coloring my hair and just ordered the Light Mountain Henna to try it out :-) I have used henna on my hair in the past many many many years ago, as I am from India, but don’t know why I stopped using it? Henna is known to be one of the best hair conditioners.
I was in Hoboken, NJ today for a haircut and found a bunch of clean products within the salon. This place was huge…. Ricky’s Revolver Salon on Washington St between 2nd and 3rd St. They had products ranging from Alba Botanicals, kiss my face, jason (don’t like them though!!), california baby, Dr. Bronner’s, butter london nail polish, and many more. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I also found 3-free nail polish ME (I asked them if this was a new brand and the lady behind the counter said it was an in-house brand that had been around for almost 10 years) I bought three small bottles for $3.99/each. (the bottles are the same size as the karma organics nail polishes that one can find at Whole Foods.
Recently bought the 100% pure mascara and Physicians formula eyeliner. Have to try them out though.
But thank you all again for sharing your thoughts. Looking forward to getting some Lavera products as my shampoo and conditioner are about to run out.
Not too much….I buy Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Eye Make Up Remover Pads at Target. I’m curious about their mascara now after seeing that many here are giving it thumbs up.
Like most, I’m in love with the Physicians Formula mascara! Give it a try. Target has been doing lots of double packages from PF lately and even had coupons to buy-one-get-one on it.
Another line at Target that has some “cleaner” options: Boots. The Organics line has a few items that are very clean (mud mask, the Argan oil based balm) and work really well. Still hunting through their “mineral makeup” to find some good clean ones, but it’s a work in progress.
Something I’ve started doing: writing letters to companies that are doing a great job with clean products but need to know we want them even cleaner. (For me, that’s especially the Yes To line.)
I buy quite a few natural products at drugstores:
–Shea Moisture hair products [Target, Walgreens, CVS]
–Montagne Jeunesse Clean-Up Mud Masque [CVS]
–Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara [Target, CVS, RiteAid]
–Burt’s Bees Lip Balm [Target, Walgreens, CVS, etc.]
–Alba Botanica Coconut Cream Clear Lip Gloss [Target, Walgreens, CVS, etc.]
I also buy non-natural 3-free nail polishes:
–Sinful Colors nail polish [Walgreens]
–Milani nail polish [CVS]