Have you been wanting to know which healthy skin care products are the healthiest and safest to use, and which ones are not? Well, now you can find out in no uncertain terms. I hope this list proves helpful to you. Remember, personal care products are individualized, so what may be ideal for one person may not be perfect for someone else. One person may have an allergy or sensitivity to certain ingredients, while those same ingredients may not cause any reaction in someone else.
Personal Care Safe & Solvent-Free Best Bets
Bars: Suisun Bay Soap Co., Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap, Clearly Natural Glycerin Soap, most bar soaps at most health food stores are fine. All bar soaps at Whole Foods Market seem to be okay. Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap (Liquid baby formula, light blue bottle), Plantlife, Riversoap Company, Glycerine Soaps sold at Whole Foods, Desert Essence Liquid Soap with Tea Tree Oil.
Deodorant (strong): Real Purity Deodorant (also Vital Image).
Deodorant (mild): Le Crystal (also called Crystal Stick Deodorant), NaPCA Non-Oily, Nature’s Gate Spring Fresh Scent Deodorant Stick (using oat-derived odor blocker and witch hazel), Luminance Skin Care Deodorant (available at Triad Of Health office).
Shaving Cream: Shaving Miracle (The Vital Image).
Toothpaste: Real Purity Toothpaste, Unda’s Homeofresh, Triad Of Health’s Liquid Mineral Complex, Kiss My Face Triple Action Certified Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste, or Kiss My Face Triple Action Whitening Toothpaste (avoid if fluoride is an ingredient). Caution: both Kiss My Face toothpastes will interfere with homeopathic therapies. Jason Healthy Mouth Tea Tree Toothpaste. Try to avoid products with fluoride in them.
Toothpaste Alternative: Pristine (Safe Earth). Caution: This interferes with homeopathic therapies. Triad Of Health carries five types of toothpaste from England and Canada. Our fennel toothpaste is so amazing that people can’t seem to stop brushing their teeth.
Shampoo & Conditioner: All of Hauschka’s and Jurlique shampoos and conditioners. Real Purity and The Vital Image. Aveda’s plant-based shampoos and conditioners (chamomile, clove, black malva, etc.). All of Burt’s Bees hair products, Bee-Hair-Now: Beeceuticals Organics, Alba Cocoa Butter Dry-Repair Shampoo, Alba Coconut Milk Extra-Rich Revitalizing Shampoo, Alba Plumeria Replenishing Conditioner. All Giovanni products at Whole Foods Market are good; however, avoid the magnetic energizing shampoo and conditioners. Select Juice Organics hair care, such as Pomsmooth Pomegranate Conditioner.
Hair Detangler/Condition Spray: Hair Myst (The Vital Image), Aveda’s Cherry/Almond Bark, Rosemary/Mint Conditioners, and Deep Penetrating Hair Revitalizer, Morocco’s holistic organic shampoos and conditioners.
Body Lotion/Oil: Hauschka’s Rose or Quince Body Moisturizer (or Jurlique), Vitamin E Oil, unscented shea butter without extra ingredients or preservatives, pure rose hips oil, and Aloe Vera Gel (with minimal ingredients). Most unscented nut or seed oils are good, but open the oil immediately after purchase and add vitamin E oil, astaxanthin (liquid), or lutein to preserve it.
Moisturizer (face):
- Daytime: Hauschka Moisturizing Day Cream or Jurlique.
- Nighttime: Hauschka Rose “Day” Cream or Jurlique. Juice Beauty products such as Nutrient Moisturizer, Antioxidant Serum, Oil-Free Moisturizer, Blemish Be Gone for acne, Organic Lip Moisturizer, and Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask. Pure rose hips oil, Aubrey Pure Aloe Vera, NaPCA Non-Oily, Duchess Maden’s Damasceria Crème Cleanser, Foaming Cleanser, Pure Rose Water, and Face Crème.
Shower Gel: Bodhichitta, Alba Passion Fruit Body Wash, Organic Apoteke Body Cleanse Gel, Whole Foods Fragrance-Free Shower Gel, Sensuous Beauty Cleansing Grains, and Lip and Eye Balm.
Skin Peel: Fruit Acid Program with alpha hydroxy acid (Cara Bella – best administered by a professional esthetician). However, it’s best to avoid unnecessary treatments unless needed.
“Face-lift” Lotion: C-Serum & Lipid Complex (The Vital Image).
Oil to Transform Skin: Le Visage (Safe Earth) reduces brown spots, broken capillaries, etc. Most pure vitamin E oil is good—the more natural, the better. Rose hips oil, pure shea butter with no additives, and jojoba oil (preserved with vitamin E) are good options.
Lipstick: Hemp, Real Purity. Visit www.vitasalus.com for options.
Lip Gloss: Country Comfort or Nanak’s Lip Smoothie (available at health food stores), Lip and Skin Palm (Vital Image).
Makeup: Real Purity (mascara, eyeliner, blush, concealer, foundation, powder).
Hair Spray: Non-aerosol Hair Spray (alcohol-free) from Real Purity.
Spray Setting Lotion: Body Plus Setting Lotion (Real Purity).
Hair Setting Lotion: Natural Styling Gel (Real Purity), Confixor (Aveda).
Gel: Aubrey Gel (works like mousse, available at health food stores).
Sunscreen (mild SPF): Real Purity Sunscreen (avoid if sensitive to PABA). Zinc sunscreen from Real Purity is a good alternative.
Sunscreen (strong SPF): Badger, Burn Out, Green Screen. Dr. Ilya offers special therapies for sunburn prevention and treatment from Total Body Modification and Dr. Victor Frank’s work.
Fingernail Polish: None! Instead, use a nail buffer—“Is It Wet” from Cherie at Chadwick’s Salon (425-672-8773).
Perfume: None! They contain toxic chemicals like toluene. Alternatives include non-toxic essential oils from “Landscape Hydrosol and Essential Oils for Health and Beauty” at www.allstarorganics.com.
Best Hair Color: Logona Henna (less toxic than most), Aveda Hair Color (available at specific Aveda salons like Mitra at Belli Capelli, 415-346-4100).
Best Cleaners: Use vinegar, citrus-based products (lemon, orange, grapefruit), or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid toxic cleaners like ammonia, Clorox bleach, and Simple Green. Network Marketing companies like Amway and www.equinox-products.com offer good natural products.
For Acne or Blemishes: Blemish Be Gone from Juice Beauty. Luminance Skincare line.
Common Toxic Chemicals to Avoid
- Phthalates (plastics and blood donor bags, hospital IV drips)
- BPA (Bisphenol A, plastics)
- Iron (sunscreen)
- Titanium dioxide (skincare/nutritional supplements)
- Silver nitrate (nutritional supplements/skincare)
- Talc
- Parabens (nutrition and skincare)
- Ether
- Most essential oils, including some popular “organic” brands
- Zinc gluconate (nutrition)
Resources
- www.skindeep.com (EWG website)
- www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch (Ingredient study on 28,000 products)
- www.newstarget.com/z016898.html (Article on skincare products)
