I still remember my first trip to Sephora. I was so excited to fill my basket with makeup and skincare products and felt so grown-up and put together. At the time, I didn’t think about the product ingredients. I just assumed that if something was sold in a major store, it must be safe. I didn’t imagine that years later, I’d slowly replace almost all of those products with cleaner ones.
Two of my very first swaps were deodorant and tinted moisturizer, simply because they were products I applied every single day. Once I realized how often I was putting them on my skin, replacing them became an easy place to start on this journey.
After cleaning products, personal care and makeup are the most impactful place to focus. We apply these products directly to our skin, sometimes daily, over many years. Our skin absorbs a portion of what we put on it, and repeated exposure over time can add up, especially with products that stay on for hours.
Many people are surprised to learn that everyday personal care products can contain ingredients linked to irritation, sensitivity, or hormone disruption. This is especially true for babies and young children, whose skin is thinner and more delicate. In many cases, simply switching to cleaner, fragrance-free washes and creams can make a noticeable difference.
Create a free account to keep reading.
