What does your bathroom counter look like? 

Is it full of beauty products? 

The average woman uses 12 different beauty products every day (source).

Face wash.

Hairspray.

Perfume.

Lotion.

Y’all there’s so many! 

And if you’ve had concerns about the safety of any of these products, you’re not alone! 

The industry operates under a postmarket regulatory system, which means most ingredients aren’t reviewed by a government agency before they’re sold to us (source). 

And unfortunately, many of these ingredients are starting to be linked to things like cancer and hormone disruption. 

Here are some of the main ingredients I like to avoid: 

Parabens

Parabens are found in anything from makeup, to lotion, to deodorant, and are used as preservatives to prevent bacteria, mold, and yeast growth. Sounds great, but they can actually mimic the estrogen in the body, leading to health concerns like obesity, infertility, and breast cancer (source). Parabens also alter our skin microbiome because they impair the growth of beneficial bacteria (source).

Phthalates

Phthalates are a plasticizer, and used to soften plastic. Let that sink in for a second. Yup, sometimes there’s plastic in skincare products, but the texture is reduced by phthalates so you don’t even notice. This is often found in things like hairspray, hair gel, and nail polish. (Think of anything that’s sticky!) Unfortunately, phthalates have been linked to reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and developmental and reproductive toxicity (source).

Fragrance

Fragrance is actually a catch-all term used to hide hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals. How is this legal? The FDA allows companies to only disclose ingredients as “fragrance” in order to protect their “secret formula” (source). Fragrance chemicals have been linked to allergies, asthma, and many are known endocrine disrupters (source).

Triclosan

If we know antibiotics are altering our gut microbiome, why do we apply similar products to our skin? Our skin also has a micro biome, and is the first line of defense against pathogens. Triclosan is a popular additive to commercial soaps, deodorant, and even toothpaste. It is supposed to be an antibacterial agent, however, it has been attributed to the creation of resistant superbugs (source).

If you’re interested in switching to clean beauty products, there are a few things you can do: 

1. Take inventory: Take a look at your current makeup and skincare products and make a list of the ingredients.
2. Research: Research these ingredients to see if they’ve been linked to any health concerns. Some organizations like the Environmental Working Group have analyzed many common products for potential safety concerns.
3. Make the switch: Start swapping out your products one by one for safer alternatives. Smartphone apps like Think Dirty and Detox Me let you scan products and will offer a safer option if it’s available.

What I’ve done, is just go as natural as possible. 

For me, that means no makeup, no soap, and no deodorant. 

In this blog, I’ll walk you through how I’ve been able to avoid all three of these in my own beauty routine, and give you a few tips if you’re wanting to go more natural, too. 

no makeup

Do a quick google search, and you’ll find article after article, study after study, about how makeup can boost your confidence and self-esteem. 

But my question for you is, who then owns your confidence? Is it the beauty industry? 

The Bible tells us our confidence comes from God.

And I refuse to allow these corporations to profit off my insecurities, when I know God created YOU and me beautiful and unique. 

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

— 1 Peter 3:3-4

The truth is, for many women, makeup can be a form of art or self-expression. And I love this for y’all! I think there are ways we can use makeup in a healthy way:

1. Use makeup to celebrate who you are, instead of trying to hide what you look like because God made you beautiful and unique!
2. Support companies that make a positive impact and believe in our inner beauty. The organization Look Good Feel Better offers makeup workshops for cancer patients to help them regain confidence. 
3. Vote with your dollar by using brands committed to clean beauty. My team loves and uses Gressa (use code DRCOURTNEY to save 20%). All their products are free of parabens, and many of their products are oil-based, which means no preservatives altering your skin microbiome. 

no soap

I haven’t used soap on my body or my face since probably 2017. 

Sounds crazy right?

But soap can alter our body’s skin microbiome, which protects us from pathogens and helps keep us healthy. 

WE ARE AN ECOSYSTEM! 

Unfortunately, most conventional facial cleansers contain surfactants which remove the oil from the skin, disrupting the outer-most layer that protects you from toxins and bacteria (source). 

Check out this post if you want more information on why I don’t use soap.

One way to make sure you protect that delicate skin barrier is to start oil cleansing. I’ve been turning to this method for years as a way to gently cleanse my face. 

Using oils instead of traditional cleansers can help protect the natural lipid layer of the skin and the “good” bacteria that lives there. 

I’ve been using @withloveachilles olive glow cleansing oil (use code DRCOURTNEY for 10% off) for years. It’s a purifying oil that removes makeup, dissolves impurities, and helps maintain the skin’s natural oils for optimal cleansing without depleting the skin of its moisture. 

Here’s my skincare routine that I’ve been using for years: 

1. First, I massage a few pumps of By Achilles (use code DRCOURTNEY for 10% off) olive glow cleansing oil onto my skin
2. I’ll make a warm compress by putting warm water onto a cleansing cloth. Then I’ll place the cloth over my face for a few seconds, and repeat 5-10 times before gently removing the oil cleanser.
3. Then I splash my face with water and leave the water dripping. (I don’t towel my face off because I want to keep the hydration on my skin!) 
4. And last, with the water still on my face, I’ll add a few spritz of rosewater toner with some sunshine elixir (use code DRCOURTNEY for 10% off). 

no deodorant

If you know me, you know I don’t wear deodorant. 

Most deodorant is used for 2 reasons: to prevent sweating, and to mask our scent. 

First, sweating is an important part of maintaining optimum physical health, because it helps our body release toxins. 

And second, not only SHOULD we be sweating, but we actually SHOULDN’T be naturally stinky. 

Dr. Joseph Mercola has stated, “Your body doesn’t naturally stink; the bacteria living in your body only react with what you ‘feed’ them. The smell in your armpit won’t be offensive if it’s just perspiring excess minerals and healthy metabolic waste products; however, it will stink if your body is sweating toxic byproducts which come from eating [conventional] meat and processed refined food.”

One of the best ways to eliminate body odor is not to mask it with chemicals, but to clean up your body from the inside out.

Instead of using deodorant, I have been doing armpit detoxes for years. 

An armpit detox can help your body get back to it’s natural state of clean perspiration faster by flushing out the old bacteria and chemical residue. 

One of my favorite ways to detox my armpits is to use a bentonite clay mask. Here’s how I do it: 

1. Combine 1 tablespoon bentonite clay, 1 teaspoon organic apple cider vinegar, and 1-2 teaspoons filtered water in a bowl. 
2. Spread an even layer over my armpits and let it sit for 5-20 minutes. 
3. Wash it off in the shower or with a warm, wet washcloth and repeat as needed until underarm odor goes away!

If I do wear deodorant, I stick to natural ones:

1. Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda Free Deodorant Stick available on Amazon
2. Ursa Major No B.S. Deodorant available on Amazon

Check out this blog post from 2018 for more on armpits and detoxing.

Have you made the switch to nontoxic beauty products yet? What has helped you along the way?