This past year has been a wild one but one of the good things that came out of the 2020 quarantine was all the time to slow down and start a more intentional way of life. I wanted to really become a woman who truly practiced what she preached.
I have always tried my best to use clean household products in my home because I am a bit of a clean freak. If I used toxic products, I would constantly be breathing in horrendous fumes. I have used Mrs. Meyers and Method products for a really long time because I thought they were made from natural and clean ingredients but they are not as clean as I thought they were! How disappointing is that?
Over the past year, I really did my research and slowly switched over my beauty products as well as other household products (blog post coming soon for those). But I didn’t just want to find TRULY clean beauty products, I also wanted to support more Black-owned businesses. I was excited to find and switch to some really good products this year!
There are a few tools out there to help find clean household products, Think Dirty and EWG Skin Deep are just a few examples. While the Think Dirty app is more commonly used by consumers, the EWG Skin Deep scale has proven to be more reliable in my opinion. If you want to learn more about EWG’s scale, Lindsay Dahl has written a post about why she prefers it.
The following is the list of beauty products that I have tested out and officially switched to this past year. I waited almost a year to put this list together to be sure that I really liked each of these products and that they were all reasonably-priced items that you could find in stores near you. If you have any questions about any of the following products, please leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your feedback.
Hair Care
Everyone Balance Shampoo/Condition – $9.99 for 20.3 fl oz – After trying several natural hair cleansers, this set was for sure the winner. My hair feels really clean and it suds up better than any other natural option. You can find this brand at most Target, Walgreens, Whole Foods, and Sprouts locations. Look on their website for more locations near you.
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – EWG Certified (The best possible rating)
Body Wash and Lotion
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure Castille Soap – $15.99 for 32 fl oz – Larry and I switched to using this soap as our body wash several years ago and we both love how clean it makes us feel out of the shower. It can make you feel a bit dry but it’s not too bad. You can find this brand at Target, Walgreens, and Whole Foods locations. Look on their website for more locations near you.
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – 1 (green – second best rating score)
Alaffia Everyday Shea Lavender Body Soap -$9.99 for 32 fl oz – After the move to Arizona, my skin was craving more moisture from my body wash so I switched to Alaffia. The lavender scent is incredible and it definitely helped give my skin more moisture. It’s also Black-owned! You can find this brand at Target, Walmart, and Whole Foods. Look on their website for more locations near you.
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – 1 (green – second best rating score)
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion Fragrance Free – $8.79 for 18 fl oz – I mean, do I even need to give a description here? This has always been a go to for the Warford household but that was long before we knew it had really clean ingredients. It’s just an insanely good moisturizer. You can find this brand literally everywhere!
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – 2 (green – second best rating score)
Facial Cleansers
Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser – $8.49 for 4.34 fl oz – I have been using Burt’s Bees face wash for several years but most recently switched to their cleanest facial product. This cleanser does not leave my face feeling clean and dry but rather leaves an oily residue (when wet). It was weird to me at first but after a few months of using it, I notice that it’s actually giving my skin the moisture it needs. When I wipe my face off with a towel, there is no oil residue. Just a moisturized feeling. You can find this brand almost anywhere but check their website for all locations near you.
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – 2 (green – third best rating score)
Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Cucumber Toner – $10.99 for 12 oz – I have never been great at taking care of my skin. Yikes, I know! But since I’m not so young anymore, I guess it’s time to step up my game. Toner is stepping up my game… that’s how bad I am about it. This is a simple and clean product that I have grown to love so much! You can find this brand at Walgreens, CVS, and Target. Check out their website for all locations near you.
- EWG Clean Scale Rating – 2 (green – third best rating score)
Cleansing Tools
HommieSafe Silicone Body Scrubber (to replace a loofah) – $5.99 – I switched both Larry and I to these several years ago and they are a game changer. These will replace your loofah or wash rag. Because they are made from silicone, they are anti-microbial and don’t collect all sorts of gross stuff that will sit on there until your next shower. I have tried a few other types but this is by far my favorite because of it’s design. It has finger holes that makes it easy to hold while you wash. You can grab these on Amazon! Just don’t forget to buy a different color for you and your significant other.
Foreo Luna Mini 2 – Vibrating Silicone Facial Cleanser – $119 – This silicone facial cleaning tool is one of my favorite purchases of all time. I’ve been using this for almost three years and it’s so good I just recently bought a second one to keep in the shower at all times. It is rechargeable but RARELY needs to be charged because it holds it’s charge for that long. You can also grab this guy on Amazon. If the price is too high for you, put it in your Amazon cart as a “save for later” and wait for a notification that it went on sale.
The Original MakeUp Eraser -$20 – These cloths replaced my disposable makeup remover wipes several years ago. They are super soft and machine washable. I bought a few so that I always have backups. I also use them to apply my toner. Just another way to prevent waste in my daily routine. This one is another Amazon find.
Hair Brush
Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush – $29 – This one might seem silly but I needed a new hair brush a while back and didn’t want to go with another plastic one. This wooden one from Aveda is one of the best ones out there. I have used “wooden” ones from Target but they end up peeling really fast. I bought mine directly from Aveda’s website earlier this year.
Feminine Products
L. Organic Cotton Tampons – $6.99 for 30ct – I switched to these a few years back when I learned all the insane crap they put inside of tampons. What have I been putting in my body for YEARS? I have tried the cup and it just isn’t for me. So if you’re still a tampon user but are looking for a healthier version for your body, these are a great start. You can find these at Target.
The Honey Pot 100% organic tampons – $8.99 for 18ct – This is a new switch. Not that I don’t like the organic tampons listed above, I just wanted to invest in another Black-owned product. I have used The Honey Pot feminine wipes before and like them a lot so the tampon switch was easy. You can find this brand at Target, Walgreens, and CVS. Check their website for more locations near you!
The Honey Pot Feminine Wipes – $8.99 for 30ct – These wipes are just a bathroom essential. They are similar to every other organic feminine wipe you’ve used in the past but with these you can support another Black-owned, female-owned business so why not make the swap? You can find this brand at Target, Walgreens, and CVS. Check their website for more locations near you!
Leave a Reply