October 15, 2018

Can You Make the Switch to Clean Beauty? I’m Guilty of Being Quite Dirty!

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

I remember the second year I started Musings of a Muse the beauty world seemed obsessed with green beauty and parabens. Everyone was trying to avoid anything and everything that had parabens in it. This was the year Cargo Beauty launched their Plant Collection of makeup and also, the year that Physicians Formula introduced their Organic Collection.

The past two months it seems like the beauty world is getting back into green, organic-friendly products but it’s no longer “green”, it’s now all about clean beauty. This means brands are turning to product releases that don’t include toxins and irritating ingredients that can be absorbed into your blood stream. Did you know the delicate skin around the lid of your eye is one of the thinnest on your body? That means anything you put around that area is easily absorbed. This is why you should never use eye cream on your eyelids. Imagine the chemicals and dyes we use daily when applying our eyeshadow, lipstick, and even our foundation which is being absorbed into our blood steam. The idea is scary but actually going clean with beauty isn’t always an easy task. I’d liken it to quitting smoking or going on a diet. It’s not easy just to give up certain beauty products you know and love even though you know they aren’t good for you!

And when you’re presented with endless bad options it’s a little more difficult to go with a cleaner one that have fewer options. Sadly, that’s a fact in the beauty world. There are literally hundreds of eyeshadow options out there but how many are actually clean? Likewise for lipstick, foundations, concealers, etc…! I think going clean with your beauty would be a hell of a lot easier if we had more options available to us but the market as is is pretty scarce.

If you are going clean, rejoice, because there are a lot of options popping up daily that will help you along the way to using cleaner, healthier options on your face, lips, eyes, and body!

Here’s a few to start!

A lot of people have fallen in love with Josie Maran’s skincare and makeup but what they might not realize is that her entire line is “clean” and organic with botanical ingredients! Even her packaging is recyclable and biodegradable packaging! She’s a true pioneer in the clean beauty world not to mention her she makes you realize that going clean doesn’t mean forsaking good makeup and skincare!

One of her latest launches, the Vibrancy Argan Oil Fresh Face Paint Palette is a creamy quad of shades that contain argan oil and fruit extracts and are formulated without parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, or triclocarban. The shades can be used on your cheeks, face, or eye!

Thankfully enough one of my very favorite cleansing balms is also clean! Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm with Echinacea GreenEnvy (TRY it! You’ll love it!) is a soft cleansing balm that easily removes makeup and features sunflower oil to keep skin hydrated and smooth. It leaves all the good ingriendets in and removes all the toxic ones like parabens, formaldehydes, and formaldehyde-releasing agents as well as phthalates, and mineral oil.

Deodorant is always challenging for me as I described in my recent post about Kopari Beauty Coconut Deodorant! It’s a damn dilemma getting a natural deo that actually keeps me smelling fresh and clean but this one did the trick! I was left smelling like yummy coconut all day (By the way, I have a coupon code available for 25% off using MUSE25 on koparibeauty.com on first individual purchases or subscription ones!)

Who said concealer can’t be clean? RMS Un Cover-Up Concealer can act like a concealer or a foundation thanks to it super pigmented formula! Plus it contains zero parabens, mineral oil, formaldehydes and other icky stuff!

Skin feeling less than smooth? REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic is a daily toner that acts to exfoliate skin and restore your glow naturally. This exfoliating formula is vega, free of gluten, and used sourced board and recycling for its packaging as well as natural inks.

It’s called Clean but did you know that Clean Fragrances are actually clean beauty? All of Clean’s fragrances are cruelty free, vegan, gluten free, phthalate free, non-toxic, and comes in Eco-conscious packaging.

Do you find it difficult staying away from beauty products you know are bad for you?

Have you made any attempts to go “clean” with your makeup and skincare?

Do share some of your clean beauty picks!

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Michelle

    Drunk Elephant! I can use everything on my rosacea skin except for the AHA’s (they lack a BHA only exfoliant). Hopefully they’ll do one!

  • Melaina

    I just got the Farmacy Meltaway Green Clean in a subscription box – LOVE IT!!
    I’ll have to pick up the Ren tonic, I’ll use that with my reusable bamboo rounds! 🙂
    Thanks!

    • Isabella Muse

      That Farmacy is my HG! love love love it ;-D I have the Ren Tonic, didn’t get a sec to review it! Purchased it when it came out and quite like it ;-D my pleasure <3!

  • Lisa I

    I have been using RMS uncover in 11 and eye gloss in Myth for awhile now. Love them so much. I use uncover under my eyes and chin. Lasts all day, does not cake or get weird. I’m a fan of pots, so I have no issue with using my fingers. Expensive and worth it.

  • Dot

    I find it easy to use green skincare and body care, but I hate green color cosmetics. The options are so boring! Sometimes, I just want blue, glittery eyeshadow or lipstick. I’m also not convinced that the quality is always there; I need my foundation to last through a full work day and then some without blotting all the time. Oh well.

    Drunk Elephant, First Aid Beauty, and Sunday Riley are my usual skincare picks! DE can be a mixed bag for me though in terms of efficacy.

    • Isabella Muse

      color cosmetics are HARD! I wanna tell you my I’m totally clean but I’m not. It’s hard getting there! 🙁

  • kjh

    I think ‘clean’ is mostly marketing hype and today’s buzzword. Many ‘clean’ products still contain chemical sunscreens or Benzyl salicylate, known to be banned in UK, EU, or Aus. Plus, one can be allergic to totally natural products. Like aloe, manuka honey. My list would be too long. I have to rule out most of the clean products due to something that causes reactions. Preservatives give me no issues. I’d rather have them than not, unless the product is designed to be used within a short period of time. I like DE, though many products have turned out too strong, like AHA, protini. I know my skin has gone abnormal and my needs do not represent others at all. But I still think ‘clean’ is more BS, trying to sell product. I do like the Schmidt nat deos, and a few other natural products. The rms uncover and ilia balm I ordered were so unsatisfactory, that I did not want to try other stuff. Not sold on the concept at all…esp when the product has gone bad before you receive it, and was shipped that way.

    • Isabella Muse

      in some instances yes I believe that too! Also some clean products have essentials oils which can be irritating!

  • Art

    “This means brands are turning to product releases that don’t include toxins and irritating ingredients that can easily be absorbed into your blood stream. ido you know the delicate skin around the lid of your eye is one of the thinnest on your body? That means anything you put around that area is easily absorbed. This is why you should never use eye cream on your eyelids. Imagine the chemicals and dyes we use daily when applying our eyeshadow, lipstick, and even our foundation which is being absorbed into our blood steam.”

    This is just ridiculous and untrue, it’s disappointing to hear this from you. Our skin is a great organ and surprise! it’s not that easy for “toxins” to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Please do some research before promoting pseudoscience! I recommend Lab Muffin and Kindofstephen for more information.

    • Isabella Muse

      Hi Art, I’m sorry to disappoint you in my statements here! I’m still learning all there is to learn about skincare/our bodies etc….!

  • Kish

    I’ll be completely honest here, I really don’t care at all. I have major medical issues and I maybe have 20 years left to live. I’m not trying to be morbid, just realistic. I love stuff from Herbivore, Drunk Elephant, and First Aid Beauty, but it’s because of how well they work, not because they are “clean.” There has been a lot said about Sephora’s “clean” designation and how it’s not really as great as people think. A lot of the stuff they list that they exclude haven’t been used in years anyway. A lot of marketing at work there. I do think it’s getting easier to use less chemicals in skincare and it’s a good thing it’s the trend because it’s easier for all of us to purchase. That said, I liked Cargo’s Plant Love line and miss it.

    PS – The medical issues I have are not from using unclean beauty products. In case anyone is firing up their keyboard haha.

    • Isabella Muse

      wow kish I had no idea you just made me really sad! I can’t imagine a beauty world without you in it commenting about your latest haul! Life is too damn short! I hope there’s longer then 20 years left in your future my dear dear girl! <3!

      • Kish

        That was so sweet, I’m trying not to cry at my desk at work. I promise to post all of my hauls and share my opinions as long as I can 😉 And thank you for this great blog where I can talk with other beauty junkies.

        • Isabella Muse

          I gotta admit you upset me when you posted yesterday. I was a little shocked when you said twenty years. Twenty years is a long time but also not enough! I hope we’re friends well into that time and well after it god willing! I’m not a religious person by any means but you’re in my thoughts and heart with whatever you are struggling with <3! We'll both be gray and old and wrinkly in twenty years talking about the latest lipstick 🙂

          • Kish

            You really have no idea how much your words made my day. And now I’m imagining me complaining to you from my rocking chair about the latest incarnation of Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara 20 years from now hahaha.

          • Isabella Muse

            Awww hugs! LOL that sounds awesome Kish! Me and you sitting on the porch bitching about Too Faced Better than Sex ;-D

  • Claire

    I really like the RMS uncover up concealer, but if you use it as a foundation, the coconut oil scent is just way too overwhelming. I like how it’s really versatile though.

  • Christina

    I don’t think I could switch to completely “clean” beauty. I try to limit my toxins, but I think there is a lot of fear mongering out there as well, especially from people who don’t really understand the science and properties of certain ingredients. I have a lot of scientists and doctors in my family and am lucky to discuss ingredients with them if I feel concerned about something, and I’m always surprised to find that what the community touts as “clean” or beneficial ingredients also have their drawbacks that I certainly wasn’t expecting. I think, like anything else in life, moderation is key. I’ll obviously try to avoid anything that is listed as highly toxic and use more basic and “clean” ingredients wherever possible, but I won’t be discarding my usual cosmetics anytime soon. Plus, I just don’t like the way clean cosmetics looks or feels most of the time.

    • Isabella Muse

      SO TRUE! there is! and the internet doesn’t help! I am not nearly educated enough about skincare ingredients as I’d like to be but I keep trying to understand better what I am putting on my face/body/etc 🙂

  • Lauren

    I’d love to go completely clean. The issue for me, though, is so many products that are marketed as being “natural” still contain things that irritate my skin, like certain oils and fragrances. I finally figured out that a lot of my back acne issues are due to fragrance and additives in shampoo and body wash, which sucks because I’m a sucker for a nice scent, lol. I’ve gone to a completely fragrance and dye free shampoo/bodywash and conditioner by Paula’s Choice, and it’s done wonders so far. But it’s not sulfate free.

  • Brandy

    I don’t care so much if the product is considered “clean”� or not, but I cannot tolerate fragrances or essential oils. Everything I put on my face has to be fragrance free or I will have some sort of reaction. I see all these clean products on Sephora’s website, and then when I read the I ingredients I’ll see lemon peel oil or lavender and realize I can’t use it. Definitely limits what products I can use.