A Clean Beauty Routine That Actually Works, Straight From Blogger Geri Hirsch

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On how it all started:  "I think it was around six years ago? I was doing The Clean Program which is a 21-day full-body detoxification, and I wanted to fully commit. While doing the cleanse, Alejandro Junger, MD, (the founder) suggests massage, hot and cold baths, skin brushing, only eating organic foods, and limiting toxins everywhere possible, including beauty products. The reason being, as he explains, ‘When our systems are overtaxed, they begin to break down in a multitude of ways. Allergies, headaches, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, weight gain, and insomnia are just a few of the symptoms that can result. The majority of these common ailments are the direct result of toxin buildup in our systems that has accumulated during the course of our daily lives.’"This made perfect sense to me, and I wanted to feel as toxic-free as possible. So, I went all in which included ditching all my beauty products and swapping in clean alternatives."
On why it’s important to her:  "The Food and Drug Administration last updated beauty and cosmetics legislation on June 25, 1938. That’s over 80 years ago. Stop and think about that for a second. Meanwhile, the EU has banned more than 1300 ingredients in personal care products. The average woman who uses regular beauty products can absorb an average of five pounds 
On the process of converting to clean beauty:  "The first three things I swapped out were body soap, lotion, and deodorant because these are products you slather all over your largest organ: your skin."
"Soap was easy, but switching from a lotion to an oil or balm was a little bit harder. Lotions generally contain water, which needs a preservative for shelf life, and that’s where the not-so-good stuff can sneak into beauty products. For those of you who aren’t keen on oil or balm, Kate McLeod launched a body stone that is incredible. And as for deodorant, I’m always looking for the perfect one but am currently using and loving Corpus."
On the green skincare products she can’t live without:  "Right now, I’m dealing with some breakouts, so at night I’m cleansing with One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover ($42) and then I use True Botanicals Clear Repair Serum ($140) along with its Antioxidant Booster ($90) and seal it all in with its Moisture Lock Overnight Mask ($60). Hands down, it’s the most hydrating mask I’ve ever used. "I also love Tata Harper’s products (shoutout to the Crème Riche Velvet Moisturizing Cream $185), a luxurious coat of Vinter’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($185)—you haven’t lived until you try it—Goop’s Exfoliating Instant Facial ($125), Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Exfoliating Peel Spray ($52) and Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift Algae Mask ($10), May Lindstrom’s Honey Mud ($90), The Honest Company’s Gentle Gel Cleanser ($13), Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes ($24)… How much time do we have?!"
On her makeup strategy: "My makeup isn’t 100% clean. I’m probably at a solid 70% but am making strides along with the industry. There are some products that I simply haven’t found equal to or better clean versions of and there are certain things I am not willing to compromise on because of vanity! You feel me? But, it is getting so much better as brands like Kosås, W3LL People, Ilia Beauty, RMS Beauty, Juice Beauty, Jillian Dempsey, Olio E Osso, and Kjaer Weis pave the way—just to name a few!"
On her favorite places to shop for clean beauty: "CAP Beauty is a pretty magical place, and now that it’s here in L.A., I love to go there regularly. The brand has a very strict policy and only carries 100% clean products, which is key because clean beauty can be confusing. Words like ‘all natural,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘clean’ are tossed around like Drake lyrics but often are just marketing ploys. It’s important to trust your retailers and/or really understand what is genuinely clean vs. clean by ‘insert retailers’ standards."
On tips for switching to a clean beauty aesthetic:  "Start slowly with the things you feel you can compromise on. This is different for everyone, but think things like toothpaste (I love David’s Premium Natural Toothpaste $10!), floss (I love Cocofloss $8), soap (Dr. Bronner’s is an amazing brand), body oil/balm, deodorant, and laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is actually so important since it’s all over your skin, especially your face while you sleep. Therefore, I recommend ditching the toxic stuff and opting for something clean, instead. On my blog, I have a detailed list of the best and highest rated non-toxic cleaning products you can use!"Once you get the easier product types under your belt, start tackling other items as you run out of what you regularly use. Out of face wash? That’s the perfect time to try swapping in a clean alternative, and the same goes for face mists, serums, moisturizers, and other makeup. Lucky for all of us, brands are catching up and clean beauty is getting pretty darn chic—both products and packaging."
Next up, check out Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s capsule airport beauty kit. 

Source: Who What Wear – Erin Jahns

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