A Peek Inside My Bathroom Cabinets

Last night while the rest of the world was watching the Oscars, I have to admit that I was involved in a little project of my own (with the Oscars on in the background, of course): We’ll call it Operation De-Clutter. I’ve been feeling lately like certain parts of my apartment were falling victim to my habit of accumulating. So last night I took it upon myself to overhaul some of these spaces starting with my bathroom cabinets and my nightstand.

In the process of discarding many of the products I no longer use and have traded for healthier versions, this post was born. I realized that I talk a lot about what I put in my body, but not as much about what I put on it and as we know they may as well be one in the same.

When I  mastered the art of eating well and feeding my body with wholesome food, I started to think more about the beauty products I was using at the time. I intuitively knew it didn’t make much sense to slather myself with chemicals. But I was resistant because didn’t want to give up my shiny hair and well, just feeling clean. 

It turns out, I didn’t have to. While I’m nowhere close to being perfect at the natural beauty thing, I’ve made several changes that leave me feeling better about how I take care of myself inside and out.

Now for a little tour, some of my favorite beauty products and of course some tips:

The Basics

Tongue Scraper: One of the first changes I made was to add in instead of take away. It may be hard to see in this picture but the silver U-shaped tool behind the toothpaste is a tongue scraper. A tongue scraper helps with general dental hygiene to prevent cavities and bad breath as well as reduce cravings and even enhance kissing. Yep. Needless to say, this has been an essential part of my dental hygiene for many years. Twice daily.

Toothpaste: This was another easy change for me. I’ve tried a number of natural toothpastes and my favorite is Young Living’s Thieves toothpaste which you can order by mail. When I’m in a bind and haven’t planned ahead, I’ll pick up Tom’s of Maine. The main thing to know is that your toothpaste should be fluoride-free since fluoride causes brittle bones and can damage tooth enamel. Plus, its not something you should swallow. One of the main complaints is that the natural toothpastes taste blech. They’re not as sweet and the flavor is more subtle but I’ve gotten used to this and can’t tolerate regular toothpaste anymore.

Deodorant: This one was more difficult for me because I need a strong, reliable deodorant. Both my level of activity and my body chemistry require it :). I tried them all. Nothing worked. And then I found LAVNILA. Not only does it smell good (I love vanilla), it works and I don’t mind the high price tag because it lasts a long time.

Hair Care

This one took me awhile too so I eased into it. I’m picky about my shampoo and I like to change it up every now and then. Most recently I’ve used Purology and a specialty product from my hair salon, Sam Brocato. Then I found Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner made with raw, organic shea butter, sea kelp and argan oil. The products aren’t tested on animals and don’t include any synthetic colors, fragrances or gluten along with the other nasties (see below) found in most hair care products. The Amika hair oil which keeps my hair soft and protects it from heat styling is also made with argan oil. I was introduced to this product by Birchbox and I’m hooked.

The bottle between the shampoo and conditioner with the green label is Almond Oil from L’Occitane. Remember I said I wasn’t perfect? I love his product for shaving, but just because it’s marketed as natural doesn’t mean it is. Another reminder to read those labels! I try to limit my use of it.

Skin Care

My skin care routine is fueled by Dr. Perricone. As you can see, I use his full line of products. I saw Dr. Perricone speak at the Health and Happiness Summit this weekend and part of what I love about his philosophy is that he marries skin care with diet and lifestyle. All skin ailments whether acne, wrinkles or some other issue are a result of inflammation in the body. His products and recommended diet focus on reducing that inflammation with natural foods, yoga, meditation, prayer and fish oil (Omega 3s). I’ve been using his products for about a year now and I always get compliments on my skin. I even use some of his Super products.

Which brings me to my biggest beauty vice pictured right there next to the Super products: Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace body lotion. I’ve searched high and low for a replacement but so far nothing comes close to the smell and texture. I’m open to suggestions.

I’ve read that the average woman puts more than 500 chemicals on her body each day. Just like you read the labels on food, do so on your beauty products too. Here are some of the culprits to be on the lookout for:

• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Mineral Oil and Petrolatum
• Formaldehyde
• Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine
• Synthetic Colors and Fragrances
• Talc
• Propylene Glycol
• Sodium Lauryl  and Laureth Sulfate
• Triclosan and Triclocarbon

And if it all seems too overwhelming, here are some other tips for health-ifying your beauty cabinet:

• Add in before taking away
• Replace one item at a time
• Read labels
• Do your research
• Try to limit the use of products you know aren’t the healthiest

Have you replaced any of your favorite beauty products with natural alternatives or have you found a natural beauty product you swear by? 

Wondering where you can buy the products I’ve mentioned? Many can be found in my estore.