Ever since I read “Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry” by Stacy Malkin, I’ve slowly started to change the way I purchase and use cosmetics. I frequently consult the Skin Deep Database at The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. I don’t have any hard and fast rules, but I try to purchase products that are at least one of the following: fragrance free, have organic ingredients and/or do not contain phthalates or parabens.

I will be reviewing some of the brands of natural cosmetics that I use regularly. To see all of the posts in this series, click here.

Kiss My Face

I decided to try Kiss My Face Moisture Shave because I knew that other shaving creams were loaded with the synthetic chemicals I’m trying to banish from my grooming routine. I was skeptical that it would lather as nice as other shaving products, but it does. You do have to rub a slight amount more, however the difference is negligible.

Vanicream

My dermatologist recommended Vanicream Lite Lotion when I told her I was switching to fragrance free products, and also trying to avoid parabens and phthalates. I like it a lot, it feels like a very light lotion you would use on your hands or body. It’s not heavy at all, is absorbed by your skin quickly, and has no discernible scent. I think it compares well with Yes to Cucumbers.

A final note: It is possible to start small with using healthier cosmetics. Neutrogena makes an oil free fragrance free daily moisturizer I like almost as much as Yes to Cucumbers, and many national brands of products like deodorant and laundry detergent are also available fragrance free. Once you get going, it’s not too difficult to do a little research and read product labels so you can make an informed decision for what you put on your body.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 4th, 2011 at 6:00 am and is filed under Green Product Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.