Have you been curious about making the switch to natural and organic beauty products but don’t know where to start? Let us help.
Why natural and organic?
80% of chemicals used in cosmetics have never been tested for safety or adverse side effects. The hidden dangers in beauty products aren’t widely publicised and the long-term effects are vastly unknown. We have a right to know what we are putting on our bodies, so why are we trusting complete strangers with our health?
We went from our ancestors creating products completely from nature because that’s all they had. Then when processes advanced, so did the formulations. The demand for products to travel further, last longer and smell “better”. Synthetic ingredients were created as a solution. What wasn’t known at the time was any side effects or adverse reactions long term. Read more about this in our article ‘Are your fragrances and scented products doing more than making you smell nice?’.
Are natural and organic beauty products hard to find?
More than 15 years ago when I first started reducing my toxic load and started paying attention to the ingredients that were in my everyday products, it was so hard to find a brand that met my strict criteria. There were always just a couple of nasty ingredients left in there that weren’t great. But I had to start somewhere and getting rid of the majority of nasty ingredients was great start. It wasn’t about being perfect straight away, but reducing my overall exposure.
The only other alternative was to make your own products. Which I loved the thought of, but when it came to making them, it would never quite work out the way they were supposed to. It can be more difficult than it looks, but if you have the time and patience it can be incredibly rewarding creating your own beauty products from scratch.
Some things to be aware of when searching for products.
Over the years I’ve noticed brands popping up with some amazing products, and they are shouting from the rooftops that they don’t contain any hidden nasties. They are proudly beneficial for us and the planet. Not only does including toxic ingredients make them bad for us when we absorb or inhale them, but for the planet too, through run off or the plastic packaging.
When searching for products something to be aware of is greenwashing. Greenwashing is when the brand or company purposely deceive the customer by making the product appear more natural than it really is. An example of this might be a name or label designed to portray the natural environment, when it contains harmful chemicals. You can read more about greenwashing in our article – ‘Are you being greenwashed?’.
Unfortunately greenwashing creates confusion in the market and affects the companies and brand that are doing the right thing. Looking for certifications are helping determine which companies are genuine and which ones are just trying to appear that way. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to the brand and ask them if you are unsure about any of the ingredients. Those doing the right thing will have nothing hide.
Making the switch.
I’m so grateful that it’s no longer hard to find a product that’s all natural and organic, but it’s now difficult to choose from the array of brands available! It’s definitely not a bad problem to have.
My whole why and reason behind starting Renewed Collective was to share what I have learnt and experienced, and to provide awareness. I forget sometimes of the whole process I’ve been though because it is now so normal for me. This information is slowly filtering out to my family, friends and community.
Most people still have no idea what’s in the products they are using. They are buying the foamy body washes with SLS, the toilet spray with synthetic fragrances and the nail polishes with too many toxic ingredients to name. They don’t know any different and I want to change that. Even if they become aware and don’t want to change then I know I’ve at least tried. But most of the time once you know these things and how they can affect you and your family’s health in so many ways, it’s almost impossible not to change.
One step and one product at a time.
There’s no rush. It can become overwhelming when you first start. I certainly was! But you don’t have to do it all at once, even if it is enticing to throw everything out and start again. Changing one product at a time is also a more affordable way of doing things.
There’s no end game here, it’s about the journey and the process along the way. Some things will work for you and some won’t, and that’s ok. It’s not about never wearing makeup again or freaking out over every ingredient. It’s about being realistic and not being perfect. We live in a world where we can’t control everything. We might sit next to someone on the bus with perfume, or stay in a hotel where you have to use their body wash. Our lives must go on, but if we can make better choices overall, especially the products that we are using daily, this will go a long way to reducing our toxic load.
The changes you make will make a difference, and you never know who is watching your journey along the way and being inspired to make their own changes.
We are spoilt for choice these days and are so lucky to have the abundance to choose from. There are so many wonderful natural, clean and organic products to choose from, created by brands who want to make a difference. You can find some of these brands in our Australian Eco Directory. Please check them out and if you know of any great Australian beauty brands please let us know below or find us on instagram.