• Beauty

Why I made the switch to natural beauty

Lessons learned from our co-founder

by Erica Watson 

Did you know that the average woman slathers between 200 to 500 chemicals on her body each day? Or that lipsticks and deodorant contain heavy metals, nail polish is formulated with plasticisers or that moisturiser and fake tan are riddled with synthetic fragrances and petrochemicals? Hard to believe, right? But that’s exactly what’s in the everyday beauty items many of us willingly apply to our face and body every day. 

Until a few years ago I gave very little thought to my beauty routine. I worked in magazines and for me it was all about long-lasting and highly pigmented products from a roster of favourites like MAC, Nars and even the odd Covergirl. Formulations, chemicals, animal testing or recyclable packaging couldn’t have been further from my mind. As long as that red lippie and foundation worked hard and stayed put from day to night, what was a little toxic ingredient here or there? Surely they’d been tested for safety, right? 

And then I had a baby… Suddenly I was paying attention to the ingredients in all those products I was putting on a tiny body. And then it hit me, why didn’t I care about these things when it came to my own skin and personal care products? It was a true light bulb moment, one which not only completely altered my behaviour as a consumer but also my career. 

EYES WIDE OPEN 

Before long I was wading through scientific studies, watching documentaries on endocrine disruptors and becoming more and more enraged the deeper I delved. I discovered that according to the Australian government’s chemical inventory list there are over 40,000 chemicals that can be used in beauty products in Australia, and 80,000 chemicals used worldwide.  And the word ‘fragrance’ can mean a myriad of sketchy ingredients that needn’t be disclosed to consumers.

I was shocked to learn certain preservatives – like parabens – can mimic estrogen production (the jury is still out as to whether they cause breast cancer) and that in the US, talcum powder had been contaminated with asbestos, leaving manufacturer Johnson & Johnston with a hefty $6 billion class action bill. 

As I began to audit everything on my bathroom shelf, anything containing parabens, synthetic fragrance and phthalates were the first things I tossed. These ingredients are now non-negotiable when I look for beauty and personal care products. If they contain any of them, they stay on the shelf. 

HOW TO MAKE CHANGE   

To begin with I swapped one product at a time, starting with my body moisturiser. I chose that first on the basis it covered most of me and it also sinks into my skin. Next I focused on changing my deodorant, then sunscreen, tinted moisturisers and foundation. It’s been seven years, and my makeup and skincare are now completely streamlined, fuss free and probably 90 percent natural. Not 100 per cent perfect, but manageable and also more effective than it ever was. 

What I learned throughout this time is that there’s no need to throw out everything and start from scratch. Replace things as they run out; remember, this is a marathon not a sprint. Experiment with different brands, it’s OK if it takes a while to find something you like. And if there’s something you just in your heart of hearts cant live without that’s OK too. 

Related; Can a personal detox hold the key to happiness? 

Related; The natural alternatives to retinol 

 

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