Favorite ‘Clean’ Products For Home, Face and Body: My 25 Top Picks

After many requests, I’ve been meaning to share this personal favorite products list for a while.

It has taken me years to find really safe, ‘clean’ (toxin-free) products that really work for us, so I hope this helps you in your search.

For many people, the thought of their favorite products being a source of unwanted immune-suppressing chemicals in their household sounds strange. However, I’m concerned that the toxins emitted from everyday products has encouraged the rapid increase of disease in our society.

Check out my last post on WHY man-made fragrances make us sick if this is new or inconceivable to you.

It is a real problem and causes toxicity that cause many to experience health issues!

My favorite products are all made without synthetic fragrance, parabens, phthalates, aluminum, dyes, preservatives, sodium lauryl sulfate or petroleum products. I’ve come to understand the less ingredients, the better. Here are my top 25.

 

 

Mascara Powder & Blush

(some of the hardest things to find in safe, effective formulas):

Truly Lush Mascara + Lash Primer: These are perfectly safe—and they are amazing and easy wearing. See the much safer mascara Ingredients on their site.

LUSH Handmade Mascara EWG’s Skin Deep would rate this a #1 (low) in concern, is gentle enough for sensitive eyes, and is clump-free. Uses flexible Japan and carnauba waxes keep lashes feeling light while ensuring a smudge-free finish.

Physicians Formula Black Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara. I wear this mascara on days that are shorter and I’m not going to cry Lol It is very safe, but won’t hold up to the 24 hours they state.

Physicians Formula Ingredients: Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water*, Glycerin*, *Iron Oxides, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Beeswax*, Jojoba Esters, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*, Tapioca Starch*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract*, Stearic Acid, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract*, Cellulose Gum, Glycerin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate May Contain: Titanium Dioxide.

**Since I stopped wearing foundation in my 30s my skin has stopped breaking out and having dryness issues. Plus, I think foundation is hard to blend to look natural at the jawline and not like a mask! Now I use Niacinamide Cream Serum (on my whole face) as my first step in the morning, let it absorb 5 minutes, and follow with PF Mineral Wear Talc-free Mineral Face Powder, Translucent. That is all I wear, except a touch of blush on the cheekbones: PF Mineral Wear Blush, Rosy Glow. It is nowhere as vibrant as the Amazon photo indicates and they have different shades. I use just a touch and it’s very natural.

3 Super Choices for Eyeliner

Alima Pure Natural Definition Eye Pencil – Excellent ingredients!!

VERT Beauty Organic Eyeliner Pencil – Again, excellent ingredients!

ILIA Pure Eyeliner – a sharp precise line to a smudged smokey look. Healing vitamin E and Sesame oil treat your sensitive eye area without budging.

 

 

 

In the photo below, these are what I am wearing:

My Favorite Products For Skin Care and Women

My skin tone and texture has improved so much since I started using the 3 products below almost 4 years ago! I am 64 and have had very kind people tell me I could pass for 50. And, if you have experienced menopause and all its crazy issues (hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings), you will LOVE the first 2 products! They are complimentary and assist each other in addressing them:

ProMeno Women’s Wild Yam Cream is my “herbal alternative to the bio-identical progesterone creams. You can use this anywhere on the body, but for me, it doubles as a face cream at night.  

Ingredients: Wild yam root, Vitex and Comfrey leaf infused organic extra virgin Olive oil, flower hydrosol, Aloe Vera juice, beeswax, Shea butter, natural MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), Vitamin E oil and a blend of essential oils and flower essences.

Vital “V” Wild Yam Salve. If you need something for female dryness and irritation (due to thinning skin) that is natural with no side effects, this will help in short order!

Niacinamide Cream Serum has visibly tightened my pores and reduced my wrinkles. It boosts collagen and promotes visibly younger skin.

I just started using MATRIXYL 3000 + ARGIRELINE Peptide + Vitamin C Serum (similar in effect to the Niacinamide serum above) and I am loving how it seems to be lessening the effect of wrinkles and fine lines. I will write a post on it one day if I love it! Update! I LOVE it and what it does to lessen the look of mature skin! I show pictures here.

I want to remind women that “our periods, birth and menopause are life transitions to be embraced, not sickness needing treated.” 

 

 

My Favorite Products For Lips

***Dr. Hauschka Sheer Lipsticks Wait till you see the ingredients! 4.5 star reviews!

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Linalool*, Benzyl Benzoate*, Farnesol*, Limonene*, Geraniol*, Eugenol*, Benzyl Salicylate*, Benzyl Alcohol*, Citronellol*, Mica, Lecithin, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI77491), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).  *from natural essential oils

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm, Beeswax, 4 Tubes for $8.97 (a favorite value)! Update: Burt’s Bees was sold to Clorox for $970 million and so check out the ingredients as they may have changed!

Ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, peppermint oil, lanolin, tocopherol, rosemary leaf extract, soybean oil, canola oil, limonene.

Art Naturals® 100% Natural Lip Balm – 6 Pack for $8.75 (another favorite value)!

Ingredients: Beeswax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Flavor, Tocopherol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract.

 

 

Hairspray

I use Giovanni L.A. Hold Hair Spritz when I need to use hairspray (which isn’t often). I can testify that with MCS, I need something that will not give me a headache or make me sick. It’s the only hairspray I can tolerate. Just a light mist and it holds and holds for those high wind days. Makes my hair shine! Ingredients are excellent, too:

Purified Water with Rosemary Oil, Nettle Oil, Thyme Oil, Birch Leaf  Oil, Chamomile Oil, Clary, Lavender, Coltsfoot Leaf, Yarrow Oil, Mallow, Horsetail Oil, PVP/VA Copolymer, Soybean Protein, Alcohol Denatured (plant derived), Vitamin E, Trace Minerals, Citric Acid, Grapefruit Seed, Essential Oils. Certified Organic

A very clean, very cool product: Herbal Choice Mari Organic Hair Spray Copolymer Free

Ingredients: Purified water, organic vodka, organic brown sugar, organic sweet orange oil, organic geranium oil, organic green tea, organic sage herb, organic thyme herb, organic bergamot oil, organic olive oil, organic rose hip oil.

Natural Deodorants That Are Highly-Rated & Really Work

Green Tidings All Natural Deodorant. Extra strength, all-day protection. Really works – no stink and keeps me dry.

Ingredients: Tapioca Starch, Organic Coconut Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate, Shea Butter, Wildcrafted Candelilla Wax, Magnesium Chloride, Lavender Essential Oil.

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant, Bergamot + Lime Stick. With its bright citrus scent, a pleasure to wear. All-day odor protection, and plant-based powders protect against wetness without the use of aluminum. Not greasy in the least.

Ingredients: Arrowroot powder, Coconut Oil, Candelilla Wax, Shea butter, Baking soda, Triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil), Jojoba Seed Oil, Bergamot essential oil, Lime essential oil, Vitamin E

Check out my two current favorite: Nutribiotic Deodorant (unscented) and Earth Science (lavender). I’m a bit of a deodorant connoisseur 🙂

Primal Pit Paste Deodorant, paste or stick. Again, another product that works well for me.

Ingredients: Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Lavender Essential Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E derived from 100% Sunflowers

 

 

Toothpaste

Fluoride-free Periobrite is a low-abrasive toothpaste with excellent ingredients, that supports periodontal health.

Himalaya Whitening Toothpaste, Fluoride-Free & SLS-Free is another with super clean ingredients!

After having fertility drugs and hormones for many attempts to conceive, I give my teeth the best possible care I can. Aside from oil-pulling with coconut oil almost every day, I use Nature’s Answer Periobrite to keep my teeth white. Our kids use Tom’s of Maine.

Our Shampoos

Love, love, love my Alaffia – Virgin Coconut & Shea Butter Enriching Shampoo! My husband and kids love Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner.

 

 

The Truth About Tear-Free Baby Shampoo

When applesauce or banana blobs (or worse) end up in your little one’s soft hair, please use a baby shampoo that doesn’t brag “tear-free” on the label.

“No cry” shampoos typically–though not always–contain formaldehyde-releasing chemicals: quaternium-15 and 1,4-dioxane. (source) So I did some digging.

My FIRST choice for baby shampoo is Alaffia Authentic African Black Soap, Vanilla Almond. Only 6 ultra-safe ingredients. Awesome for washing produce, too!

Ingredients: Neem aqueous extract, Shea butter, Palm kernel oil, coconut derived lauryl glucoside, vanilla bean extract, almond extract.

My 2nd choice: Alaffia Moisturizing Shea Butter Shampoo & Body Wash for Babies & Up. With calming lemon balm, neem leaf and lavender essential oil, this soothing all-in-one product leaves your baby’s hair and skin soft and clean.

Note: Alaffia Coconut Chamomile Hair & Body Lotion For Babies has the BEST ingredients of any baby lotion I can find on the market – unless you make your own blend of pure jojoba oil, shea butter and a drop or 2 of lavender. Many companies still use magnesium ALUMINUM silicate as an ingredient. EWG rates it safe, but I worry about anything with aluminum in it, especially for babies!

Check out Burt’s Bees Baby and women’s products, too! Burt’s Bees “tear-free” shampoo does not contain the formaldehyde-releasing chemicals and would make my ‘clean’ list!  Update: Burt’s Bees was sold to Clorox for $970 million and so check out the ingredients as they may have changed!

 

 

Fruit & Veggie Wash

Dr. Woods Pure Castile Soaps -Safely removes nasties from your food! The whole line is very comparable to Dr. Bronner’s and costs WAY less)! Also check out Alaffia’s African Black Soap.

Ingredients: Water, saponified coconut, hemp & olive oils with retained glycerin, vitamin E oil, bitter almond oil, sea salt, citric acid and rosemary extract.

Liquid Dish Soap & Laundry Detergent

Eco-Me Natural Sudsing Liquid Dish Soap, Fragrance Free, 16 Ounce

Ingredients: Water, Decyl Glucoside (Coconut-derived Soap), Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate (Food-grade Emulsifier), Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside (Plant-derived Solubilizer), Leuconostoc (Radish Root Antimicrobial), Potassium Sorbate (Food-grade Preservative), Natural Plant Essential Oils.

Mollie’s Suds Laundry Powder: 120 Loads at 18 cents/load! Rated A by EWG. The super-concentrated powder is VERY affordable, with just 1 TBSP required per load. Just as effective as conventional brands and more effective than natural brands, without the use of chemical toxins, dyes, fragrance, fillers, optical brighteners, preservatives or GMO ingredients. Works great in all hot, cold, and hard water, and is septic and HE washer-safe.

Just 5 ingredients: sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sea salt, magnesium sulfate, and peppermint oil.

Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda, 50 Load Bag. I often use only 1/2 of the little spoon for a load if it’s only moderately soiled. Perfect detergent for chemically-sensitive people. Removes body odors and environmental odors you may pick up on your clothes. Since “clean” is the absence of smell, this is a product you want. 

Ingredients: Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate), Sodium Metasilicate, Sodium Chloride, Citric acid, coconut based (LAURYL) Ethoxylated fatty alcohol.

 

 

Fabric Softener?

Traditional fabric softeners will undoubtedly add to your body’s toxic load (see my last post)! It clings to our bed sheets and clothing; we breathe it night and day.

I have not used a stinky commercial fabric softener for over 25 years and won’t go back! One of my all time favorite products are Wool Dryer Balls. Last for more than 1500 washes.

Reduces your drying time by up to 25% for larger loads and up to 40% for smaller loads, saving one of your biggest utility expenses. 

Glass Cleaner

I cannot take credit for this discovery; however I can tell you that it works! A cleaning company shared this tip with me four years ago. In my opinion, this is the best way for sparkling windows: I use Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid (not the antibacterial). Add 2-3 drops of original Dawn into a 32 oz. sprayer and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spritz your windows and wipe just as you would with any window cleaner.

Popular glass cleaners contain 2-Hexoxyethanol, Sodium C14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonate, and 2-Butoxyethanol a confirmed animal carcinogen.

 

So that is just a few of my favorite products.

Would you share some of your ‘clean’, toxin-free favorite products in the comments?

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