The beauty industry is toxic.
Yet few of us really stop to double check the ingredients list in our daily routine, but they could be slowly killing us…
A quote I read recently smartly begs the question:
“why do you apply to your largest organ (skin) something you would never eat”
Our skin gives direct access to our bloodstream, anything we apply to it makes its way into our bodies. Studies have found several carcinogens lurking in our moisturisers, deodorants, makeup, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens.. and more
So here’s our vetted list. We’ve tried numerous brands and selected the below 7 in terms of satisfaction and veracity of their product. No green-washing, only truly organic components.

A natural beauty routine – illustration courtesy of livekindly.co
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Haeckles (tip their Eco Marine Facial Cream is wonderous)
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Osea
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Juice Beauty
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Dr. Hauschka
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Kypris Beauty
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High Beauty
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BeautyCounter
Here’s a quick list of ingredients you should look out for:
Parabens, Fragrance/Parfum (which is sadly everwhere) Phthalates (dibutyl, diethyl, dimethyl), Triclosan, Toluene –benzene, phenylmethane, methylbenzene (coal/tar derivatives), Formaldehyde, Artificial /Synthetic Colours, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)/Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Propylene Glycol, Chemical Sunscreens (benzophenone, PABA, avobenzone, homosalte, exthoxycinnmate), Aluminium, Anything containing the word “Palm” (derives from palm oil), Squalene (there are two types of squalene:vegetable or shark derived, by law companies are not required to specify)
What does “Fragrance/Parfum” mean?
In order to protect “trade secrets” governments do not require companies to disclose over 5,000 chemicals they use in their concoction, therefore they can be simply label the recipe as “fragrance” or “parfum.” In order to avoid any of these 5,000 toxins it’s easiest to go for products that use essential oils instead.