The last time the FDA made changes to cosmetic and skincare regulations was in 1938. It has been over 80 years since legislation has passed to help regulate what chemicals are put into cosmetic products.
After hearing about how little regulation there is for skincare and cosmetic products, I wanted to change my skincare. I wanted to know more about what I was putting on my body and wearing on my face regularly. So with that, I tried a new face wash, moisturizer, toner, exfoliating pads, deodorant, and body wash.
For the most part, these products are listed as “clean” on Sephora’s website. Sephora defines clean products as “Clean at Sephora™ is formulated without Sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban. All skincare, hair, and makeup brands with the Clean Seal have less than one percent of synthetic fragrances.”
I won’t sit here and pretend to be a chemist or an expert in chemicals, especially since I am currently failing chemistry, but I do know that I can’t pronounce most of those chemicals listed and I have no idea how they could be good for my skin. Or maybe they aren’t good for your skin, and that’s why some companies are focusing on removing them from their products.
I tried multiple brands and attempted to find different price ranges for the various products I used, but I did learn that “clean” products can often come with a big price tag.
For my face wash, I tried Dr. Roebuck’s Noosa Nourishing Crème Cleanser. This cleanser didn’t leave my skin feeling stripped of its natural oils and removed the majority of the makeup that I wore. It didn’t have an overly powerful smell like typical face cleansers. Its key ingredients are oat leaf, green tea extract, calendula, and arnica. For 3.38 oz it costs $25.
The next step in my skincare routine is exfoliator. I tried the Go-To Exfoliating Swipeys. One thing I liked about this product is that I knew almost every single ingredient listed. These exfoliating pads were extremely easy to use. If you’re someone who hates an intense skincare routine, I highly recommend these since it takes less than 30 seconds to wipe your face with one of the pads and instantly exfoliates your face. The exfoliation wasn’t too harsh so these pads would work on sensitive skin. The key ingredients are lactic acid and aloe vera. For 50 pads this product costs $35.
I tried Kopari Coconut Rose Toner and this by far had to be my least favorite product. The product itself had the most chemical smell out of the products that I switched to. It costs $25 for 5.1 ounces. I would recommend saving your money and passing on this product.
I tried two different moisturizers. The first one I tried was the Kopari Coconut Face Cream. The product claims it is “a luxe face moisturizer that contains coconut oil to hydrate, restore and soothe dry skin—also featuring a smart emulsifier that changes consistency based on the weather and your skin’s needs.” I have dry skin, so I had high hopes for this product, but after each use, I felt like I still needed more moisture on my skin. The key ingredients in this product are coconut oil, sunflower oil, shea tris, and organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice. This product sells for about $38 for 2.5 ounces.
Since cannabis is such a trending ingredient right now, I decided to try High Beauty’s High Five Cannabis Seed Facial Moisturizer as well. I’ll be honest; I didn’t pick this product based on reviews or its supposed benefits for my dry skin, I simply picked it because of the cannabis oil it used and wanted to see if it would work. The packaging of this product was cute and had written on it that it is 100% legal. It has a light natural smell to it. This product was drastically more moisturizing than the Kopari moisturizer and left my skin with a natural glow after I applied it. It wasn’t too thick or heavy, and I found that I could use it morning and night. This product costs $40 for 1.7 ounces.
Switching to a natural deodorant is something I have wanted to do for a while now. Often deodorants have chemicals such as aluminum and triclosan in them. I used the Kopari Natural Deodorant. The smell of the deodorant when applying, is a coconut dream. It’s made without baking soda, meaning it isn’t the standard white color of typical deodorants. Instead, it is a clear solid that almost melts when applied to the skin. Some of the other key ingredients are sage oil, coconut water and 100% plant-based active. These ingredients are all listed as natural and non-toxic. The product is about $14 for two ounces. For me, it smells nice, but I don’t see myself repurchasing this product because I didn’t care for the feeling of wearing it throughout the day.
I used Kopari Lip Glossy in place of my typical lip moisturizer. The product came in a trial kit for Kopari, and I must say it was a literal game-changer for me. The consistency of the product is extremely liquid and can sometimes be messy to apply. The ingredients within the lip gloss are 100% organic coconut oil, shea butter and squalene, which comes from olives. This product is vegan and made without petroleum. It is on the pricier side, running about $13 for 0.35 ounces. I, however, think it is worth every penny.
For my body wash and scrub, I opted to not shop at Sephora but went to Ulta instead. I stayed with the same brand for both products, Shea Moisture. Their products are made without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, petroleum, and formaldehyde. This company is also listed as fair trade, cruelty-free, ethically traded and sustainably produced.
The 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Body Wash sells for about $11 for 13 ounces, probably one of the better deals, in my opinion. This product smelled great, but if you don’t like coconut, I wouldn’t recommend it for you. My skin felt hydrated after using it, and I liked that I supported a company with good morals. The key ingredients in this product are exotic Acacia Senegal, 100% virgin coconut oil and coconut milk.
The best product out of everything is the 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Coconut Daily Hydration Crème Sugar Scrub. Stop what you’re doing right now and buy this product. When I say my skin has never felt softer, it has never felt softer. I’m talking softer than a baby’s skin. Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic, but I couldn’t get over how good my skin felt after using this product. Using this scrub eliminated the need of a body lotion which I found as a bonus. The key ingredients are sugar, coconut oil and shea butter. The best part about this scrub is that it’s only $12 for eight ounces.
Overall, I say the switch was worth it. I don’t know if I could afford to make this my regular skincare routine since my wallet is still recovering from this purchase. However, if you’re willing to pay for skincare that is made with good ingredients, I highly recommend giving some of these products a try.
