Hi, friends! I have soooo many new nontoxic beauty products to share with you. I have been working on upgrading my skincare, makeup and household products for over a year now, and it’s become somewhat of a hobby for me. I really enjoy trying out new brands and finding the best of the best.
That said, some products are better than others both in terms of how simple and nontoxic the ingredients list is and how well the products work, so I am constantly trying new things and upgrading my list of go-tos.
But even since I started swapping items out a year and a half ago, I am blown away by how quickly the green beauty industry is growing. There are so many new brands with not only great products, but beautiful packaging and attention to detail. It’s really exciting and a great time to dive into this stuff if you are interested in upgrading your skincare routine as well.
So, without further ado, here are three products I am loving.
Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
OK, so first up. I am loving Tata Harper products. I just recently discovered them, and the ingredients are SO good. I’ve been using this Hydrating Floral Essence spray and loving it. I use a spritz during my morning makeup routine and nighttime skincare routine. It smells so good.
(I’m also working on a DIY for my own floral spray that I’ll share with you soon!)
Herbivore Brighten Pineapple + Gemstone Mask
I have been really into masks lately and have tried so many. I have a few favorites that offer different benefits, but this is my absolute #1. I like to use it in the morning before I put on my makeup a couple times a week. It softens and brightens my skin, giving me the smoothest possible skin. It’s one of the only masks I’ve ever used that created a noticeable difference in my skin the first time I tried it.
This is a wet mask, meaning it goes on wet. On my skin it tingles very slightly, but not much. It’s totally clear, so you can hardly tell it’s even on until 15-20 minutes later when it dries and it looks like your skin is peeling off (its not—it’s just the clear mask looking crazy as it dries).
Nail polish has been a tough category for me because the truth of it is that pretty much all nail polish has some bad ingredients in it. I mean—it is paint.
At first I was really discouraged by this, but then I decided that since I LOVE nail polish, I would just find the best-case-scenario. So I tried a bunch to find the ones with the LEAST bad ingredients and also that worked the best and had color options I loved.
I landed on two brands that I use regularly at home now, Habit and Aila. They both have really good packaging, colors and the least toxic formulas I could find. They are both 8-free (which means they don’t contain eight of the worst ingredients commonly found in nail polish).
The biggest question people ask me is, “Do they work?” And honestly, I don’t notice any difference between how well these work verses the brands I used to buy. They are a little more expensive per bottle, but since they are much smaller companies, I feel like that is to be expected (and worth it!).
My favorite color for the current season is Terra. I have been loving peach and warm tones since dying my hair red recently.
Ah! I could geek out on this stuff all day. But I will leave it there for now. I would love to hear your feedback on any beauty posts you’d like to see more of here on the blog! I completely understand that to some, this nontoxic angle isn’t important or appealing (I used to be the same way!), but for those who are interested, I do feel like this information can be really helpful since I’ve tried a LOT of products that were “just OK” to find these really awesome ones.
Hope you have a great day! xx -Elsie
46 Comments
I love reading about your finds in the natural beauty department! I’ve worked for Aveda for 8 years and learning about the natural ingredients and products that they make has made me SO much more conscious of what I’m using in my daily routines! It’s exciting to see the market expanding and more people bringing awareness to using these natural products! The product lines tend to be so much more environmentally friendly as well. 🙂
True! Good for your skin and good for the environment usually go hand in hand. 🙂 xx- Elsie
LOVE LOVE LOVE that everyone seems to be going more natural! makes my own switch so much easier!
x0x0 Caro http://thecarolove.com/
True! When I first started I was so lost and so frustrated. But reading blogs and seeing what my friends use helped me a LOT. That’s pretty much why I’m writing this feature.
xx- Elsie
I love this post! I definitely want to try that Brightening Mask, I have really dry and sensitive skin, so it looks perfect for giving me that extra bit of hydration that my skin craves! Recently I’ve been leaning to more natural products, especially for my face in my skincare routine. A brand I have been loving is Green Keratin, they have a great range of products, you should definitely check them out.
Thanks for another great post!
Ali xxx
YAAAASS! Gotta love dat non-toxic lyfe! Thank you for this post, I hope you do tons more like it! It truly is helpful and makes it so much easier to hear from real people who have tried the great, the ok, and the meh products out there. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about the best of the best too so I can’t thank you enough for shining a light on some of your favs! 🙂
love these posts! I always try to pick natural and organic skincare too but the choices (for all skincare products in general) are sooo overwhelming so I love seeing your reviews!
Totally relate!
Glad this is helpful. xx- Elsie
Thanks Elsie!! I’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for different products that are cruelty free, and preferably non-toxic and inexpensive, so I really do like posts like this. Hope you have a good day!
Lovely! I`ll be def trying these, cuz I looove natural products so so much <3
https://brightbreezyblog.blogspot.lt/
All of those products seem amazing! That nail polish is gorgeous.
This mask looks just like something I need 🙂
Elsie — I’m curious how you’re going about trying all these products. Are you simply buying full sizes? Or are you doing some kind of natural product subscription service? I’m interested in moving my care routine this direction, but it seems like a heavy investment to try everything and find what works.
I have a subscription callet Petit Vour where I have found a few things from (it’s more skincare and less makeup). I try things that are recommended, so if a friend says it’s amazing I will usually try it. And, yeah, i buy samples if they available. That is always so helpful.
But I’ve also tried some full-size that I didn’t love. I have a box of give-away products in my guest room for my friends to try- so at least maybe someone with different skintype or coloring can enjoy it even if I hated it. XX! Elsie
Thank you for introducing me to the products, and please do a DIY of the Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Cool! I am working on one! xx- Elsie
You should check out the Think Dirty app! You can scan health/beauty products. It tells you on a scale of 1-10 how terrible a product is. It breaks down why on the ingredients too. It has become a fun game with my kiddos and I using that app and guessing what score a product will get. 🙂
Love that app!
xx- Elsie
Thank you for showing us the natural products you use, always like hearing what other people use and their recommendations. I prefer natural products, so better for your skin as well. I have started using MONU and would highly recommend.
love reading your posts! they make my day x
The natural products series is one of my favorites and I always look forward to the next one!
Since reading previous posts I’ve tossed out any polishes that aren’t at least 5 free, discovered the wonders of natural lipstick, and am more conscientious about skincare as a whole.
I would love a post on ingredients/benefits you are loving and looking for (ingredients or personal check list or preferences). It’s kind of an opposite of what to avoid, which I think is positive and fun!
Thank you so much for the feedback and ideas Laura! I’m so glad you are getting something out of the series! xx- Elsie
Hi, Laura – I was wondering which natural lipsticks you’re referring to? And thank you, Elsie, for these posts on natural products. I’d like to try more, but am a little overwhelmed on all the options out there as well as the investment in trying and not liking. I’d also like to hear more on where to begin with essential oils.
Love your blog and its new look!
Hi Kerri!
Savannah posted lipstick reviews you can view here:
http://abeautifulmess.com/2016/05/5-natural-lipstick-brands-youll-love.html
http://abeautifulmess.com/2016/09/5-more-natural-lipstick-brands-youll-love.html
Out of the ones I’ve tried I am in love (LOVE!) with Red Apple Lipstick and 100% Pure. I’d consider Bite Beauty my runner up and favorite that’s readily available at Sephora. RAL has a really easy return policy – basically if you don’t love a color you can swap it out just like that within a half a year. And 100% Pure lipsticks are so softening and smaller in size so I love them for travel and my purse. The two colors Savannah recommended are actually my fave and I’d recommend them. She is super fair and I’m olive and it’s just as flattering on my lips.
For essential oils, I would recommend Edens Garden as they are non MLM and have a lot of info and reviews on their site. My two tips are don’t consume them if you don’t feel knowledgeable and always dilute with a carrier oil. Otherwise, have fun! Many oils are beautiful just for the aroma but also have beneficial properties to them. You can’t go wrong starting with a citrus and lavender and expanding from there. 🙂
Wow! Thank you! I’ll try them out.
I’ve been working with green beauty products for the last year and a half! There are SO many great companies. You should check out Mahalo (The indigo balm and Pele mask are my favorites!) and Pai Skincare as well! Gressa is another good one. Vapour has EXCELLENT foundation, and the website Detox Market has some really awesome finds as well 🙂 Also, anything by The Beauty Chef is amazing!
Yay! Thank you for all the info. Off to google now….
xx- Elsie
I just wanted to say that I ADORE THE NEW LOOK AROUND HERE. ALL CAPS. It’s so clean and wonderful and I’m IN LOVE.
Thank you Natalia! We are loving it as well. Happy to hear you’re into it.
xx- Elsie
I love Herbivore Botanicals! I’ve been using that Brighten mask twice a week and it’s working wonders for my skin. I want to try the Blue Tansy mask next…!
I just got that one and I do love it too (but still love Brighten more). They feel very similar but Blue Tansy has a stronger scent. xx- Elsie
LOVE these posts!! Keep them coming 🙂 I’m not as far along in switching out products but I’ve started and your posts have definitely been an inspiration and guide to work on it. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Have you been helping Jeremy natural-ify his products as well? I think lots of people might be interested in seeing some “man” product options. My boyfriend uses Ursa Major (a Vermont company), and now I use their face balm, too.
Hi Katey,
Yes- for sure. I have found that it works better for me to just buy better stuff (replaced our toothpaste, our shower products etc) and Herbivore makes a few men’s products as well (like an awesome beard oil he loves). But if I TELL him it’s “more natural” or whatever he will automatically think it’s not as good, so I just don’t tell him. 🙂
xx- Elsie
Hey Katey! I can chime in on that topic. Ever since I read the book “Skin Cleanse” last September (thanks to Elsie’s posts!), I’ve been going through the various products in my house and looking for healthy alternatives to those which rank high in toxic ingredients (using the “think dirty” app or the EWG site). My husband hasn’t been interested in reading the book himself, but he’s continued to be open to suggestions as I’ve tried to explain the benefits of using cleaner products. For example, he used to religiously use a Neutrogena scrubby face wash, which rates 10 out of 10 for toxic ingredients. I was able to do research on similar products, and when he ran out, I had him try a scrubby face from Acure Organics. He has totally been fine with the switch, and I feel a lot better about what he’s using on his skin. Similarly, when our shampoo was running low, I went from getting one that rated really high on bad ingredients to one that’s more moderate (from Trader Joes). I’m still searching for the right shampoo for MY hair, but knowing that our general household products are moving in a healthier direction seems to be really good so it’s not a one-sided quest.
I think the key is providing a realistic replacement (preferably something that other people are willing to vouch for with good reviews), and then explain the overall goal to scale back on toxic ingredients in the home. He might not be ready to part with his favorite deodorant or hair pomade (like my husband), but you can at least start to make a difference!
Elsie- can’t thank you enough for continuing this series! I’ve gotten a lot of great info, and I’ve found some of my new favorites based on your recommendations. Herbivore Botanicals continue to be my favorite for many products (esp their facial oils) – so I’m interested to test out the face mask!
I love Katey’s comment above!
It also reminded me of something I wanted to share with you: Sweet Bee Magic. It’s marketed towards moms and kids but I use it as an organic cold cream and like that it’s gentle enough for little ones. It’s only got 6 ingredients ( olive oil, beeswax, royal jelly, honey, propolis, and bee pollen). I also like to use it on my legs in summer after a shave for reducing irritation and smoothing.
https://medicinemamasapothecary.com/products/sweet-bee-magic
LOVE these posts! I’m just starting to try swapping my go-to products for more natural options, and I’ve already found a couple of brands I really love through these posts. It gets expensive just blindly trying products, so I so appreciate these kinds of recommendations.
I love these posts and have definitely tried stuff (I have a concealer you recommended before sitting in my Amazon cart! I found one from a small company that I’m trying out first but I was so happy to hear of something that worked.). For about five years, every single body product we use in our home has been totally natural or organic. For several years I made almost everything, but eventually I became a representative for the brand of probiotics we use, and started using all their personal care products as well, which we love. And it’s nice not to make every single thing anymore, haha….it’s the only brand I’ve found that is actually better than homemade because they are just able to source so well and so much went into creating everything. Most are certified organic to a food grade standard, not only a cosmetic grade like most natural products. My favorite are the organic mascara (it’s not a life changing mascara, but there are few truly healthy mascaras out there and this is the real deal), and the shampoo. I love their liquid foundation but it’s pretty sheer which is why I’m looking for a nice concealer to go with it. (You can find my link to Miessence through my website…the blog is not really currently active though ?) and of course the very very best probiotics I believe! Otherwise, my favorite natural make up brands are Everyday Minerals and Root Pretty for mineral make up (Root has awesome lip colors called pretty balm), and shimmery eye shadow from Honeybee Gardens. I think my next purchase will be black nail polish from one of these brands you’ve talked about! And I make my own soap from scratch! Lye and everything, which is really really not scary 😉
I love Harpers products! They are so amazing!
http://thatsmagsforyou.com
I need to get my hands on these!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I love these posts and have come to look forward to them! I have been trying to switch over my products for about the past 6 months. It’s been a slow process and I find makeup is the hardest to switch – price wise, and due to the fact that I have so much toxic stuff left to use! I love getting your recs and adding them to my long list of “things to try.” I was eyeing that Brighten Mask not long ago! It sounds simply divine and your glowing review is definitely make me want to try it even more!
I don’t really wear much nail polish, so I haven’t taken the plunge on a natural one. The Habit brand looks stunning! I also heard Zoya is 5-free, Deborah Lipman is 8-Free, and KL Polish is 9-free. May be worth checking out?
Can’t wait for more of these posts!
YESSS!! love these non toxic & naturalposts. you find such great products i sometimes have never heard of. i love what you share & WHY you use it. it’s great. please don’t stop 🙂
Palate polish – have you tried it?
I love these posts! The more the better! Thanks for sharing.
I’m loving these post about natural products! So important and helpful. Can you tell me where the rocks are from featured in the top photo? Thanks!
I like products from nature
You should check out Smith & Cult nail polishes. They’re 12 free and work really well! I know they carry them at Neiman Marcus, but I linked their website too.
http://www.smithandcult.com/