Do you ever feel overwhelmed in the health and beauty isles of the store?  There are rows and rows of products, each vying for our attention with bold lettering and huge promises.  “All Natural” sounds great, but I see it so much, it has lost its marketing pull for me.  I look for something with better promises.  

Vegan.  

Pure.  

Only 5 Ingredients.

Ingredients You Can Pronounce.  

No Animal Testing.  

It is like every product line suddenly caught on that maybe people are just looking for simple, healthy, kind-to-the-earth-and-creatures products.  But the isles didn’t shrink, right?  They just got more crammed with things to choose from.  And every bottle, label, and cap is full of 17 promises that sound similar and confusing.  

First, we should all hopefully get to a point, to an understanding, that we have two homes: earth & our bodies.  That is it.  There are no do-overs if we ruin our homes.  Our health and wellness, I believe to my core, are linked to the planet’s health and vibrancy.  You and I are mixtures of atoms that have been around since the Universe first breathed— and whether we choose to see it or not, our wellness is linked to our environment and the products we choose to interact with and use.  We are never isolated, singular creatures.  We are universe cocktails, atomic events, cellular stories— and everyday we either choose to honor our aliveness or sabotage it.

Here are five of my favorite clean products.  None of these products hurt animals or include any animal product. They are clean because the ingredients used to make them do not include chemicals harmful to our health. We check our health/beauty products on the @ThinkDirty app, which I use ALL THE TIME while shopping.  It has cleaned up our bathroom cabinets, creating healthier choices for us and for the planet and its creatures.  

Coconut Oil with Peppermint Essential Oil 

We use the coconut oil as a mouth wash, swishing it for 15-20 minutes every morning.  It is amazing for getting rid of bacteria, freshening breath, improving gum health, and may help whiten teeth.  I recommend mixing in edible, organic peppermint oil— it makes the coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes a little more bearable!  Making our own is much cheaper than buying it mixed already. *Both come in glass containers, so no plastic waste is created when using these products.*

Native Lavender and Rose Deodorant

This deodorant is made with clean ingredients.  There is no aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.  It is definitely not a cheap deodorant at $11.99, but that is where the investment in our own health comes in.  If we were asked to invest $12 in our friend’s business or on a raffle at the office, we’d probably do it without a thought!  I sweat like a 300-pound linebacker when I work out, and I love this brand and product; highly recommend!

Native Cucumber & Mint Bar Soap

Same here.  Simple ingredients.  Smells wonderful.  Price is $4.99 and lasts us forever.  

Acure Clarifying Lemon & Argan Shampoo and Conditioner

This is my favorite shampoo I’ve ever used.  It may be mostly due to the scent.  Lemongrass is one of my top two favorite smells, and this shampoo is like lemon heaven!  I have very dry, curly hair.  I wash it every 2-3 days, and this shampoo (and matching conditioner) works well for me.  And, best of all, it is not putting harmful chemicals on my scalp and in my hair.

Coola Self-Tanning Mousse

I’ve tried to be more careful the last couple years about tanning in the sun.  I mean, I love some color, but in my twenties, I was terrible about skincare.  I’d visit tanning booths and lay in the sun during the summer.  (My mom warned me- and I wish I’d listened, honestly.)  Now, I use suntan lotion and try to be mindful about how I care for my skin outside.  I’d still like a little summer color, though, so now I embrace the fake!  Coola is a clean brand, and this tanning mousse has never left streaks or a weird orange color.  I’ve tried a LOT of brands, and this one is by far my favorite.  Why stop tanning just to put harmful lotion on my skin?  Either way, it’s a bad choice.  Now I can be sun kissed and know I’m choosing good ingredients! 

Stay healthy, friends.  

Be good to yourself, the planet, and your fellow creatures.  

Here’s a good start right in your own bathroom!  

Remember, how you do one thing is how you do everything.  

Leave me a note in the comments if you have a healthy product recommendation you love, too!  And don’t forget to download the @ThinkDirty app to help you while your shopping!