How to Dump Toxic Products and Switch to Clean Beauty

Making the switch to clean cosmetics can seem overwhelming, especially if your entire makeup bag is dedicated to big box brands that often prioritize profit over people. But no need to worry! That’s why I created this comprehensive guide to switching to clean beauty. I’ve been right where you are, knowing I need to choose beauty products that serve my highest self, but still not knowing where to start.

Just like with anything, switching to clean beauty is a process that takes time and patience, so follow this easy to implement guide and give yourself grace along the way.

But first, what’s the big deal about clean beauty?

Just about every company has their own standard when it comes to defining clean beauty because there aren’t any strict federal requirements surrounding what can go into personal care products. As you can imagine, that creates quite a bit of conflict around what is clean and what isn’t. Add to that certain industry norms (like formulating with water, or, as the label on most of your products probably reads, aqua) as the main ingredient, and the result is a huge disconnect between what is clean and nontoxic vs what isn’t.

At Liplove, we have a strict rule: we never formulate with water (because it introduces the need for preservatives which can get really sketchy when it comes to keeping it clean). On top of that, global water shortages are becoming more of a threat, and we believe that the beauty industry should take responsibility, since many products that are formulated with water are made up of over 80% water. Not only is that a waste of resources, it’s a waste of your money.

We also create products from plants. To us, the cleanest, most natural resources are ones that come straight from the earth.

With that, I encourage you to define what clean beauty means to you, rather than letting someone else tell you what clean beauty means. That way, when you are shopping for beauty products, or anything for that matter, you have a standard that you follow.

And of course there are non negotiable when it comes to that clean beauty definition. Parabens, for example, are an absolute no no.

The greatest concern about parabens is that they are known to known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. Parabens are most commonly used as preservatives in water based products and can be easily recognized by their name, such as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben or ethylparaben. Less common parabens include isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben and benzylparaben.

There are countless others we can add to this list, so the important thing is to understand what’s in the products you own, then check that against a trusted resource, like the Environmental Working Group database.

Bye bye toxic beauty

Ok so let’s get into this break up guide because you deserve better sis!

The first, most important step, is to take an assessment of your products and know where you want to start.

For me, that was lipstick. Before launching Liplove I had about 10 lipsticks in rotation with a top 2 that I used for those power lip moments when I had an important meeting or just needed to feel put together.

For you, it might be a specific product, like lipstick, or it might be category specific like makeup or skincare. And if your beauty bag is already clean, this might be a good time to assess your home products. I have personally switched all household cleaners, laundry detergent and items like perfume to cleaner alternatives. The point is, it’s okay to start in one area and work your way to the others.

Make the switch, one step at a time

Once you’ve identified the products or category you want to replace, seek out alternatives. This is where it’s really important to not just go off of the brand name or notoriety, but to pay attention to the ingredient label and do your research.

Just because it’s a well known brand or in a major retailer does not mean it’s automatically free from toxins.

Find a community that holds you accountable

One of the reasons I invented Liplove was because I couldn’t find a clean beauty community that accepted me for me. Now granted, that was years ago when it wasn’t as popular to be a woman of color in the larger clean beauty stores (this was years before 2020 and the 15% pledge that many retailers now promise).

Now, you might not want to invent your own product, but that doesn’t mean you can’t seek out other women on the same journey as you. Social media, in person events, even online forums (and my fave, Reddit) are really good for finding your tribe.

And of course, here at Liplove, we hold space for you too!

The point is, you’re not alone on this journey, and you deserve the very best when it comes to the products you use, so let’s make a promise: no more settling and no more toxins.