Don't be fooled by packaging, says Spunt. "A lot of mainstream lines know that more women want cleaner products, so they'll throw their products into green-colored bottles, put leaves on them, and talk about how they've removed one ingredient -- but that doesn't mean the product is much cleaner than its original formula." You don't need to be an expert in this stuff, she says. Just turn the bottle around and if you see a lot of X's, Y's, and numbers, you're not looking at a clean product.
For example, CoverGirl NatureLuxe sounds like a great organic line -- but when you read the ingredient list, you'll find the products have synthetic fragrances and talc -- both of which are not natural, says O'Connor.
Their pick? Almay Wake-Up Hydrating Makeup SPF 13, a powdered mineral-based makeup. "Just be careful of the application," says O'Connor. "Mineral makeup has titanium dioxide, which is a carcinogen, so it can be harmful if inhaled. It's OK to use on your skin since it doesn't absorb through the skin at all. But if you're putting it on with a big fluffy brush, you're going to be inhaling more than you're wearing."
The solution: O'Connor and Spunt recommend mixing the mineral makeup with your day cream, and applying it on your face with your fingers. "You still get incredible coverage, but it won't look chalky," says Spunt.
Spunt says it's actually very easy to find drugstore nail polishes that are free of "the big 3," which refers to three extremely harmful chemicals often found in nail polish: formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. Here's the rub: An April 2012 study published by the California EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control found that 10 out of 12 nail polishes that claimed to be free of these chemicals were actually not. However, OPI was one of the 12 tested and was free of the toxic trio. While nail polish is one of the farthest things from "natural," OPI is one of the safer options.
"I've tried a million face sunscreens and I'm convinced this is the best on the market -- and it's at the drugstore," says O'Connor. Her pick: 100% Pure Argan Oil Hydration Facial Moisturizer SPF 30. "Basically our criteria for what makes a good sunscreen are that it has to be chemical-free, have titanium or zinc oxide as the primary ingredient (at least 25 percent), wear well under makeup, and not cause breakouts," she says. "This pick has it all."
These days, it feels like everyone (and everything) is getting an eco makeover. Celebs are swapping their Porches for Priuses; plastic bags are becoming obsolete at grocery stores; hemp is becoming a food and fabric staple; heck, you can even buy organic yoga mats. But while we may shop, eat, and even work out in a more eco-friendly fashion, there's one area most of us don't bother to greenify: our beauty products.
Why? Because Tata Harper's amazing organic face moisturizer will set you back a whopping $100, and the natural and organic body washes, lotions, and makeup lining "Whole Paycheck's" beauty aisles are also pretty pricey.
So what's an eco- and budget-conscious beauty maven to do? Call Alexandra Spunt and Siobhan O'Connor, co-authors of "No More Dirty Looks," an investigative book that looks into the hidden chemicals and toxins in our favorite beauty products. They're two everyday girls who had a big "ah-ha" moment.
"Studies have shown that what we put on our skin gets absorbed into our bloodstreams and circulates through our bodies," says Spunt. "So we realized that while we were doing yoga, living a 'clean' lifestyle, and putting all this attention on what we were eating and drinking, we were missing a huge component."
What happened when they started using eco-friendly beauty products? They were more than pleasantly surprised.
"The natural products performed better [than our old go-tos], improved our looks, and made us feel better," says O'Connor. "My skin looks better than it did three years ago -- and I'm now in my 30s. While there is no such thing as a miracle product, we really have noticed significant differences."
Spunt and O'Connor say they know giving up mainstream beauty products seems impossible, and that's why they gave us this list of the 10 best natural beauty products you can find at the drugstore. There go your excuses. So, grab that reusable tote and start shopping.
