Best in Clean Skin Care

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always assumed that the FDA has my back when it comes to the products that I put on my face and body. I mean, it can take decades for a new cancer treatment or a procedure that can take away my wrinkles without surgery to get approved. Yet when it comes to personal care products, it turns out that there is basically NO regulation. And that’s a pretty scary fact given how many “lotions & potions” most of us use every single day.

Why Clean Skin Care is Important

The United States only bans 11 chemicals from use in personal care products. This means that there are about 80,000 synthetic chemicals that are used regularly in our face creams, body lotions and serums that haven’t yet been tested by the FDA. Since Canada bans 650 of these and the European Union bans 1,300, this does not fill me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Who knows. Maybe these suspect chemicals don’t cause cancer. But maybe they do. In fact, more and more research is coming out about the potentially harmful effects of parabens, sulfates, phalates, and synthetic fragrances. Not only can they mess with your hormones, but they’ve even been tied to infertility.

Natural & Organic Don’t Mean a Thing

So, right about now, you are probably ready to run out to the closest Whole Foods and buy anything with the term “natural” or “organic” right? Wrong. Turns out that there is no legal definition for either term when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products. What’s a girl to do then?

Well, there are a couple of really great websites that can give you the low down on the products that you use. I am a fan of the Environmental Working Group (EWG.org). I have also recently downloaded the app ThinkDirty (get it here). But if you live in New York or Los Angeles, my FAVORITE resource is the store Credo. Basically, they’ve done the research for you. Every product carried in the store or online adheres to the strict European principals which means that they’re the safest products out there. Also, the products are packaged responsibly meaning that they’re better for our environment. And as we all know, every little bit helps when it comes to saving Mother Earth. If you don’t live in either city, here’s the link to their website. And if you are looking for a truly concise edit, here’s my clean skin care plan.

BFH Clean Skin Care Plan: Cleanser

Up until my cancer diagnosis, I was a big fan of the double cleanse. Currently, my skin is too sensitive, but this is something that I plan to return to ASAP. Typically, I use Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash  in the morning because I feel as if it does the best job of removing the sunscreen that I pile on for my morning walk. I will follow this with a round of Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream.

In the evening, however, I love an oil based cleanser. This one by Tata Harper is DIVINE. If you are in a rush, you can also use it as a makeup remover although personally, I don’t find it strong enough to really tackle mascara.

Best Clean Skin Care: Lotion

My current favorite face and body lotion was actually designed for patients going through chemotherapy and radiation. It’s called CV Lotion and the stuff is friggin fantastic. Incredibly moisturizing, it is also lightweight so it absorbs in a flash. This is now my go-to face lotion as it camouflages fine lines and wrinkles without clogging my pores. And it’s unscented so it basically hits every one one of my “yes please” boxes.

The body lotion is also incredible. Both are expensive although you get more bang for your buck with the face cream as you use less. Furthermore, the cost is nothing compared to high end beauty creams such as Le Mer. I HIGHLY recommend this product. It’s better than anything that I’ve ever used.

Another favorite for the face is the Perfecting Eye Cream by Goop. I have tried a lot of different eye creams over the years. What I love about this one is that it feels as luxurious as the high end eye creams as it’s extremely moisturizing for the vulnerable skin around the eyes but it’s not heavy. Totally worth the price.

In short, when it comes to clean skin care, there is really no reason not to give it a try. The products are as good if not better than the ones that are chock full of potentially harmful gunk. And really, with so much that we can not control about our health, doesn’t it sound good to take charge of something?