THE CLEAN GUIDE
Going completely clean can feel like an impossible task, especially when trying to make the transition across all products at once. Therefore, it is best to do it in stages; staggered across product types which should involve sampling, testing and trialing over a short period of time.
Step 1
Which type of product do you want to change first? Is it the face and body, makeup, cleaning products? The answer to that will make the first step a much easier task. Two product types can can be worked on simultaneously.
Step 2
Now you can be a bit more fastidious in getting right down to a completely natural and clean product line. Let’s use body creams for example. Research the companies that are branded as clean and natural. Please note, many companies do this and they’re not all the way clean; they might just be vegan, but this is still a start. The Clean Article prioritises clean and natural, paragon, SLS free but will still consider products that are on the way there in its article reviews. What is your main priority? Is it vegan? Cruelty free? Sustainable packaging?
If the products DO NOT list what you need to lead a more clean product line - simply do no purchase these products anymore.
Step 3
The body cream, body oil, facial wash should now be passed as CLEAN but not having these main chemicals listed here (link). So check the ingredients list for the product.
Step 4
Purchase the product(s) (Suneeta London has an amazing selection of small sizes and samples so you can test and try the product before committing to buying the larger size).
Step 5
Use the clean product for at least a month (preferably a bit longer for toners and such) so you can be certain that the product works and you can give an honest review.
Step 6
If you’re certain this is the product, continue researching other products in that line so you can have compare products to find the best option.
Step 7
Check reviews such as The Clean Article, Naturismo, Content Beauty to find out the how long each product will last. You’ll find that clean products are longer lasting and concentrated, so although they might have a higher mark up price, over time you may not be spending as much as you think.
Step 8
Move on to the next product type and repeat the research process.
WHAT TO AVOID
Nail polish
Formaldehyde
A toxic, and flammable gas at room temperature. Used in the production of fertilizer, paper, and some resins.
Dibutyl Phthalate or DBP
A man-made chemical that is added to plastics and other chemicals. Helps keep plastics soft (a plasticizer). DBP is known to also be a hormone disruptor.
Toluene, also called toluol or methylbenzeneis
A colourless liquid. Exposure to toluene can be harmful and cause eye and nose irritation, muscle fatigue, nerve damage, inflammation of the skin, and liver and kidney damage among other things.
Rosin (colophon)
Used as a binder agent. Camphor may affect the kidneys and nervous system. It is an irritant and allergen.
Xylene
Causes throat irritations, dizziness and headaches. Can have damaging effects on the nervous system, skin, eyes and lungs.
Formaldehyde Resin
Synthetic polymers used to make nails shiny and hard. Can cause skin allergies.
Camphor
Camphor may affect the kidneys and nervous system and can be bad when you inhale it. This is the substance that will make your nails yellow after removing the polish. It acts as a barrier on your nails.
Body and Face Products
List of substances to avoid coming soon