Bookworm Cottage Style

I saw the documentary America the Beautiful in college which opened my eyes to harmful phthalates in the beauty supply, and I’ve been dabbling in clean beauty ever since. Over the past 5-10 years, it’s become SO much easier to find a wide variety of clean and clean-er beauty and body products that nourish your skin. 

I don’t have a hard and fast definition of what I consider “clean beauty,” so my approach is pretty simple. Basically, I get as much as I can from Credo (a clean beauty retailer with standards I trust and a convenient Newbury St. location), Whole Foods Market (also great quality standards), or the “Clean” designated products at Sephora, figuring these products are all a step in the right direction. Research shows that avoiding beauty products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals (like phthalates and parabens) can significantly decrease urinary concentration of these harmful chemicals. In other words, these small changes really can make an impact on our bodies.

My skincare “routine” is pretty minimalist. I’d love to experiment with Vitamin C serums or skin firming serums, but for now I’m just a cleanse-moisturize-SPF girlie. This list isn’t exhaustive of every product in my routine. (I’m still experimenting with different eyeliners, and will need a replacement for my now-discontinued lipstick.) Rather, this list is a highlight of the best of the best products that are on my forever restock list.

The Best Clean Makeup & Skincare 

• Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara (black) for daily use, Tok Mascara (black) for rainy/snowy days. Love both!
• Even on no-makeup or minimal-makeup days, swiping on Saie Slip Tint for the SPF 35 makes me feel put together since the tinted pigment acts as a foundation of sorts. This is a staple that I’ve rebought several times – I can’t go back!
• Ilia Nightlight Bronzing Powder (in the shade Drawn in) adds the perfect warm glow. 
• Ilia Multi-stick (in Tenderly or In the Mood) is my preferred blush. The stick format is SO satisfying to apply, and the balmy texture makes your face look perfectly glowy.
• Fresh Soy Cleanser is very splurgy for a face wash but oh so worth it! I had seen Carly recommend it for years, but it wasn’t until I stayed with my friend Sarah and tested her bottle that I became a convert. It truly melts off your makeup and makes your face feel so clean and fresh! 
• Andalou Naturals Daily Defense Facial Lotion SPF 18 is what I wear on my face if I’m not wearing makeup (hiking, beach, etc.) but just want something protective. If I’m out and about and know I’m going to be in the sun a ton, I’ll sometimes layer this under the Saie Sliptint. My husband wears this facial SPF too! I like that I can just grab it at Whole Foods.
• Follain Moisturizer: Replenish + Protect is my go-to moisturizer. I wear it every night and sometimes in the morning too if I’m feeling extra dry. Not only is it a great lightweight moisturizer, I love that it has bakuchiol (a clean retinol alternative that helps with fine lines). My husband uses this too!

The Best Clean Bath & Body Products

• Purezero Tea Tree And Matcha Shampoo is my daily shampoo. (Yes, I am the oddball that still actually washes my hair everyday.) My hair is prone to greasiness (the daily washing – I know, I know), but this shampoo does a great job at keeping my scalp fresh and clean.
• I use Goop G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo exactly once per week, and it is the highlight of my shower. This is the best shampoo I’ve ever used, clean beauty or otherwise. It gets so foamy and lathery and truly cleans my hair. This is a splurge but worth every penny.
• Native Mineral Sunscreen – Unscented – SPF 30 is the best body sunscreen I’ve ever used! My husband is obsessed too. We keep a tube of this (and the Andalou facial SPF) by our front door so that we can easily apply on the way out of the house. 
• I switched from shower gel to bar soap to try to cut back on single use plastics. A La Maison Oat Milk Bar Soap is my favorite, although I also love the lavender scent too.
• Weleda Skin Food Body Butter is such a treat for parched skin. I love a good body butter, and this one (available at Whole Foods and reasonably priced) is my go-to.
• Deodorant is so personal, and I’ve tried over a dozen different brands. Primally Pure Charcoal Deodorant is easily my favorite natural deodorant, and the Nécessaire Deodorant Gel in Eucalyptus is probably my second favorite.

If you have any holy grail clean beauty products, please share!