Just a few years ago, it was virtually impossible to find safer beauty, skin care and body care products. Not only was the product selection slim and hard to find, most of the companies were not creating products that worked as well as conventional, toxic products. We’ve all dealt with a sad, foamless shampoo, right?
Thankfully due to consumer pressure, the market has dramatically changed over the last five years. But as you might expect, despite the rapid growth in the non-toxic beauty aisle, most still come at a premium price point. Over the years I’ve talked to various business leaders in the cleaner cosmetics market and sourcing organic, safer ingredients still costs more than creating conventional products. Costs can eventually come down as companies scale and grow larger. To make matters worse, sustainable packaging significantly adds to the overall cost of a product; for newer companies, these costs often have to be passed on to the consumer.
Before I dive into these more affordable product recommendations, I must confess that my all time favorite products are not listed below, as they are more expensive. You can shop my favorite safer beauty products HERE.
Based on scientific research about how chemicals impact our health, I would encourage you to invest more money in safer products that stay on your body all day long (lotion, night cream, makeup). If you’re on a budget or buying for a family, here are a few affordable safer brands for your rinse-off daily staples.
Disclaimer: Some of these posts contain affiliate links, which means if you place an order I may earn a small commission. This is to help fund the cost of writing and maintaining this educational website. All opinions and reviews are my own.
Acure Organics Shampoo ($6.79) & Conditioner ($6.50)
Acure Organics is available at Whole Foods or Amazon, is affordable, and has a solid list of safer ingredients. Fair warning, you’ll notice the product doesn’t work as well as conventional hair care products, but the cost is right if you’re on a budget. You can also check out 365 Whole Foods personal care products, which are a little more expensive, but have better lather, scents, and overall feel.
Tom’s of Maine Toothpaste & Deodorant ($6)
The lavender deodorant from Tom’s of Maine is my favorite deodorant that works (more suggestions HERE). Often times you can purchase these products in bulk on Amazon, Thrive Market, or other online retailers.
Dr. Bronner’s Bar Soap ($4)
I love so many things about this company’s dedication to creating simple, environmentally responsible products. Their bar soap in peppermint ranks 1 on EWG’s Skin Deep database and can be purchased in bulk HERE.
Oils as Moisturizers
As I’ve outlined in this article, many of the oils in your kitchen cabinet can be used as moisturizers for body and face, a dandruff treatment, or makeup remover. My favorites include organic coconut oil (you can buy in bulk from Costco) and jojoba oil.
Honest Company Hand Soap ($4)
The Honest Company and Method provide affordable non-toxic hand wash. I like the scents and design of the Honest Company’s products, and they can be purchased online or at your local retailer.
Shea Moisture Body Wash ($12)
This brand is growing really fast and for good reason. Their large 16 oz. body wash is rated 2 on EWG’s Skin Deep database and is only $12 on Amazon and even smaller and more affordable versions are available at Target.com.
S.W. Basics Rose Water Spray ($12)
Typically a more expensive product, S.W. Basics, a Brooklyn-based company formulates products that only have five ingredients or less. This rose water spray is an affordable $12 and can be purchased at Target.com.
Goddess Garden SPF 30 ($9)
This is one of the first companies that made mineral sunscreen that was fairly easy to rub into your skin. Much lighter than some of the older brands, Goddess Garden makes a good SPF 30 sunscreen at a decent cost. Note that this tube size is just over 3 ounces, compared to larger bottles, but they are still making a great product, with good ingredients and their CEO is awesome. I was recently on a panel with her at ShiftCon about “Women in Business”.
As the industry shifts and as companies grow, costs will inevitably come down, but in the meantime I hope you join me in supporting safer beauty brands who are doing right by our health.
I have made the case HERE that for certain products, like the ones that stay on your body all day, you should save up and invest in more expensive safer skin care. When you purchase products like these, they will last much longer than the products I’ve listed above. Always remember to consider your health and the long-term value of a product, rather than just the up front cost!
Never miss a post and join my mailing list.
