10 Best Natural Beauty Products at the Drugstore
Like the rest of the world, I've recently started to get a little more eco-conscious.
I've got a cute, reusable grocery bag I tote to my local farmer's market. I turn the lights off when I don't need them and have started taking shorter showers. Heck, I even just bought a pair of recycled denim jeans.
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So of course, I've also started using eco-friendly beauty products. But here's the rub: While organic food costs a few bucks more than the conventional kind and my new eco-friendly energy efficiency is actually saving me money, greening my beauty routine has been seriously spendy. Tata Harper's organic face moisturizer may make my skin glow, but at $100 a pop, I don't have any cash left to buy an organic banana.
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Which is why I called Alexandra Spunt and Siobhan O'Connor, eco-conscious beauty junkies and co-authors of "No More Dirty Looks." They filled me in on these 10 best eco-friendly products you can buy at the drugstore.
Best Bronzer: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Bronzer, $13.95
This bronzer is chockfull of natural oils, like jojoba, olive, and grapeseed, which are extremely moisturizing. Plus it gives a great, natural-looking color.
Best Shampoo: Aubrey Organics Blue Camomile Hydrating Shampoo, $10.48
This pick doesn't contain any drying ingredients that are so common in mainstream shampoos, like sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic preservatives. What it does contain? Ingredients like non-GMO soy protein and essential oils that'll make your hair shiny.
Best Conditioner: Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Conditioner, $7.95
For those with super coarse hair who rely on thick, heavy conditioners, this eco-friendly find will be your new go-to, says Spunt.
Best Soap: Dr. Bronner's Classic Bar Soap, $4.49
This soap is made using USDA-certified organic ingredients and don't have surfactants or other irritating chemicals that'll dry out your skin.
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Best Lip Balm: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $7
The first three ingredients in this great balm are plant oils, which are readily absorbed into lips and will leave them feeling soft and nourished. Plus, the colors in the tinted balms come from mineral-based (not chemical-based) pigments.
Best Shaving Cream: Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Gel, $8.99
Spunt says this product is a happy medium between using a "hippie" soap and a more mainstream shaving cream. The gel is filled with pure ingredients, like white grape juice, as well as coconut, olive, and hemp oils.
Best Self-tanner: Lavera Faces Summer Glow Sunless Tan for the Face, $23.50
Most self-tanners are usually brown or orange, which is 100 percent chemical-based dye, says O'Connor. But Lavera's cream is clear, void of chemicals, and doesn't have any synthetic fragrances.
Best Foundation: Almay Wake-Up Hydrating Makeup SPF 13, $12.99
While mineral makeup is your best bet for natural coverage, O'Connor says it can be harmful if inhaled. So instead of putting it on using a big fluffy brush, she recommends mixing the mineral makeup with your day cream, and applying it on your face with your fingers.
Related: Is Mineral Makeup Right for You?
Best Nail Polish: OPI Nail Color, $8
New research found 10 out of 12 nail polishes that claimed to be free of "the big 3" toxic chemicals were actually loaded with them. However, OPI is in the clear. The brand was one of the 12 tested and was proven to be free of the toxic trio.
Best Sunscreen: 100% Pure Argan Oil Hydration Facial Moisturizer SPF 30, $26
O'Connor has tried a million face sunscreens and she's convinced this is the best one the market. Why? It's chemical-free, has zinc oxide as the primary ingredient, wears well under makeup, and doesn't cause breakouts.
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