Top 5...Better Beauty

Cutting this list down to Top 5 was very difficult for me since I'm using/trying so many amazing all natural, non gmo, 'free from harmful chemical' products right now. Researching the best possible beauty has become an obsession for me. I love standing in front of the beauty products in the health food store and reading the packaging...possibly even scanning the bar code on my Think Dirty App to see which products get the best ratings. Of course it's not only about ratings, the product has to actually work for me. I've been making the switch to 'all natural' beauty over the course of about six months now. While I've permanently switched over many of my products, there's still certain things (like cosmetics) that I haven't completely changed yet. It's a huge process of trial and error which can get costly and result in a ton of unused product lying around. For the most part I've made great choices that I'm extremely happy with. 

Think for a moment about all the products you use everyday on your body that contain chemicals. Soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, and possibly five or six different facial and cosmetic products (average).  That's a lot of chemicals. Using natural beauty products makes me feel much better about my overall health. Both of my parents had/have dementia (scary odds for me) and a little over a year ago I was diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) called Colitis. It's a fact that chemicals in the body exaserbate both of these diseases. I also have hypothyroidism. Two auto-immune diseases is two too many. Alas, I need to keep myself as healthy as possible and that doesn't just me being careful with what goes in my body...it also means being careful with what I put on my body.  Now that I've become accustomed to using all natural products, I have a keen sense for any products with a chemical smell. It really turns me off. It's amazing how quickly you adjust to products that are better for you.

Here are my current Top 5 'better' beauty products:

Andalou Naturals Body Lotion

So I've been wondering why so many Andalou Naturals products have been popping up at Marshall's and Winner's lately. Seems the packaging has changed...so they were clearing out the product with old packaging. Better for me! The Andalou line is a great choice to start with. 100% non GMO, paraben and sulphate free, vegan and cruelty free...and of course, certificated organic and fair trade.  I love the citrus verbena fragrance, but it seems they've tweaked it a little to citrus sunflower. I'm sure it's still amazing. Anadalou is available on well.ca. Many of the products are currently on sale. I also use their Revitalizing Lash and Lid Makeup Remover. 

Schmidt's Deodorant - Bergamot Lime

All natural deodorant seems to be the one product that people have a difficult time wrapping their head around, but in my opinion if I could only use one all natural product...it would be deodorant. I've tried several different brands and have had great results with Schmidt's and Soapwalla. Both are in small pots and are applied with your hands. I know this product application is difficult for some to get used to, but if you apply it directly out of the shower - then your skin is warm and the deodorant applies smoothly. It's your body...it's clean...don't be afraid! 

If you've never used an all natural deodorant before, it takes your body a couple of weeks to get used to the change. But after that time has passed...it's clear sailing. I can't stand the thought of all those harmful chemicals so close to the lymph nodes under my arms. I really like the natural fragrance of Schmidt's Bergamot Lime and Soapwalla's Citrus fragrance. 

Live Clean Shampoo 

Good shampoo doesn't have to be expensive...even if it's all natural. I've had great luck with the Live Clean line of Shampoo's available a most drug and grocery stores. I've even managed to keep my husband happy with this switch. It's nice when the shower isn't overflowing with product. I like either the Daily Care Shampoo (above) or the Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo - smells so yummy!

da lish Mascara

I first tried this product in November when I picked it up a the One of a Kind show. My eyelashes are almost non existent, so I was skeptical about moving away from my favourite EyeKo mascara that made them look pretty.  Thankfully I've been very impressed with the results. No flaking, smudging or caking on my lashes. Wipes easily off with Andalou eye makeup remover. It's not inexpensive at $24 a tube, but it's lasted me about two months. I'm excited to try more da lish products soon. 

Beautycounter Cleansing Balm

If I was stranded on a desert island, Beautycounter Cleansing Balm would be in my bag. I was most skeptical about changing my facial regimen, but the results I've achieved using Beautycounter are outstanding. This cleanser melts into your skin removing all traces of makeup and impurities. I feel so fresh, clean and smooth after washing my face with this balm and don't miss bubbles on my face at all. I also find a little sweep of the balm on my cheeks before heading out into cold weather is a great barrier for my skin. As a bonus...I'm also loving the Beautycounter Rejuvenating Radiance Serum - add this to your list as well.