Ingredients can be harmful different reasons. Some may dry out skin while others have been linked to cancer. Often, these ingredients are put into products to make them more pleasing — whether to smell a certain way, create a richer lather or give them a longer shelf life. But our bodies don’t know how to process them.
We all know the importance of making healthy decisions when it comes to staying active and eating well. But have you ever thought about the products you use on your body, your nails? Up to 60 percent of what you apply to your skin makes its way into your bloodstream, so choosing safe products is an important decision you can make for your health. Clean-beauty products contain wholesome, nourishing ingredients; offer amazing scents, textures, and experiences; and work really well, too.
All of that is what inspired me to create DEMIblue Clean and Vegan Nail Polish. It was a call to action after my mom's experience with cancer and the fact that she could not use conventional nail polishes because all of the toxic chemicals that made them up. With what started as a desire to find a solution for my mom, turned into a desire to show the same love and support to the women in my community, and especially those who were cancer survivors. Today, we have over 25 nail polish colors and 6 nail treatments. We now also offer nail polishes for little girls!
What is clean beauty?
I think of clean beauty as
products that exclude ingredients that are either potentially or known to be harmful, such as parabens, phthalates, and chemical sunscreens.
Why is clean beauty important?
Frankly, the US government has let us down. The cosmetics industry is not heavily regulated, with only 30 toxic substances banned in the United States, compared to 1,500 in Europe and 500 in Canada. Legislation to change this remains stalled in Congress.
But the growing clean-beauty industry is setting a standard for safe beauty products while also helping educate and empower consumers.
How to Get Started with Clean Beauty
Trying to decode ingredient lists and making the switch to non-toxic beauty can be overwhelming and confusing; it took me years to learn about the ingredients to watch out for and overhaul all of my skincare and makeup products. If you’re just starting your journey into clean beauty, here are a few easy
swaps I recommend:
Deodorant: Many conventional deodorants are actually antiperspirants, meaning they stop you from sweating—which your body was designed to do, to cool down and release toxins. Antiperspirants typically use aluminum zirconium, which has been linked to breast cancer. Clean deodorants, on the other hand, use essential oils, clays, baking soda, and other non-toxic ingredients to help kill bacteria and keep you dry. Keep in mind that it usually takes your body a few weeks to adjust to clean deodorant, so give it some time.
Cleansers: Traditional facial cleansers and body washes can contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which makes them foamy. But this foaminess doesn’t do anything for you skin and SLS can in fact cause irritation. Since you use cleansers all over your body, this is an important switch to make.
Moisturizers: These often include cheap filler ingredients (like petroleum), and synthetic emulsifiers and preservatives, while my favorite clean alternatives are packed with nourishing ingredients from the earth. Just like cleansers, moisturizers are used all over, so they’re a good place to start.
Nail Polish: Well of course I'm partial to my own brand but you decide for yourself. Here is why you should try DEMIblue: The DEMIblue Clean and Vegan Nail Polish Brand is now 21-Free and Vegan Friendly. Free from animal derivatives, toluene, benzene, xylene, formaldehyde releaser, formaldehyde resin, phthalates, cyclic silicones, camphor, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), glycol ethers of series E, hydroquinone (HQ), 4-methodyphenol (MEHQ), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), nonylphenol ethoxylates, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, chromium oxide greens, bismuth oxychloride, carcinogenic mutagenic reprotoxic (CMR) substances, synthetic fragrances, and ethyl tosylamide. Made in recyclable bottles and is a Vegan Friendly formulation.
DEMIblue is where a Healthier you is right at your fingertips!
Some content provided by: Tara Foley/Follain