A glimpse into my bathroom cabinet: The clean beauty products I swear by
These are the clean, non-pore-clogging products I am loving and the two resources I use before investing in any new product.
After I opened up my inbox to inquiries on how I cleared my acne naturally, one of the most asked questions was which clean and non-toxic products I switched to when on my journey.
This is my clean, non-toxic shopping guide.
Let’s first start with skincare!
My clean, no pore-clogging skincare routine.
Cleansers
When it comes to skincare, I love gentle products that leave my face feeling clean, yet don’t compromise my natural glow. For me, less is more. I’ve found that a key step in having hydrated skin, is making sure your cleanser doesn’t strip your face of all its natural oils. I discovered Clearstem earlier this year and have been using their Gentle Clean Cleanser since. It’s clean, designed for acne-prone skin and contains no hormone-disrupting ingredients!
Other cleansers I love are the Vanessa Megan Petitgrain PH Balancing Cream Cleanser, which is amazing for removing your makeup, as well as the Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Cleanser.
Exfoliant
If I have had an infrared sauna session, I will use the Go-To Gentle Exfoliator to remove any dead skin cells. I have quite sensitive skin, but this product never breaks me out.
Facial spray, serum and moisturisers
After I wash and tone my face, I will spritz my face with the Avène Thermal Spring Water. Our skin is like a sponge, so you want your skin to be slightly damp so it can absorb the properties of your skincare products. I’ll go in with a serum Cosmedix Clarity Serum, which has no pore-clogging ingredients*. Finally, I’ll lock in then serum with the Illuminating Brighten Your Day Crème (for day) or Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Crème Riche (for night).
Sunscreen
I have never been diligent with sunscreen (until recently) mainly because I found that my skin would suffer from breakouts. I started using the iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50+ at the end of last year as it contains no pore-clogging ingredients.*
Eye cream
When I’m not wearing makeup, I will apply the IMBIBE Collagen Eyes. It’s so rich, hydrating and the only eye cream I wear.
Lip balm
My go-to lip balm is the Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment. It creates a stunningly thick and glossy layer over you lips.
Make-up products I swear by.
Face
I don’t wear any foundation and alternatively apply concealer to cover any dark circles or blemishes. I love the Kosas Revealer Concealer for a clean alternative. I’m also a huge fan of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer as it contains no pore-clogging ingredients*.
I recently started wearing the Kora Organics Rose Quartz Luminizer Highlighter after a friend gifted it to me. I apply it to the high points of my face and it creates a beautiful natural glow.
Eyes
When it comes to eye makeup, my go-to brand is Ilia. The Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara is phenomenal and the perfect accompaniment to the Clean Gel Eyeliner, which I use to great a slightly smudged eyeliner look.
Lips
I only ever wear one lipliner and it’s the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Gossip. It contains no pore-clogging ingredients and is the perfect darker pink shade. I use this as my lip base and will coat my lips either with the Ilia Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment or the Kosas Wet Lip Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss.
My go-to vegan haircare brand.
Maria Nila is a Swedish haircare brand that launched in Australia last year. It’s vegan and used by the likes of Elsa Hosk and Matilda Djerf. My hairdresser, Marie Cain of Have A Nice Day, introduced me to the brand and I have been using everything in their range (i.e. shampoo, conditioner, heat protectant, hair spray, hair masks) since.
I use the hair mask to slick my hair back, rather than hairspray. I find that using a hair mask rather than hair spray keeps my hair in place and doesn’t thin my hair out around my hairline, like other hairsprays have in the past.
The two natural deodorant brands that keep you smelling fresh.
If there is one product you should go natural on, it’s your deodorant! There is something about spraying heavy metals (i.e. aluminium) and toxic chemicals every, single day under my armpit and next my breast, where my lymph nodes are located, that makes me incredibly uncomfortable!
I may have tried every natural deodorant on the market (not actually, but it feels as if I have) and I have discovered two that work. I first started wearing Schmidt’s Rose and Vanilla Deodorant during lockdown, and it since has become increasingly popular. You can purchase it from major chemists and supermarkets across Australia.
Earlier this year I switched to the Salt & Stone deodorants which I am obsessed with! It is an LA-based brand, so I purchase mine from MU Australia.
The natural, non-toxic oral care brand that is chic enough to leave on your counter.
There are so many reasons why you should be using natural oral care products, one of them being that some regular toothpastes contain harmful chemicals included in rat poison. Recent studies have associated poor oral health with heart disease. In fact, some mouthwashes are known to increase your blood pressure. This is why health advocates are claiming that your mouth is your second gut.
I have been using the Gem oral care range for the last two years, primarily because their toothpaste contains fluoride. If you are using a natural toothpaste, ensure it contains fluoride to prevent cavities. I also always keep the Gem breath spray in my bag, which is a great alternative to using breath mints which typically contain artificial sweeteners.
My go-to resources to ensure the products I’m using are clean and won’t clog my pores.
* I use this website to check if products will clog my pores.
Whilst I prefer to use natural beauty products, there are some products that I use that aren’t 100% natural. Before I try a new skincare or makeup product, I will scan the ingredients of the product on Acne Clinic NYC to check if it contains pore-clogging ingredients. This is an amazing free resource to check if a product is safe to put on your skin. I have a video demonstrating how to use the site here.
This is the app I use to check if products contain toxic ingredients or chemicals.
I discovered the Think Dirty app earlier this year from Dr. Daniel Amen, who is a holistic celebrity psychiatrist. It is a free app that allows you to scan the barcode of any beauty, personal care and household product to see if it contains any nasty ingredients. The app also features verified brands if you would like to discover new and verified clean products.
As always, I’m always looking for new products to trial and test, so if there are any products you think I need to try, let me know in the comments below!