How (And Why) I Cleaned Up My Skincare Routine

We care about how we move our bodies and what we fuel them with, but how often do we stop to think about what we’re putting on our skin?

In high school, I had volleyball practice every day. I had a pantry and fridge full of healthy food and parents who made dinner every night. I was incredibly lucky. I never thought about exercise or nutrition, because it was automatic.

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When I got to college, there was no more volleyball practice. To fill the hole, I started doing yoga and going to cycling classes. I started grocery shopping and making my own food choices. I realized that a healthy lifestyle in college wasn’t automatic — it required scheduling time to exercise and meal prep. As I cultivated this new awareness of how I was moving my body and what I was putting into it, I started to wonder about the stuff I was putting on it, too.

I had mild acne and wanted to experiment to see what would improve it. I came off hormonal birth control, which had been worsening the acne, and started wondering about the ingredients in the drugstore skincare products I was using. I went to the dermatologist, but wasn’t thrilled about using the medicated creams I was prescribed. I realized that some products would make my skin look good, but they weren’t necessarily good for my skin.

Get this — the U.K. bans 1,400 chemicals from personal care products like skincare, while the U.S. only bans around 9 or 10. The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t restrict ingredients like formaldehyde (a known carcinogen), triclosan (which disrupts the hormone system), and toluene (linked to reproductive and neurological harm). I don’t say this to scare you, but to encourage you to pay attention to what you’re buying.

Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge that this story and I are dripping in privilege. I have access to a world-class recreation facility (hey, Auburn Campus Rec). I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal would come from. I have health insurance that covers prescriptions and copays. I can spend time worrying about what skincare products I use — and I realize many people can’t. They’re funneling every penny into raising a child on their own or supporting themselves through college or some other impossibly challenging situation. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be, and if that’s you, keep doing the best you can. Let good enough be good enough.

That being said, I believe everyone should have access to healthy products, regardless of their income. That’s why I “vote with my dollar,” supporting skincare companies that are clean, ethically sourced, women-owned, sustainable, and charitable. I’m a drop in the ocean, yes, but I hope that we can eventually make companies like this the majority, increasing their accessibility.

By now, hopefully you’re like, “Oh shoot, how do I find cleaner options and incorporate them into my skincare routine and educate myself further?” So glad you asked.

Some companies I’d encourage you to look into are Cocokind, Lark Skin Co., MyChelle, and Acure. I want you to be empowered to make the right decisions for your lifestyle, skin, and budget. If you want to support a company that consciously sources ingredients and is as eco-friendly and low-waste as possible, maybe look into Cocokind. If it’s more important to you that your products are reef safe and vegan, maybe look into MyChelle. If none of these companies resonate with you, do your own research and find what aligns with you.

When I started this clean skincare “journey,” (if you will), I was a sophomore working a few hours a week and getting grocery money from my parents. I needed to be as economical as possible, so I started slowly swapping products out as I ran out. I researched the products I wanted to invest in, and when my current face wash was close to empty, instead of replacing it with the same thing, I would buy the cleaner option that I had researched. Shipping is also a thing, so I would try to order a few things I knew I would run out of soon — toner, moisturizer, etc. — and order those too so I hit the minimum.

I was also lucky that my mom had a Thrive Market membership, which is an online, membership-based market that delivers healthy and sustainable products available for every budget. They stock all of the brands I’ve talked about (plus lots more) that meet their high quality standards. I also love that they match each paid membership, like my mom’s, to provide a free one for a low-income family, student, teacher, veteran, or first responder.

Finally, in the effort to let good enough be good enough, please don’t think I want you to stop shopping at the grocery store, Target, Walmart, and drugstores. I definitely still do, but I like to use the “EWG Healthy Living” and “Think Dirty” apps to scan products and check out the ingredients. “EWG Healthy Living” ranks the product and its ingredients red, yellow, and green for developmental concern, cancer concern, and allergy concern. “Think Dirty” also lists health impacts, explanations, sources, warnings from regulatory agencies, and their suggestions for alternative picks. (You can find me in the aisles of Target scanning a bunch of products, no shame.)

While it’s an article for another time, I’d also encourage you to think about and research what’s in your makeup, hair products, deodorant, household cleaning products, and more.

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Good luck, and happy swapping!

Questions? Ask us in the comments below or on social, @AuburnCampusRec.

Be well, Auburn.

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Photography: Hannah S. and Kyleigh M.