September is just around the corner, and the new school year begins in a dystopian “new normal.” As it looks like much of the classes will meet from the comfort of our own homes, this is the perfect time to try new clean beauty hacks and, who knows? Maybe you’ll adopt them to simplify your routine. Here are our favorites:
Claudiana Beautanica Whipped Body Mousse for Silken Skin
For those of us who love natural beauty products with a lingering summery scent, the Claudiana Beautanica Whipped Body mousse comes to the rescue. With a savvy blend of ylang-ylang, patchouli and sweet orange essential oils, this wonderful body mousse replenishes my oh-so-dry epidermis with a cocoon of natural goodness. Botanical oils, aloe vera , mango butter, and plant ceramides are the secret for one of the most hydrating natural body creams I have ever used. It is also perfect as a post-summer treat because it is fortified with vitamin C, to help counter the oxidative damage that the sun might have caused during your brief vacay (if you have been so lucky.)
For those of us who had to spend the whole summer in the city, this cream smells like those fun summer nights when everything was fun and masks didn’t even enter our minds. A perfect mental escape to transition with grace into the new season, we are smitten with the aromatherapeutic properties of this body mousse. And yes, it also gets rid of croc skin, so we wholeheartedly recommend that you give it a try. A full body experience in a jar that will help you create a much-needed daily ritual to just breathe in and enjoy being alive, even if the world is going crazy.
The deets: Claudiana Botanica 001 is lovingly made in New York with only natural ingredients, and retails for $42.
552M by Odacite: A Solid Shampoo that Packs a Punch
Looking to cut back on your plastic consumption? We have found a glorious natural solid shampoo that equals three (yes, three!!) bottles of conventional shampoo. Deeply restoring and very hydrating, it is the Millennial version of a good hair day minus the plastic pollution.
This beautiful bar of shampoo delivers a rich, restorative lather that works very well with my curls. The secret? Organic coconut oil to improve hair texture, cupuacu butter from Brazil to nourish the hair, argan oil and castor oil to seal in moisture, and zero nasties and no SLS for comfort of the scalp.
Touted by Hilary Duff as a wonder-bar, this solid shampoo by Odacite promises to leave hair restored and manageable, and I can truly say it delivers on its promises. After just a couple of uses, my curls felt revived (though I haven’t had the chance to visit a stylist in a few months), my scalp wasn’t itching (I am very sensitive to the SLS found in conventional shampoos), and my hair kept its volume for a few days (even if I seem to be going for a Rapunzel look and it is so long that it is weighed down!) My verdict? Less plastic and more volume are absolute winners in my book of clean beauty hacks! I cannot wait to take it on my trips once it is safe to fly again.
The Deets: 552M by Odacite is a game-changer for your hair and planet that retails for $29, is lovingly made in France, and is sold at The Detox Market.
Sea Witch Botanicals: Natural Soap with a Touch of Magic
At a time when we seem to be scrubbing our hands raw after singing happy birthday to our faucets a thousand times a day, it is very refreshing to find new companies that manufacture natural soap in a traditional way.
The Sea Witch Botanicals Herbal Renewal soap features an invigorating blend of lavender and rosemary essential oils to remind us of all that is good in nature. Inspired by the dawning sun embracing a misty mountain, the essential oils blend is calming, relaxing, and balancing. This handcrafted aromatherapeutic soap is made with organic ingredients, has no nasties, and is palm-free and cruelty-free, for a holistic clean beauty experience. It is also made using the cold-process method, which guarantees that the natural properties (aka the gooey goodness) of the oils remain intact.
With a touch of clay and activated charcoal, it is perfect for a relaxing shower at the end of a hot day. Deeply moisturizing yet not greasy, my very dry skin loves it, and its very balanced relaxed blend is not too overpowering (unlike other lavender-scented products that somehow get on my nerves.) On top of that, did we mention that it has a beautiful engraving of a nautilus that looks really beautiful in your bathroom counter?
The Deets: The Herbal Renewal Artisan Soap by Sea Witch Botanicals is made with love in the USA and retails for $14.
Dr. Bronner’s Toothpastes: Clean Beauty Hacks for a Healthy Mouth
If you are looking for a fluoride-free toothpaste that leaves your mouth sparkling fresh, look no further. Dr. Bronner’s has launched a new variety of its All-One Toothpaste!
The new Dr. Bronner’s Spearmint All-One Toothpaste is made with a combination of spearming oil and organic menthol crystals, for a squeaky-clean feeling that lasts a long time and without the sting of the traditional mint flavor. Made with a whopping 70% of organic ingredients, it is certified vegan, fluoride-free, cruelty-free and contains no synthetic foaming detergents (aka my feared sodium lauryl sulfate, to which I am extremely sensitive.)
Formulated with hydrated silica and calcium carbonate for their gentle abrasive protection, organic aloe juice to soothe gums, and organic menthol crystals for a refreshing flavor, the new spearmint toothpaste will surely conquer many green hearts!
The Deets: The new Dr. Bronner’s Spearmint Toothpaste is lovingly made in the USA, and retails for $6.49.
Nala, a New Generation of Clean Deodorants
Are you looking for all-day protection with an aluminum-free formula that doesn’t have hidden nasties? We got you. Nala is a new generation of clean deodorants that offers a customizable level of protection with different scents.
The story behind Nala is a tale of love, loss, and social responsibility. After losing a devoted father to cancer, the two founders decided to put to good use their backgrounds in biotech engineering and technology and create a safe, effective deodorant for everybody free from the worst-offenders.
I personally like very much the Nala peppermint + charcoal deodorant. It is the perfect introductory natural deodorant for those who are looking to make an easy switch from the conventional formulas. Unisex, it is an effective formula designed to help aid in the transition process, which usually means a higher level of odor and wetness while the body gets used to a natural deodorant. Very refreshing and without baking soda, its formula includes a beautiful blend of luxurious butters and oils to hydrate the acidic mantle of the skin, while the tapioca starch, the charcoal, and the arrowroot powder control the level of humidity without clogging your pores. Finally, the clean scent is not overpowering, and the perfect introduction to the natural beauty world. Free from baking soda and extremely gentle, what a better clean beauty hack to start the school year with a bit of an oomph?
The Deets: The Nala Detox natural deodorant in a stick is lovingly made in the USA, retails for $29, and is also customizable.
Bug Bite Thing: Bug-Bye, Mosquitoes!
The last days of the summer tend to be quite muggy in New York City. The heat and the high levels of humidity attract swarms of pesky mosquitoes, to which yours truly is extremely sensitive.
As I am personally fed up with the horrible feeling that I get every time one of the little buggers feasts on my blood uninvited, I had to give the Bug Bite Thing a try. This insect bite and sting suction tool is a completely natural alternative to Benadryl, and promises to suction out insect saliva/venom from under the skin, which is what typically causes strong reactions in people like moi. A note of caution: If you are allergic, have been diagnosed with Skeeter Syndrome, are experiencing an allergic reaction or a severe bite, you need to seek medical attention immediately. This tool is designed to help alleviate itching and swelling but is not a substitute for proper medical care in severe cases.
This said, I have used the tool on my latest mosquito bites and I was very surprised that it actually worked. It is not a miracle cure, but I have noticed that, when I use it properly, the itching and swelling of the bite aren’t as severe, and last less days on average. Combined with a proper hygiene (I always wash any bites gently with soap and cold water), it has been a quite useful tool this summer. And apparently it also can be used to remove splinters!
The Deets: The Bug Bite Thing is lovingly made in Denmark, is a reusable tool, and retails for $9.95.
