When making the change to non-toxic products, one of our most frequently asked questions is, “where do I start?” Very good question. Not only can it be expensive to swap out your entire makeup bag and crop of skincare products, but it can also be scary to all at once throw away the products you routinely use and trust.  Plus, you might not be ready to let go of your foundation (you finally found something that hides a certain imperfection!), and we totally understand that. So, where do you start if you're not ready to throw away all your products? Make the change gradually.

A great group of products that we always recommend as “firsts” are: B Glossy Lip Gloss, the Get Even Powder, and Antioxidant Daytime and Nighttime Serums. These three products work with most skin types and make skin look even more dazzling, without drastically changing your daily look.  They can even be worn in conjunction with your existing daily products (Get Even looks great on top of moisturizer or foundation and the Antioxidant Daytime Serum is a great base before applying moisturizer, foundation, etc).

Here are just a few ways to gradually transition to healthier products:

• Take inventory. Make a list of all the personal care products you use on a daily basis and research their toxicity on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. You’ll notice that some of your products will rank higher than others, so those are the ones you’ll want to swap out first.
• Swap out your products as you run out them. So, when you’re out of moisturizer, replace it with a healthy option.  This will give you time to get used to new products without making such a drastic change in your daily routine.
• Start with nighttime products. After all, they do call it “beauty sleep."While you’re fast asleep your skin is hard at work. Give it the opportunity to absorb good-for-you ingredients and rejuvenate. Our Antioxidant Boost is a great way to nourish your skin and you can mix it with your existing night cream, lotion, or our Antioxidant Nighttime Serum.
• Something often overlooked, but very important, is always remember to switch or clean your brushes when you switch to a new makeup. Bacteria and chemical residue can accumulate in brushes and we don’t want anything interfering with your healthy lifestyle.

No matter how you make the switch, what we always recommend that you do a patch test by placing a small amount of the product on a small piece of skin like the back of your wrist or ankle to see how your skin reacts. This is especially important for people who have plant based allergies, as natural products are largely derived from plants.

How did you make the switch? What was the first non-toxic product you added to your makeup bag?