
It’s been about eight years since I started the process of removing chemicals from my home and beauty products. Beauty was one of the last things I switched because I felt like it was a big expense but my mom’s cancer diagnosis and learning the things I could do to prevent it was a big motivator for me. I’ve learned a lot in the last seven years and have slowly made the switch. I can’t control genetics or biology. But what I can control is my home environment, food and what we use on our bodies.
Rilyn is almost 11 and has entered into a new stage of really caring about what she looks like. She wants the smelly bath soap, hair styling products and, recently, makeup. I want to get her started on the right foot with clean, toxic-free products so I’ve been on the hunt.
If you’ve never used EWG’s Skin Deep database, I HIGHLY recommend checking out your favorite products. It rates them on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the best and 10 being the worst for you as far as ingredients go. They also have products that are EWG Verified which are the absolute safest for you. I like to stay within the “green” and always steer clear of “fragrance”. Sometimes, a product will rate “green” but still has ingredients I’m not comfortable with. Do your research and make a decision based on your comfort level.
A set of these products in a bag (like this for guys or this for girls with a set of brushes) would be a great gift for your tween or teen! Here are a breakdown of the brands and the products they have that your tween or teen would love!
C’EST MOI
This brand tweens will love because of the bright colorful packaging, while I love they have so many EWG certified products. Here are some of my favorite products:
Vanilla Vibes Cleansing Body Wash
Refreshing Papaya and Strawberry Seed Facial Scrub
PACIFICA
Pacifica is 100% vegan and cruelty free. They have several EWG certified products, however many of their products don’t rate in the green level. It’s up to you for your comfort level in products. Here are my favorites and ones I feel comfortable with Rilyn using.
Most colorful eyeshadows rate very high on the toxic scale, but Pacifica’s eyeshadows rate in the green level and still offer some colors that tweens are drawn to!
Crystal Matrix Eyeshadow Palette
Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mascara
SCHMIDT’S
If you are looking for deodorant, soap and body wash that both boys and girls would like, check out Schmidt’s! Unfortunately, many of their products contain fragrance. However, any of the white labeled deodorants do not. My favorite is Bergamot and Lime.
BEAUTYCOUNTER
Beautycounter has made a name for itself in clean beauty products and fighting for more legislation that would clean up the beauty industry. Some of their products don’t list in the green, however most all of their products rate very low or are EWG certified. Here are my favorite products for tweens and teens. I have the best Beautycounter rep, Maddy (Cory Kreitzer). She took over her mom’s business when she recently lost her battle with cancer.
Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer (a good start to foundation)
Counterman line (great for guys)
HONEST BEAUTY
Honest is a GREAT starter brand and very cost effective! They make my favorite mascara and blush. Not all of their products rate in the “green” on the EWG scale, so do your research and choose based on your comfort level.
Extreme Length Mascara and Lash Primer
Let me know which products you’ll let your tween or teen try! Also, drop in the comments any other suggestions!