5 Clean Beauty Swaps That Actually Matter (and Why)

Clean beauty doesn’t have to mean swapping everything at once, living off celery juice, or spending $200 at the organic store. It starts with the basics—just a few intentional swaps can dramatically reduce your exposure to toxins that mess with your skin, hormones, and long-term health.

Here are the 5 clean beauty swaps that actually matter most—based on what touches your skin daily and what your body absorbs the most.

✨ Not sure where to start? These are the first switches I recommend to anyone detoxing their beauty routine—especially if you want real results without panic or perfectionism.

🧴 1. Swap Your Facewash: Go Fragrance-Free Cream or Gel Cleanser

If your cleanser foams like dish soap or smells like a department store fragrance counter... we have a problem.

Conventional face washes often contain sulfates, synthetic fragrance, and harsh surfactants that strip your skin barrier, disrupt your pH, and cause long-term irritation.

🔁 Instead, look for:

• Fragrance-free formulas

• Gentle cream or gel textures

• Ingredients like aloe, glycerin, or chamomile

📌 Why it matters:
Fragrance is a top allergen and endocrine disruptor—especially when used daily, on warm, absorbent skin. A gentle cleanser protects your barrier and sets the tone for everything that follows.

💡 See my favorites here → Cleansers & Toners

💧 2. Upgrade Your Moisturizer: Squalane, Aloe, or Jojoba Oil

Moisturizer sits on your skin all day. And if it's filled with PEGs, synthetic preservatives, or chemical emulsifiers, it’s not doing you any favors.

🔁 Look for:

• Squalane (plant-based = lightweight & non-comedogenic)

• Aloe vera for hydration + soothing

• Jojoba oil, which mimics your skin's natural sebum

📌 Why it matters:
Your skin absorbs what you apply—especially leave-on products. Clean moisturizers support hydration and hormonal health without clogging pores or stressing your skin microbiome.

💡 Explore safe options → Serums, Moisturizers & Eye Creams

🌞 3. Ditch Chemical SPF for a Mineral One (Zinc-Based)

SPF is a non-negotiable. But most conventional sunscreens? Loaded with chemical filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone, which are linked to hormone disruption and coral reef damage.

🔁 Choose instead:

• Non-nano zinc oxide

• Mineral-based formulas with clean hydration

• Fragrance-free, especially for sensitive skin

📌 Why it matters:
Zinc oxide sits on top of your skin—blocking UV rays without penetrating your bloodstream. It's pregnancy-safe, baby-safe, and ideal for anyone prioritizing longevity and low-tox living.

💡 My glow-safe picks → Clean Sunscreens

🧼 4. Switch To A Natural Deodorant (Aluminum-Free)

your underarms are home to lymph nodes, sweat glands, and thin, porous skin—so what you apply here really matters. aluminum, synthetic fragrance, and parabens? not the vibe.

🔁 look for:

• magnesium-based or arrowroot formulas

• baking soda-free if you’re sensitive

• essential oil or fragrance-free if prone to irritation

📌 why it matters:
aluminum blocks sweat by clogging pores—and studies suggest it may interfere with estrogen function. clean deodorants allow your body to detox naturally without smelling like a foot.

💡 this way to low-tox and hormone-safe deodorants: → The Best Aluminum-Free, Hormone-Safe Deodorants That Actually Work

🧴 5. Upgrade Your Body Lotion: Choose Oil-Based or Natural Butter

Your body lotion covers more surface area than anything else—and many conventional options are loaded with parabens, PEGs, mineral oil, and synthetic fragrance.

🔁 Clean alternatives:

• Oil-based balms (like squalane, coconut, or almond)

• Shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter

• Simple, nourishing formulas without fragrance

📌 Why it matters:
Your skin is your largest organ—and it absorbs what you put on it. Lotion is a daily ritual that can either support your skin barrier or quietly disrupt it.

👉 shop my daily slather-worthy favorites → clean body lotions + hormone-safe oils

💋 Bonus: Petroleum-Free Lip Balm

You're literally eating it. 💄

Petroleum-based balms coat the lips but don’t nourish them. They also often contain paraffin, mineral oil, and artificial dyes that aren’t doing you any favors.

🔁 Look for:

• Beeswax or candelilla wax base

• Shea butter or coconut oil

• Vitamin E and natural oils for moisture

📌 Why it matters:
Your lips are thin and permeable. This is one of the most important clean swaps—especially during cold weather or pregnancy.

👉 Shop My Favorite Clean Lip Balms

🧴 Shampoo That Doesn’t Strip (or Scent-Smack)

Most shampoos contain sulfates, silicones, and synthetic fragrance that dry out the scalp, disrupt hormones, and wash down the drain into our environment.

🔁 Instead, choose:

• Sulfate-free, fragrance-free formulas

• Aloe-based or oil-infused shampoos

• Products rated clean by the Yuka App or EWG

💡 Want to deep dive on this? A shampoo blog is coming soon…

If you’re unsure what ‘clean beauty’ actually means, this post breaks it all down → The Truth About Clean Beauty

and remember Clean swaps are just one piece of the inner glow puzzle → Holistic Beauty: The Glow They Don’t Sell in Stores

💡 Final Thoughts: Start Small, Think Big

You don’t need to swap everything overnight. Start with the basics—what touches your skin every day—and build from there. That’s how you create a routine that supports your body, beauty, and longevity without stress.

📥 Want help? Download my free Clean Beauty Checklist to get started (and keep it saved on your phone!).