Do you ever think “I would love to change to natural, pure, organic products, but they are just too expensive!”
We all want to avoid harsh chemicals and toxins, but we also want products that work and won’t break the bank.
Sure, some natural and organic products are more expensive. But not all. You can find great, natural, clean products for the same (or close!) to what you are paying now.
Below is a list of my personal favorite natural and affordable beauty products. These are products I use every day and wouldn’t live without… you may be surprised by their prices!
Natural Hair Products
Acure Organics Shampoo and Conditioner
Whenever someone tells me they’ve tried “natural” shampoos, but they just didn’t like them (not enough lather, too heavy, not conditioning enough, weird smell…) this is the shampoo I tell them they must try! I love it even more than the expensive, chemical filled salon shampoo I was using before greening my beauty routine.
Acure Organics Shampoo Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Stem Cell $9.99
Acure Organics Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner $9.99
Natural Face Products
Serum:
Instead of spending a lot of money on a facial serum, I use 100% pure Argan oil on my face every morning. Argan oil is super food for your skin! It is full of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and proteins to help fight fine lines and imperfections. Look for USDA certified organic argan oil with no additional ingredients like this one from Acure: Argan Oil $12.
Daily Moisturizer with SPF:
It’s important to moisturize and protect our skin from the sun. Choosing a tinted daily moisturizer with SPF will do this, and provide enough coverage to skip a foundation. 3 products for the price of one! Juice Beauty Organic SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer $29 feels light, moisturizing, and evens out your complexion (available in 5 shades).
Lip Balm:
Lip balm is a staple product for many of us. Something we apply, and reapply many times over the course of a day. Did you know that many common lip balms contain several endocrine disruptors (parabens, BHT, and chemical sunscreens), coal tar dyes linked to cancer, artificial fragrance and flavor, and petroleum-derived oils that can lock all these chemicals in? But you don’t have to spend a fortune for a natural lip balm that really works. Here are 2 of my favorites: Acure Dark Chocolate + Mint Lip Balm $3.99 and Badger Pomegranate Cocoa Butter Lip Balm $4.99
Mascara:
Finding a great mascara is hard. Finding a great mascara that is free of coal tar, petroleum and parabens (all associated with health concerns) is even harder! It’s the one product most women have trouble replacing during our Green + Glowing Beauty Routine Makeover sessions. The good news is Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara $10 is a great drug store find! The ingredients are clean, it goes on nicely and last all day.
Natural Body Products
Skip the heavily perfumed and expensive body lotions! The secret to soft, moisturized skin is to apply a high quality oil immediately after showering (while your skin is still wet), then gently pat dry. This will lock the moisture in and hydrate your skin. Look for single ingredient products (no preservatives or fillers) like Desert Essence Organic Jojoba Oil $14
Here’s another savings tip: most products can be found locally at stores like Whole Foods or on-line at sites like Pharmaca.com. Every 3-4 months my Whole Foods has a 30% off sale on certain brands and I stock up! Pharmaca.com regularly has 20-30% off sales with free shipping. Watch for sales, stock up, and save. As you start looking for your own natural bargains, keep in mind the top ingredients linked to health concerns to avoid. Here’s a cheat sheet I created to print out and keep in my wallet.
Yes, we can have it all! Budget friendly, natural, and effective beauty products. Feel good knowing you are swapping out unhealthy chemicals for natural, beauty promoting ingredients, without breaking the bank.
Liane Moccia is the founder of Live-Clear, a website born out of her love of luxury beauty products and an ongoing quest to live a healthier, more natural life. She is passionate about educating people on the toxic ingredients found in most beauty products and making it easy to find natural, pure products you’ll fall in love with. Download a free copy of her Quick Tips for Safer Products here.
Thanks for these ideas, tips, and recommendations! I was going shopping for new mascara today – I’ll be sure to pick up the Organic Wear one you suggest. Thanks again – what we put on our faces is as important as what we put in our bodies!
Emily, great timing!! Let me know how you like the mascara… I love finding products that are natural without compromise!