By: Founder, Leah Kirpalani
I created Shop Good because I believe that your beauty and skincare routine should be both effective and good for you, too. But, research by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) highlights that conventional personal care products can contain up to 10,500 unique chemical ingredients—many of which have been linked to endocrine disruption, potential carcinogens, and other health concerns. And while the European Union has proactively banned hundreds of these ingredients, the United States has restricted only eleven. With studies suggesting that as much as 60% of what you apply to your skin is absorbed into your body every day, choosing clean, naturally derived formulations is undoubtedly a critical decision in your path to health and wellness.
But we shuldnt have to forgo the performance of our skincare and makeup in order to adhere to clean ingredients. The good thing is,there are so many exciting breakthroughs happening in the beauty and skincare space. Thanks to new innovations in plant science and green chemistry, we now have access to powerful, non-toxic alternatives to the harsh ingredients found in conventional products. Think plant-based peptides for firmer skin, bio-fermented extracts for a healthy glow, and antioxidant-rich botanicals that protect and nourish—all backed by science to deliver real results. Clean beauty isn’t just about what ingredients to avoid; it’s about becoming an educated and informed beauty consumer, and intentionally choosing credible brands using non-toxic and effective ingredients that help your skin and body thrive, inside and out. Shop Good is here to help you do just that.
But where do you begin swapping our your coveted skincare and beauty products for cleaner, better for you choices? Well, with a few simple initial steps, you can transition to safer, non-toxic products that support your skin and overall well-being. Here are five easy steps to help you refresh your routine with clean beauty essentials.
1. Curate Your Collection with Purpose.
Start by giving your beauty cabinet a refresh! Declutter by tossing expired products, clearing out anything that no longer serves your skin’s needs, and making room for better, smarter swaps. This simple step gives you the opportunity to curate your cabinet with intention and better reflect what you need to support the current state of your skin. It will shine a light on things you may need to replace now versus items you can wait on. Not sure what to do with your empties? If you’re in San Diego, you can bring them to a Shop Good and recycle them through The Clean Cut recycling program!
Shop Good’s Recommendations for a Cabinet Refresh
2. Prioritize Daily Essentials.
Start with the products you reach for every single day—your cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, lip balm, and deodorant. These staples have the most contact with your skin, making them the best place to begin swapping for cleaner alternatives. For example, upgrading to a gentle, plant-based cleanser can remove dirt and oil without stripping your skin’s natural barrier, while a mineral-based sunscreen offers sun protection without harmful chemicals like oxybenzone. Even switching to a nourishing lip balm made with organic butters and oils ensures that what you apply (and inevitably ingest) is free from synthetic additives. Small swaps in your everyday routine add up to big benefits over time, supporting your skin’s health with every single use.
Shop Good’s Recommendation for Top-shelf Multi-taskers
- Three Daily Essentials
3. Transition Gradually for Seamless Results.
Switching to clean beauty is a journey, not an overnight transformation. Replace your products as they run out, allowing each new addition to be an opportunity to embrace cleaner, more effective formulations. This gradual transition lets you transition without stress, wasting money, and can also help guide you in which products are really making the (positive, or even reactive) impact on your skin.
Shop Good’s Recommendations for High-turnover Replenishments
- When you run out, don't replen the old brand!
4. Swap Out for Ingredients You’d Eat!
It’s true. The products we apply to our lips and hands often make their way into our bodies! Whether it’s your lipstick that gets transferred to your coffee cup or the hand cream you apply before nibbling your nails during that intense Stranger Things episode, these items have a more direct route into your system than we realize. Many conventional products, like lipstick and nail polish, can contain harmful ingredients such as lead and toxins that we certainly didn’t sign up for.
Instead, choose clean beauty products made with ingredients you’d feel good about eating—think nourishing oils like jojoba, coconut, and shea butter, or plant-based pigments in your lipstick. For nail care, go for non-toxic, breathable formulas free from harsh chemicals.
Shop Good’s Recommendations for Products You Might Ingest.
- Product with food-grade ingredients
5. Trust Your Nose as Your Guide.
Our bodies are incredibly adaptive. When we make a shift in habits—whether it's changing our diet or swapping out personal care products—our body chemistry adjusts to re-stabilize itself. This is particularly noticeable when transitioning from synthetic to natural ingredients in our beauty routine.
After I made the switch to all-natural products, I revisited a floral-scented body lotion I had received as a gift. The gardenia rose scent that once smelled so soothing now seemed completely overpowering and synthetic. It no longer smelled like the calming fragrance I had once loved; it just felt harsh and out of place!
This is a great opportunity to let your nose lead you to clean. After replacing a couple of products with natural alternatives, keep an old product on hand to compare. You may find that the scent you once found luxurious no longer holds the same appeal. Take a moment to assess the rest of your beauty stash—your nose will quickly help you discern what smells naturally-derived and what smells artificial. You'll be surprised at how much more attuned you become to what’s truly nourishing for your body.
Shop Good’s Recommendations for Gentle or Natural Scents
- Unscented option
Join the Clean Beauty Revolution with Shop Good
My mission at Shop Good is to make your transition to clean beauty effortless and successful. We’ve curated the best selection of products that marry safety with results. So “you can have both!” A beauty routine that’s safe as well as luxurious, fun, and downright effective.
Ready to elevate your beauty routine? Discover our hyper-edited collection at Shop Good, where nature-inspired skincare meets results. Stop in our San Diego shops and spas to gain one-on-one advice from our Product Experts or Holistic Estheticians, or chat with us online. We can't wait to help you glow, naturally!