As a self-professed lazy girl when it comes to skincare, I do my best to find the best products that do the job without much work. I love products that work double duty, and if it works to moisturize my skin on top of whatever else it’s doing, it’s an immediate yes from me. What can I say, I’m easily pleased. 

On the flipside, I also have an affinity for trying everything I can get my hands on. If it’s under $20 at Sephora, it’s probably in my cart or I’ve already picked it up on an impromptu Sephora run. (There is a Sephora every couple miles in Chicago — I can’t get away!) Every new trend, weird eyeliner, new lipstick shade, and up-and-coming brand finds its way into my makeup bag eventually.

Affordable, dual-purpose beauty is basically a match made in heaven according to Amazon. I already order everything else I could ever need from there (books, workout gear, home decor, fashion — you name it, I’ve ordered it.), so why not add some beauty products to my cart while I’m at it? After some serious scrolling, I found my nirvana: the K-Beauty department.

Amazon is a one-stop shop when it comes to Korean skincare, makeup, and haircare. So, if you’re all about the 10-step skincare routine or just love a quick and easy beauty routine, keep reading. We found the best stuff. (I’m a little biased, but I’d say it’s the best!) 

 

What K-Beauty products do you love? Let us know in the comments!

The post The Best Korean Skincare You Can Get on Amazon appeared first on The Everygirl.

You already know that sunscreen is our top beauty secret and pool-side accessory (sun protection is chic, ladies!). Even if you’re one of the lucky ones who do not burn like a literal lobster after 25 minutes outside (guilty!), sun exposure can cause wrinkles and premature aging, but most importantly, skin cancer. We depend on our trusty SPF to protect our skin and our health from harmful sun rays. But unfortunately, all sunscreens are not created equal.

A recent study found that chemicals in certain sunscreens are absorbed by the body in levels high enough it could prompt a government investigation… sounds like an episode of CSI, doesn’t it? Many of the sunscreens you might be using (and using on a regular basis if you’re doing it right) might contain ingredients that have a damaging effect on your body, or could even fail to protect against all forms of sun rays. While the FDA is currently undertaking new SPF regulations (the future is promising!), our current sunscreen options for this season can be laced with harmful chemicals, and might not fully protect from all the sun’s rays.

 

Why should you chose mineral-based sunscreen?

Mineral sunscreen, as opposed to chemical sunscreen, is exactly what it sounds like — sunscreen that uses minerals (most commonly zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) to protect from the sun. The minerals sit on top of your skin and reflect UV rays so they don’t reach you (think: a bunch of tiny mirrors reflecting the light). Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the rays through a chemical reaction. While this process protects rays from burning your skin, your body still absorbs the chemicals, and the chemicals can even seep into your bloodstream.

Since mineral sunscreen is not being absorbed as much as chemical formulas, and may even offer better sun protection, it’s considered the more non-toxic option (plus, it’s better for the environment). However, just because a sunscreen says it’s mineral does not always mean it does not also contain chemicals. Look for options that claim 100 percent mineral-based active ingredients, and research the ingredients of any sunscreen you’re unsure about.

For more information on healthy sunscreen practices and harmful ingredients, check out the EWG’s 2019 sunscreen report, and shop our picks below for the very best non-toxic, mineral-based, and natural sunscreens that 2019 has to offer:

 

The Best Non-Toxic Sunscreens of 2019

 

For the Face

 

For the Body

 

For Sport

 

For Children

The post The Best Non-Toxic Sunscreens of 2019 appeared first on The Everygirl.

As a little girl I was used to the six-week touch up, having my mom mix the relaxer kit in the kitchen and wash my hair out over the sink. Yet, despite this regular routine, I always saw myself as having a pretty “natural” look. I never had fake nails, wore minimal makeup, wasn’t a huge fan of weaves or wigs, and honestly, didn’t have my first pair of false eyelashes until just a couple years ago.

It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I stopped to contemplate — was my relaxed hair really natural? I mean, it was mine, coming out of my own head, but pressed and heated and fried to fit the mold of specific beauty standards.

Growing up in a predominantly white community, I’d never questioned chemically straightening my hair. But when I moved to Chicago I became friends with some phenomenal black women. These ladies rocked their curls, embraced their coils, and celebrated their texture. As I admired their natural hair, I realized I didn’t actually know what mine looked like. I’d been on the creamy crack so long that I wasn’t sure what was underneath.

 

It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I stopped to contemplate — was my relaxed hair really natural? I mean, it was mine, coming out of my own head, but pressed and heated and fried to fit the mold of specific beauty standards.

 

I wasn’t sure what was underneath my attempts to meet the beauty standards of women who didn’t look like me. That realization felt like walking into a glass door. The landscape didn’t change, but my perception of it was fundamentally altered.

I decided it was time for “The Big Chop.” I grew my unrelaxed hair out as long as I could, wearing thick headbands to hide the emerging curls. But soon managing the two conflicting textures felt like a part-time job. The straightened ends that still comprised three-fourths of my hair truly felt like dead weight, and they had to go.

So I did it. I was left with less than an inch of fresh, tight coils. I wish I could tell you it was the fist pumping, independent woman moment I imagined. But I can’t.

 

I wasn’t sure what was underneath my attempts to meet the beauty standards of women who didn’t look like me.

 

For the first few weeks I was low-key seeking affirmation from every corner. I liked the change, but simultaneously felt the compulsion to make sure other people did too. I’m ashamed to admit I even sought the seal of approval from a white man I was into at the time — I know, insert eye roll and facepalm emojis.

It was no longer my hair that needed to grow, it was something deeper within me.

But the unsolicited input from others, strangers and acquaintances alike, didn’t help. People felt the freedom to ask questions about my hair (is it really yours?); to provide comments about my hair (it just looks so ethnic); and to reach out and touch my hair —without asking. All things that, to someone who hasn’t ever dealt with them, may not seem like a big deal, but by every definition are microaggressions.

Even though I was shedding the pressure to assimilate, I was still hoping my natural hair would be considered “good hair” — contained, viewed as “ professional” and still somewhat close to a representation of beauty that made people comfortable. But there are always people who will be uncomfortable with things that aren’t familiar to them.

So I just kept coming back to my why. I did this for me, not them. Why?

 

Even though I was shedding the pressure to assimilate, I was still hoping my natural hair would be considered ‘good hair’ — contained, viewed as ‘professional’ and still somewhat close to a representation of beauty that made people comfortable.

 

A year and a half after The Big Chop I sat in a salon chair watching a stylist work through my hair, afro flat-ironed down past my shoulders, looking strong and healthy and shiny. My first straight style since going natural, I thought “This man has done some voodoo magic… and I look good!” But the more I admired my hair in the mirror, played with it, and ran my fingers through each smooth strand, I realized it wasn’t the fact that my hair was straight that made it magical. It was the fact that the journey to that point left me feeling like myself in a way I never had before.

The fact that I can go from a crown of curls and kinks and coils, to silky smooth tresses that hold all the same strength and power is extraordinary. I can dramatically change my look in, well, three hours (it’s no joke, that ish is a commitment), almost looking like a different person while still effortlessly holding true to who I am.

I realize now that no amount of makeup or weave or false eyelashes will make me any less of the natural black woman that I am. Which is good because, to be honest, I discovered that those eyelashes are amazing and I need to figure out a way to make them a more regular part of my look.

 

I realize now that no amount of makeup or weave or false eyelashes will make me any less of the natural black woman that I am.

 

It’s less about the thing and more about the intention behind the thing. Am I doing this to fit a mold and to hide who I am? Or am I doing it to celebrate a different side of me? When I look in the mirror, do I like what I see? None of us will be able to say “yes” every second of every day, nor will we like each facet of our reflection. But, at the core, do we love what we have been given and who we are becoming?

I do now. So I’m gonna keep rocking my crown — long or short, curly or straight, smooth or kinky. It may change, but no longer out of the desire to conform — out of the desire to celebrate.

The post My Hair Journey: What I’ve Learned From My Natural Hair appeared first on The Everygirl.

There’s something about having our nails done that just makes us feel better about life, amiright? Stealing peeps at our perfectly-polished digits as they tap on a keyboard, scroll on a smartphone, or make an excellent point in a meeting just gives us all the feels. It’s a mindset. But, depending on the products used, there can be a whole host of unpleasant chemicals lurking in our glossy mani/pedis that may have the potential to affect our health, and the health of our nail technicians too. Thankfully though, much like the wider beauty industry, an array of “cleaner” products are making their way into the market, offering us safer, less toxic options.

“As science advances, we’re learning more and more about cosmetic ingredients in general,” Katarina Stetz, a formulator and founder of natural beauty brand Ninni, explained. “As a result of this, many companies are moving away from potentially toxic ingredients and replacing them with ones found to be safer and as effective.”

Previously targeted largely to expectant or nursing mothers, non-toxic polishes are now being marketed to the wider population as the “clean beauty” movement really builds momentum. Starting at three-free all the way up to 10-free, the numbering system refers to the number of chemicals they’re free from, with 10 being considered the “cleanest” due to all the ingredients it cuts out. “If you think about it this way, just like checking the ingredients in your food, it’s important to understand what these products actually are free from and why, so you recognize what you’re avoiding,” Stetz added.

 

The Nail Baddies

There are three key ingredients from which the majority of polish products claiming to be “non-toxic” will be free of, Jenny Duranski, founder of Lena Rose, Chicago’s first green beauty salon and spa, said. “These are formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). They’re known carcinogens and endocrine (hormone) disruptors,” Duranksi explained. “Also, triphenyl phosphate or TPHP — this is the replacement chemical for DBP and an independent study by the Environmental Working Group in 2015 found it to be just as toxic as DBP — discovering it in women’s urine within 48 hours of a pedicure.”

DBP is on the EU’s (European Union) list of prohibited ingredients in cosmetic use as it may cause harm to unborn children, according to Stetz. “Considering it’s banned in Europe, this is an ingredient worth looking out for and avoiding if you’re buying polish in other markets — the U.S. included,” she noted.

 

 

Stronger Options

Getting something of a bad rap in the past for chipping quickly and not offering much in the way of options compared their more chemical-laden cousins, “non-toxic nail polish has come a long way,” Duranski said. “At the beginning, it was hard to compete against conventional nail brands for staying power and also color selection. But now there are so many clean brands on the market, you can find lots of free-from options that work really well. It’s also worth noting that the staying power of any brand is affected by how you prep the nail plate. Always make sure to remove all oils, lightly buff and wipe clean, then apply a base and top coat to make a cleaner formula really last.”

And, it’s not just the polish that’s worth considering when deciding to try to go “cleaner” with your mani/pedi.

“So many other products go into a nail service,” Duranski said. “It’s usually about 7 to 10 different products from cuticle softener to a foot scrub to lotions to base/top coat. A ‘clean’ nail service has to be exactly that in all respects. A lot of traditional salons use heavily fragranced and preservative/filler-laden product lines. This is something also to question when you’re looking for the full experience.”

Many non-toxic polishes used by salons are part of a wider range of complementary manicure products — including removers, top and base coats, cuticle softners, oils, and hand lotions. If you’re concerned about the products your salon is using, check with them and look into the products they use. If it’s a truly ‘green’ salon they should be following through with all clean products. But if not, you can always bring your own products in for them to use too.

 

Can Gel Polishes Be Non-Toxic Too?

From acetone soaks to UV lights, not to mention dipping powders and gel polishes, our overall nail and bodily health can pay a hefty price to have that long-lasting mani we all crave so much.

“This is the great thing now, there are cleaner options out there that have the same longevity — and I would even challenge longer wear time,” Duranksi said. “We use a brand from Toronto, Canada called Bio Seaweed Gel and our clients get three weeks chip-free out of it. And think about the soak-off process — the acetone isn’t good for the indoor air quality or your health. We use a steamer machine that you put your hands into, which dissolves the gel and also traps vapors. It’s a unique process that minimizes damage to your nails and everyone’s lungs.”

 

 

Nailing Down The Right Polish

When it comes to picking your polish, products, and salon, it’s well worth putting in the research. For polishes, look for brands that are marketing to things you care about — such as sustainability, performance, ingredients, and fashion-forward palettes. For salons, look at all the products and processes they use, not just the polishes. Most non-toxic brands will be shouting about the ingredients they’re using and share information on their social media accounts and websites.

“For me, I care about sustainable packaging, ingredients, and whether the brand is independently, woman-owned,” said Duranski. “It’ll take some IG research, but once you figure out a few brands you want to try, purchase their base and top coat along with a color, and test it out. If you feel it’s not working for you, or living up to its claims, let the brand know.”

Brands that Duranski recommends are LVX, Aila, Tenoverten, and Habit. We also love Sundays for its excellent 10-free choice and timeless color selection.

 

The ‘Free-From’ List (And The Science-Bit)

We’ve already shared the top three nasties that all free-froms avoid, but as you move up the scale, more and more ingredients are knocked off the list, Stetz explained.

Five-free polishes: These are created without formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP, plus camphor and formaldehyde resin.

“Camphor is actually a natural ingredient that comes from the wood of the camphor laurel tree. It’s highly toxic if ingested,” Stetz added. “Formaldehyde resin is considered safe by the FDA, but it can cause allergic reactions.”

Seven-free polishes: These are formulated without all of the above, along with xylene and triphenyl phosphate.

“Typically, xylene has been used in the past to replace toluene — and similarly, xylene can affect and damage the central nervous system if inhaled in high amounts. It can cause dizziness, drowsiness and headaches,” Stetz said. Triphenyl phosphate is thought to be a hormone disrupter but there’s still research being done here, she added.

Eight-free polishes: These are free from all of those mentioned, plus ethyl tosylamide.

“Ethyl tosylamide is plasticizer that helps the nail polish create a durable film on the nail. It can be an irritant to the skin,” Stetz said. “Also, there’s a concern that it’s toxic for our environment and is bioaccumulative — that is, it stays in our ecosystem and never breaks down.”

Nine-free polishes are free from the above and parabens and/or acetone, while most 10-frees don’t use any harmful additives or animal byproducts, so the products are considered vegan.

With the beauty industry in the U.S. still being largely very under-regulated, it falls on us as consumers to make the right decisions for ourselves and our health, Duranski explained. As a former nail technician herself who became very unwell after working in a conventional salon, Duranski made it her mission to work in clean beauty, sourcing and testing out only natural products for her salon. But that’s not to say we have to totally overhaul our beauty bags overnight — awareness is key. Although these mani/pedis are cheap, long-lasting, and let’s face it, attractive, in the long-run it’s better to be mindful and considered about all the products you use on a regular basis and make informed choices.

The post How Much Do You Know About Non-Toxic Nail Polish? appeared first on The Everygirl.

Does anyone feel like you do so much for your skin (all those masks and treatments!? Love and care two times a day!?) that getting a breakout, dry patch, or general dullness feels like the ultimate betrayal? *hand raise emoji.* I mean, you’re doing everything you’re supposed to, right? You already know to never go to bed with makeup on, and you know to put SPF on every day. So when the dry flakes come or a pesky pimple pops up it’s like, what gives!? 

It’s likely you’ve looked at Jennifer Aniston’s wrinkle-free glow or Jennifer Lopez’s flawless complexion and thought, ugh genetics. I mean, there’s no way a mere mortal like any of us could achieve skin that perfect, right? WRONG. Skin is not just a result of genetics, it’s also about diet, lifestyle, and proper care, all of which Jennifer (Aniston and Lopez) have clearly mastered.

Turns out there are actually many factors that contribute to skin imperfections, many of which we’re not even aware of. If you wash and moisturize every day with the right products and are still dealing with dark spots, dullness, dry skin, or breakouts (more than the period zit here and there), there’s likely an underlying reason. Here are 12 things that might be sabotaging your chance at Jennifer Aniston/Lopez skin:

 

1. Ignoring your neck and chest

Imagine this: you treat your face as well as you can for years, maybe even decades. You slather on every anti-aging serum, constantly protect it with sunscreen, and remove all dirt and impurities every day. You may be able to escape the signs of premature aging with all the work you put into your skin, but the skin on your neck and chest will start to wrinkle or become dull. If you don’t take care of the skin on your neck and chest now, it will show as you get older. Don’t just rub on the leftover product for your face, treat it like you would the skin on your face.

 

2. Forgetting to clean everything that comes in contact with your skin

Cleaning with a wash might not always be enough to keep skin clean. The goal is to avoid as much dirt and bacteria coming into contact with your skin as possible. Wipe your phone screen and sunglasses (or prescription glasses) every day to kill any pore-clogging bacteria, and change pillowcases regularly (at least once a week, if not twice). Also make sure to regularly clean your makeup or skincare brushes since bacteria can grow quickly on synthetic hair. It also goes for your hands — whenever you’re touching your face (like with makeup application or to wash skin/put on skincare), your hands should be clean.

 

 

3. Having the wrong airplane skincare routine (or not having one at all)

As fun as traveling is, airplanes are literal death traps for your skin (dramatic, yes, but they’re not great). The dry air draws out moisture, and oil gets trapped under the dry top layer of skin. Plus, your skin comes in contact with more bacteria since the air circulating is not fresh. Add on stress, lack of sleep, and bad food (common factors that come along with travel) and you have yourself a breeding ground for breakouts, blackheads, and inflammation. Having a go-to in-flight routine is crucial for keeping your skin moisturized and clear.

Try: a makeup remover (wearing makeup on a plane will clog your pores, so just reapply when you land), a peel pad for gentle exfoliation (TSA-approved and less mess than a cleanser), a hyaluronic acid serum, and moisturizing cream.

An easy product people use often in-flight is a facial mist — keeps skin hydrated, right? But this step can actually cause dryness — yes, really. The air on airplanes is so dry that it draws moisture from the skin to evaporate into air. Spraying more water on your face actually has counterintuitive results when air is this dry, causing more moisture to be drawn out of the skin. Stick to your heavy creams and oils that won’t evaporate (and apply them once every hour) to keep skin moisturized.

 

 

4. Using the wrong toothpaste

Yes, really — if you often get breakouts around your mouth, fluorides and chemicals in most toothpaste (especially whitening!) can cause breakouts. Try switching to a more natural paste with less chemicals and try to use a little less toothpaste with each brush to avoid too much foaming.

 

5. Using a cleanser that’s too harsh

It might seem counterintuitive that the fix for breakouts could actually be a gentler cleanser, right? While you probably have the itch to treat your breakouts with more concentrations of acids or drying ingredients, that’s actually making it worse. When you over-strip your skin of natural oils, your skin tries to balance it out by producing even more oil, causing oily skin and clogged pores. Train your skin to produce the proper amount of oil by using a cleanser that won’t dry out your skin. A good rule of thumb is if your skin feels tight or dry after washing, it’s too harsh. Look for gel formulas with calming or hydrating ingredients and a lower concentrations of acids.

 

 

6. Working out with makeup on

If you haven’t gotten the gist yet, makeup can really be the enemy when it comes to clear skin. Sad, isn’t it? But that doesn’t mean at all that you need to stop wearing makeup altogether — girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! Just be knowledgable about when you should be going without it. For example, working out causes your body temperature to rise and sweat to form, which opens up pores. Whatever makeup you wear can seep into opened pores, causing breakouts, blackheads, and inflammation. Pack some makeup wipes in your gym bag for a fresh face while getting that sweat on.

 

7. Not taking a probiotic daily

If you have a leaky gut, digestion problem, or imbalance of gut bacteria, it could very well be showing up as pimples on your face. Besides just in the gut, we also have live bacteria covering our skin. Adding more good bacteria while removing the bad bacteria can target acne, rosacea, premature aging, and eczema. Plus, probiotics assist in absorbing nutrients, so all those good-for-your skin nutrients found in foods like walnuts, avocados, and berries are more easily absorbed, helping your skin glow.

 

8. Taking showers the wrong way

This one is probably the hardest to get over for me — I like my showers to be *literally* scorching hot. But since we spend so much time in the shower, it’s crucial to the health of our skin that we’re showering the right way. Showers that are too hot will dry out skin, and even worse, burn it, causing inflammation and rosacea to act up. Whatever facial cleansing you do in the shower should be the very last step, right before you get out — cleansing causes acidity, so you need to put on product immediately after washing to balance the skin.

 

 

9. Eating a no-fat diet

Many of the low-fat diets and products are losing popularity with the shocking revelation that fat is, in fact, not bad for you (as long as it’s the good kind!). Whether you’re keto or not, your body needs healthy fats for many benefits, including skin health. Omega-3 fatty acids in particular keep skin moisturized and assist in collagen production, both of which keep skin radiant. Load up on avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, flaxseeds, salmon, eggs, and nuts and seeds to make sure you’re getting enough of the right nutrients to give your skin what it needs to be healthy.

This goes for skipping meals, too. With how busy I know you are, it may be tempting to grab a protein bar or forgo the meal altogether, but each meal is a chance to load your body with amazing nutrients that make you your healthiest, most energized self — and yes, even your most beautiful. Pre-make smoothies or take homemade snacks like trail mix, hard-boiled eggs, or veggies when you know you’re going to be busy.

 

10. Living in a big city

If you live in a big city like New York, LA, or Chicago, you might want to think twice about how you’re protecting your skin. Pollution has a bigger effect on our skin health than we realize — it can cause breakouts, as well as sallow tone or dullness. But don’t worry, you don’t have to move! To prevent the effects of pollution, load up on lots of fresh fruits and veggies to get rid of toxins and use protective skincare products that are specifically formulated for protecting against pollution.

 

11. Using a product just because it’s trendy

If you know me, you know I’m a self-titled beauty nerd — I absolutely will try anything once. While this is my greatest passion, it’s also my greatest fault, because I’ve had to learn (sometimes the hard way) to personalize my skincare experimenting for my own skin, rather than what’s new and appealing. If everybody’s raging about the new it-product, it is so tempting to “add to cart” ASAP, but just because it’s all the rage on your Instagram feed doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

Try new products, by all means, but try based on what’s right for your skin type, not what’s popular with your favorite influencer. For example, if you have dry, sensitive skin, retinol or vitamin C can cause inflammation, and oily skin might break out when using certain thick oils or creams. Experiment for the sake of finding out what ingredients work best with your skin.

 

 

12. Not giving your skin enough time to adjust to a new product

Speaking of experimenting with new products, there’s an abundance of good stuff out there — sprays, serums, toners, essences, sheet masks, balms — and it’s easy to feel like the dog from Up (“Squirrel!”) when the next best thing is always popping up on the Sephora homepage or written about in your favorite magazine. But — honesty time — most ingredients take a while to actually work, so it’s always important to give it time whenever you’re trying a new product. Ask your dermatologist if certain ingredients or new products are right for you, and give it at least 2-3 months to actually see a difference. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was flawless skin.

 

13. Ignoring minor food intolerances

You know the typical symptoms of food allergies — swollen throat, severe stomach pains, vomiting. But did you know that certain food intolerances can actually just show up as acne, eczema, or rosacea? The most common food intolerances are gluten, dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar (I know, basically all the good things in life!), so you can try cutting out one at a time to see if it makes any difference in your skin. However, you might also have intolerances to even traditionally healthy foods (like nuts, chickpeas, or pickled foods), so consider keeping a food diary and tracking breakouts or inflammation to find any patterns.

 

What lifestyle changes have you tried that have helped clear up skin imperfections?

The post 13 Things You’re Doing That Are Sabotaging Your Skin appeared first on The Everygirl.