It doesn’t take a long time in the world of ethical and eco living to become super aware of toxins. The joys of finding great natural beauty products comes with the sudden realisation that so much of what we surround ourselves with could be dangerous to us. It’s scary, especially at the beginning, because it feels like everything you touch is out to get you, and it’s hard to know what you should buy at all.
Think Dirty is a wonderful tool to keep toxins out of our daily lives; they’ve actually been on my radar for a while now. Back in 2016 my blogger buddies Into The Fort posted about Think Dirty in a really intelligent and balanced way, I looked into them for myself and became a fan. My rationale? Yes, studies are complex and sometimes we can’t know 100% for sure what’s affecting us in what ways. But if an ingredient isn’t 100% necessary to use for our health, and there are better alternatives out there (based on the scientific evidence we have), why go for the more potentially toxic option? I understand that I’m not a scientist with all the answers, but I’d rather keep it on the clean side.
So Who Are Think Dirty?
Originally, an app. Think Dirty was founded by Lily Tse to understand the truths in the beauty industry. After learning of the impact cosmetics can have on our health (the skin is our largest organ and biggest absorber of toxic chemicals), she was shocked to learn that the cosmetics industry isn’t regulated like food and drugs sectors. Finding alternatives can be confusing and it’s easy for companies to avoid transparency, so she decided to create Think Dirty in order to help consumers find information quickly and easily. Think Dirty launched in summer 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.
The app keeps it simple. To use it all you have to do is scan the barcode of a beauty product and Think Dirty will give you a rating of the products toxic credentials from a 0-10 basis (lower is better), as well as information on ingredients, certifications and health impacts. Think Dirty currently have over 550,000+ cosmetics and personal care products, mainly from Canada and the U.S., in their database, but if there’s something missing you can scan and submit a barcode for them to look into. If you’re a registered user who submits a product, Think Dirty will notify you once it’s in the database.
But that’s not all, they also have a beauty box
Each month Think Dirty sends out a box, partnering with rated clean 0-3 beauty brands who are on the same mission to bring non toxic beauty to your door. Each box comes with 9 hand-picked clean beauty products, on top of Think Dirty swag goodies and lots of love. And though it’s valued at over $250, they only sell it for $95, making it a great option for a guilt free ‘treat yo self’ moment or a beautiful gift for those natural-beauty-enthusiast friends.
I’ve known about and been following Think Dirty for a while now, so when they reached out and asked if I wanted to try out their June beauty box I was interested.
(Disclaimer, this is a longer post, read on if you’re keen to learn about a whole host of new natural and ethical beauty options!)
What’s in the box?
When my box first arrived, I was actually a little overwhelmed with how much they put in there! Think Dirty added a few extras to mine (really kind, thanks guys), so I’ll go through the June box contents first and then get to the extras. Though I’ve managed to try a lot of these I haven’t had a chance to use everything yet, so I’ll be doing an updated review on Instagram stories (which I’ve finally gotten the hang of!) next week.
1. Rocky Mountain Soap Company Tea Tree Deodorant
A roll on deodorant with key ingredients like tea tree oil, aloe vera, eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil. Tea tree is a great oil in general as it’s antiseptic, antifungal and fights odour really well. This deodorant is 100% natural, cruelty free and lasts for around 6 hours. It uses a small amount alum in the same way as my alum bar, making it a good non-toxic deodorant which tightens pores and fights odour but doesn’t block them.
2. LUMIONskin Oxygen Serum + HOCL (travel size)
A serum that defends skin against signs of ageing, softens fine lines, and aids in the reduction of skin irritations, apply morning and night after cleansing and before moisturising. Free from alcohol, parabens, fragrance, phthalate, sulfate and dyes. The main ingredients in this are electrolysed oxygenated water and hypochlorous acid; a compound found naturally in the human body that’s antimicrobial and antiviral, and also stimulates healing and decreases scarring. I know what you’re thinking – oxygenated water?! It sounds made up, I know, but of everything that is in this box, this is the one thing I literally swear by. Since I started using this my skin feels healthier, fresher, clearer and less irritated. I now use this twice a day without fail and I am in love. This is the main product that I would make sure I buy again, and the bottle is fully recyclable too.
3. Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
An antioxidant packed cleansing oil that removes makeup and nourishes skin, another one I’m a fan of. Squalane is a natural substance that our bodies produce in lesser amonts of over time, with benefits that include encouraging healthy skin regeneration, protecting skin from environmental stressors, improving moisture balance and elasticity, diminishing excess oil production and stimulating blood circulation. Dreamy. Unfortunately, the two main sources for squalane on the market are harvesting from shark livers – bad for the environment and just plain awful – or from olives, an unreliable source that produces varying quality. Instead, Biossance use a 100% plant based squalane from sugar cane, which is extracted sustainably, and for this cleanser they add extra vitamins and antioxidants. Double dreamy.
(side note – I’ve also used Biossance’s 100% Squalane oil in the mornings, it works really well as a face moisturiser before putting foundation on).
4. Cleaning Essentials Original Bottle
What a treat to find this in the box! It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote about Cleaning Essentials and their amazing zero waste cleaning products, I couldn’t recommend these guys enough. They make it so easy to make your own cleaning products that are cheap, natural and non-toxic with this reusable bottle, and they take away all the hard work by printing the recipes on the bottle for you! I actually now have two of these bottles, so I’m going to do a giveaway over on my Instagram later this week to share the love with you too.
5&6. Crave Skincare: Oil Cleanser + War Paint Remover and 40 Winks Eye Serum
Ah hemp, my favourite forever. I’ve been using this cleanser for a while now and it does a great job. It’s vegan and cruelty free and contains a host of goodies like castor oil, jojoba oil and kukui nut oil to nourish skin, and hemp with CBD and black cumin seed is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It comes out as an oil which then becomes a milky emulsion when rinsed with water. Removes make up really easily and leaves skin feeling clean and soft without greasy residue.
The eye serum is cruelty free, with ingredients like hemp with CBD, apple fruit extract, goji berry extract and chia seed oil. It reduced puffiness, brightens dark circles and hydrates and moisturises, whilst also strengthening skin around the eyes. It’s perfect for the end of a long day when my eyes start to suffer.
7. Little Moon Essentials Beach All You Want Bath Salts
Bath salts that are free from parabens and preservatives, are cruelty free and use 100% natural essential oils. Their ingredient list is super short; their salt mix contains epsom salts (which are great for the body) and Hawaiian sea salt mixed with red clay, and their main scents come from tangerine oil, cedarwood oil and organic coconut flavour. An easy way to achieve a natural, beachy paradise without leaving your home.
8.
A cruelty free face and body mask with no parabens, no colours and no fragrance. Made with volcanic ash clay sourced from the USA, which is suitable for all skin types whilst also being great for detoxing, improving elasticity and fighting acne.
9. Spinster Sisters Co. Rosemary Mint Bar Soap
Soap produced in small batches using the cold process method, free from sulphate, phthalate and parabens. Made with a base of olive oil, coconut oil, sustainable/organic palm oil, castor oil, apricot kernel oil and argan oil, combined with cocoa butter and fair-trade shea butter for extra moisture. This one smells divine, but they such a long list of other scents that there really is something for everyone.
Some added extras (other Think Dirty faves)
Elate Clean Cosmetics Loose Eye Colour
Elate cosmetics are bosses when it comes to vegan, cruelty free and toxin free makeup. Their products are made sustainably in Canada and are around 90% organic. Usually their packaging is made from sustainably sourced bamboo or recyclable tubs. These loose eye colours are really beautiful, but you can also buy your own palette made from bamboo and buy pressed colours which can be switched in and out, cutting down on your packaging waste.
Erin’s Faces Organic Coconut Lip Balm
I’ve been making my own lip balm for a while, as most conventional options have petroleum bases, which isn’t nice for your body or the planet. If you’re looking for an option to buy, this organic baby is paraben and petrochemical free, instead being made with organic sunflower oil, organic coconut oil, vitamin E and organic beeswax (not vegan – but they are cruelty free), so much better all round whilst still keeping your lips healthy.
Unshelled Naturals Unstunk Natural Deodorant
A cream deodorant that’s vegan, fairtrade, locally made, 95% organic, and preservative free. Made with organic shea butter, organic coconut oil and avocado oil alongside aluminium free baking soda, arrowroot powder and organic essential oils (it’s also totally wax free). Available in lemongrass, lavender, or unscented, so if you want to add your own essential oils to make your own scent you can. This lemongrass smells amazing, and it’s the ideal size for on the go.
Plaine Products Travel Body Wash
Plaine’s wonderful return and refill zero waste schemes have been making the rounds in the ethical blogger world, but I had no idea they also did body wash! This one is hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty free, non GMO, colour safe and free from sulfates, parabens and other harmful chemicals. Their packaging is totally plastic free (hooray!) and when your bottle is empty, you can send it back to Plaine to be refilled. It seems too good to be true, but it’s not!
Vegetarian, cruelty free and toxin free lip gloss, made with Vitamin E from organic rice bran for moisture and naturally pigmented with fruit. This one contains wine, pomegranate, cherry, cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, peach and plum, so fruity! There’s nothing worse than wearing something that feels synthetic and unnatural on your lips, this is a much nicer natural alternative.
Living Nature Nourishing Hand Cream
Made in New Zealand, cruelty free and synthetic free, Living Nature products are independently certified as natural by BDIH. Ingredients include jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil, manuka oil, manuka honey and larch tree extract. Living Nature have been around since 1987, and are also certified by COSMOS Organic, are Halal approved and are part of the EWG cosmetic safety databased, keeping them super accountable and knowledgeable in their field.
PHEW, so many natural, non-toxic options all in one place! In the time since I started trying out these products I’ve seen so many improvements; my skin is less irritated, healthier and more balanced, and I feel more confident in myself. Instead of feeling confused or scared I’m able to explore and enjoy all the great alternatives out there. The reality is there are heaps of wonderful innovative people making cleaner, safer options, and Think Dirty makes them more accessible and makes the process more fun. This box contains so many goodies that I know I’m sorted for probably the next 6 months at least, so you really do get a lot for your money.
If you want to #shopclean and discover natural, toxin free beauty with ease you can get $5 off a box with the code UNICORN5OFF – enjoy!
Until next time, stay magic y’all.
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