Conventional Scrubs

❌ Avoid Conventional scrubs and exfoliants, they are made with toxic ingredients such as fragrance, preservatives, parabens, colorants, and also controversial ingredients such as clay, acids, and micro-beads.
❌𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙮: I don't recommend scrubs and exfoliants with clay ingredients such as Kaolin Clay, Bentonite Clay, or Fuller Earth Clay.  Those powder clays are considered toxic and potentially dangerous to the eyes and to breathe in. You can learn more  here

Even though clay such as bentonite or kaolin clay is a natural ingredient, I don't recommend putting clay into your skin. It has been associated with heavy metals content and respiratory toxicity. 
❌𝘼𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙨: Other main ingredients often found in natural scrubs are lactic acid and glycolic acid. I find them to be too aggressive and they may create skin reactions.
In Fact The SCCNFP: SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON COSMETIC PRODUCTS AND NON-FOOD PRODUCTS reports glycolic acid as a skin irritant.
❌ 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨: If you are in another country check for micro-beads aka micro-plastic on your scrubs. Banned in the USA but still present in other countries.
While in the USA microbeads are banned from cosmetics, they are still present in certain countries. if you are traveling there bring a plastic-free scrub with you!

Beat the microbeads: A European microbeads ban in scrubs and cosmetics was expected in 2022, so there are still many scrub products that are carrying toxic, polluting microbeads,  dangerous for marine life and for all of us. Especially in Greece, Poland and Spain read the labels and check that they do not contain the following: 

1. Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate

2. Acrylates Crosspolymer-4

3. Styrene/ Acrylates Copolymer

4. Carbomer

5. Dimethicone

 

Greenwashing Scrubs

Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be organic, eco-friendly, natural, or safe when it is not. They use misleading greenwashing techniques to convince you to buy their products!

Controversial preservatives:

• ❌​Potassium sorbate: considered a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant. 

• ❌​Sodium benzoate:  benzoic acid and vitamin C mix can cause cancer. Capable of causing contact urticaria

• ❌ Honeysuckle: creates benzoic acid.   Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract and Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract.

• ❌Citric Acid lab made: conventional cheaper lab-made citric acid AKA Manufactured citric acid (MCA) is derived from a mold. "Approximately 99% of the world’s production of MCA is carried out using the fungus Aspergillus niger, a known allergen, identified merely as "citric acid" in ingredients lists. The FDA has generally considered it safe, but no scientific studies were performed to evaluate the safety of MCA when ingested in substantial amounts and with chronic exposure." Depends on which citric acid method a company wants to use.  A synthetic option or natural.  Synthetic is cheaper. You can ask a company which processes they use: Certificate of Authenticity COA.

 

Organic Scrubs & Exfoliant 

✅ 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙗: Here are my current favorite scrubs made with organic, not abrasive or irritants, plant ingredients, and made with fresh natural ingredients!
It is like a fresh gel that gently clears and exfoliates the skin!
Result: smoother and glowing skin
without risky ingredients!

​Here are listed the best organic, sustainable, eco-friendly, microbeads-free, and plastic-free scrubs on the market! 🌎

My top recommendations are

• 🌿 Miessence 

• 🌿 Honey Girl Organics

• 🌿 Bubble & Bee

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​⭐️ Shop with my links to support my research!