Image Credit

Ishan @seefromthesky
It’s no secret that the world’s coral reefs are in serious trouble, a threat that should concern us all (if you’re not up to speed on why we need to be concerned about coral reefs, check out this great article here). While we’ve been digging eco-friendly SPF and sunscreen products for a while, the news that Hawaii has taken measure to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate by 2021 gives us a timely excuse to do a sunscreen round up of the best brands that are great at keeping harmful rays at bay, while being kind to both your body and the planet.

First, it’s good to know what to look for when choosing a sunscreen that is reef safe. The majority of problematic ingredients are found in chemical based sunscreens.

What to Avoid

• Sunscreens with high Titanium Dioxide content. Titanium Dioxide is a non-biodegradable mineral that reacts in warmer seawater, forming hydrogen peroxide that is harmful to sea life.
• Sunscreens that contain mineral oil or petrolatum, both of which take years to biodegrade and are recognized as being fatal to aquatic life and water fowl.
• Oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are both chemical ingredients recognized to cause coral bleaching.

Safe Sunscreens and Where to Buy Them In Canada 

Think Sport  

available at gothinksport.com and well.ca

Suntegrity 

available at Clementine Fields

Derma E 

available at healthyplanetcanada.com

Green Beaver 

available at well.ca

Raw Elements 

available at Clementine Fields

Image Credit:

Priscilla Du Preez

Slipping into your first pair of open-toed shoes since winter can be one of the most gratifying feelings after months of chill and clunky boots. Add a gorgeous pedicure and polish to the mix and you’re unstoppable. As we head into a new season and are remaining mindful of what we are putting in and on our bodies, it’s important to pay attention to the polish we’re putting on our nails.

In spite of cute colour names, bright colours and Instagrammable bottles, there are still a large number of brands that use harmful and highly toxic ingredients in nail polish products which can enter the bloodstream. The fact is, unless your nail polish bottle states that its contents are non-toxic, you can be certain it is a toxic, chemical-laden product that you need to avoid.

While there are some amazing nail brands that are going 5-free, 6-free, 11-free and even 25-free, the most important ingredients to avoid are the following three chemicals. That said, we encourage using  polishes that eliminate even more than these three chemicals, like some listed in our round up below. There are plenty of amazing, high quality and trendy options.

The Big Three

Dibutyl Phthalate or DBP

Used to make plastics malleable, the European Union has banned DBP from cosmetics, skincare and toys. It has been targeted as toxic for reproductive and developmental growth. Health Canada associates DBP with liver and kidney failure in young children. It is also extremely toxic to our aquatic friends.

Toluene 

Toulene is a moderate skin irritant and can cause dermatitis with prolonged contact. Inhalation of toluene vapour can affect our central nervous systems, which explains the light-headedness, drowsiness and irritation of the nose and throat when you’re painting your nails.

Formaldehyde

Recognized as a carcinogen, formaldehyde is also a suspected environmental pollutant that is incredibly toxic and has no place on or in our bodies.

If your nail polish is non-toxic than you can rest assured that these three chemicals and a slew of others are not present in your bottle.

The good news is that an increasing number of brands are making on-trend, green-friendly polish hues that are perfect for anyone who loves to see a pop of colour on their fingers and toes. Take it even further with companies that don’t test on animals and you’re golden!

Lauren B. Beauty

Lauren B. Beauty is the perfect nail polish for business people who are always on the go. It’s an easy application, and the quick dry formula is vegan-friendly and free of harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor. With a variety of colours, you are bound to find the right shade and nude for your skin tone. Although Lauren B. Beauty is located in the United States, they are still available at Vegan’s Imperative in Parkdale.

Image Credit: Lauren B. Beauty

Tenoverten

Tenoverten’s collection has a variety of long-lasting colours that make your nails stronger and healthier. Whether you are at a salon or home Tenoverten’s nail polishes are designed to leave a smooth, streak-free finish in all their unique colours. All products are cruelty-free, vegan, and made in a US factory that honours the Leaping Bunny Program; which ensures that no animals have been tested on at any phase of product development. Tenoverten’s nail polish collection is available at salons like Her Majesty’s Pleasure, Healthwinds Spa and One2One Studio in Toronto.

Image Credit: Tenoverten Polish

Sundays Studio

Sundays Studio has perfected their nail polish formula creating the simplest and purest collection that have long-lasting strength and shine. This high-quality formula is one of the safest for clients and salon employees since it is nontoxic, cruelty-free, and vegan. Sundays’ non-toxic nail polishes are free of dibutyl phthalate, TPHP and formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals. Since Sunday Studios believe that you do not need to sacrifice the lives of animals for beauty, all their products are 100% free of animal byproduct and are not tested on animals. Sundays Studio nail polish can be purchased on thetruthbeautycompany.com.

Image Credit: Sundays Studio

AILA 

In the nail polish world, you can never be too careful of the chemicals that are going at your fingertips.  Aila strives to keep as many chemicals out of their nail polishes as possible by creating a 25-free formula. All of AILA nail products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and are available at Clementine Fields.

Image Credit: AILA Nail Lacquers

Leximphoto
So your kale is organic, your chakras are open and free-flowing positive energy. You’re rocking two to three Hatha yoga classes a week and at least one meditation sesh. You’re in alignment and ready to radiate your vibrations into the world with a fresh face. All great stuff.

While we may be killing it in our self-care and self-love practices through our movement and consuming routines, where are we at when it comes to our make up and beauty products? And how can this affect our energy and flow, along with our inner and outer glow?

There’s no doubt that when we take the time to toss away old make up and ancient lotions from our cabinets, we naturally feel lighter. That said, the products we purchase to replace old ones can have a direct affect on our inner vibrations and feelings of self-love and self-care. As we are enter an age of awareness and re-awakening, it’s never been more important re-evaluate old purchasing habits, ensuring that what we are buying to make us beautiful comes from compassion and love.

Simply put, if the products you are purchasing for your beauty and self-care come from a place or company that focuses on humane practices and respect for the earth, for you as a consumer, and for our dear animal friends, you are more able to project and manifest compassion and love, both for yourself, the world we live in and for our companion beings.

And what’s more beautiful than love?

Below are quick ways to get started on your mindful beauty journey.

Is It Cruelty-Free? Like Really? 

Image from Ethical Elephant 

As individuals, it is important that we understand our own purchasing power. There is nothing beautiful about a beauty brand that tests or allows its product to be tested on animals by a third party. As conscious consumers, we must be aware of the fact that global corporate companies may try to work with consumer naivety and use phrases like “Against Animal Testing” or “We Do Not Test on Animals Unless Where Required By Law”, neither phrase means that a company’s product is not tested on animals. Any brand that sells in China, for example, is tested on animals, whether it is by the company directly or not. Companies that choose to sell their products in China know that this is a consequence of that decision.

Our favourite source for knowing which brands are still testing on animals is Cruelty-Free Kitty. The site also makes a ton of great recommendations on good brands that are animal friendly. Always look out for the lovely Cruelty-Free Bunny label and check out this post from Ethical Elephant on the differences between each label.

Is It Even Good For You? 

It’s no secret that companies have been filling beauty products with chemicals and not-so-good-for-us ingredients for years. This is where a company’s respect for their consumers really come into play. A company that is selling you toxic fillers to make a profit does not care about you. By purchasing these products because they are cheaper or better advertised due to high marketing budgets and sexy spokespeople we are allowing large corporations to dictate our self-worth.

Clean beauty has never been more accessible, with more and more companies developing highly effective products without the use of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances or colours, peg ingredients or phenoxyethanol.

Apps like Think Dirty are an excellent tool to get a quick and easy-to-understand reading on your beauty product purchases. Another great site to check out is EWG that offers a straight-forward guide to what’s in your lifestyle products, everything from home cleaners to mascaras. You can also shop at places that have done the homework for you, and offer a curation of the best in clean beauty like Clementine Fields or Well.ca.

The Outside Counts

Making a conscientious move to purchase products sold in sustainable packaging can go a long way. Look for recyclable bottles, boxes and containers. In addition, more and more beauty brands are working with sustainable, natural ingredients, spearheading the green beauty industry. Companies like Detox Market offer the world’s best selection in green beauty, with high-end products that surpass the offerings of your local drugstore both in quality and sustainability.

It’s literally never been a better time to be mindful in your beauty choices. The quality and selection of clean, green beauty brands continues to grow so we can embrace and enhance our natural beauty with loving products.