Cruelty Free: Saving Face

I could spend four hours a day practicing yoga, drink two gallons of water daily, and eat nothing but raw vegetables… and still, the face would need some extra TLC. I’ve always been good about cleansing and moisturizing, but as I’ve gotten older and the fine lines start creeping up around my eyes, the term “saving face” has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I spare no expense when it comes to my face products, but I also have found some inexpensive products that seem to do the trick quite nicely. As I mentioned in yesterday’s piece, I’m also making the effort to be paraben-free, whenever possible. But before you go throwing out all your old stuff and replacing everything:

Tip #1: Check out Skin Deep cosmetic database
You can search most cosmetic companies and specific products to get the lowdown.

Tip #2: Go gradually
I’d been using many of my products for so long that I forgot how many other products I had to try before finding ones that didn’t mess with my complexion. When I introduced a entirely new regimen all at once, my face was not happy; plenty of back pedaling was involved as I tried out each new item and assessed the results.

Tip #3: Don’t be afraid to seek out samples!
If you’re in New York, head to Jurlique’s store in SoHo! The salesperson there sent me walking away with tons of samples… and it paid off for both of us. Although my skin didn’t respond well to a couple of the moisturizers, one of the samples proved to be marvelous for me and has become part of my daily routine.

Tip #4 Watch out for parent companies
I call this my “Burt’s Bee’s Lesson.” What’s not to like about Burt’s Bees? The products are natural, inexpensive, and can be found in just about any store or pharmacy. Burt’s Bees is cruelty-free; but it’s now owned by Clorox, which isn’t. You’ll have to decide for yourself where you want to draw the line.

So here’s what you’ll find in my bath area — my faves for the face:

Zia Skin Basics Moisturizing Cleanser with soybean
Zia Skin Basics Bamboo Exfoliant with rice bran (love this!)
Alba Botanicals Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser
Alba Botanicals Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask
Collective Wellbeing “Whirled Peas” Hydrating Face Mask
Dr. Hauschka Eye Contour Day Balm
Jurlique Calendula Cream
Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream (parabens, but company does not conduct animal testing)