There are so many inspiring people in the natural living community and I’m so excited to introduce you to some of the ones that inspire me the most. You may remember last month when I introduced you to Laurel Shaffer, a formulator with some of the highest purity standards I’ve seen. This month, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite clean beauty bloggers, Jessica of BareBeauty.com. She’s been on my list of inspirational women in the natural world for a while now. I found her blog not long after I had started my own blog and instantly felt a connection. Not only do we share a passion for nontoxic beauty, but we’re both trying to navigate waters of raising healthy, young children in a world where unhealthy choices are the norm. What really stands out is that Jessica has very high standards for products that get her stamp of approval. You know if she recommends something, it’s going to be completely clean and actually work! She’s also very sensible and realistic about how to go about making better choices. And did I mention we also happen to share great taste in naming our daughters, Annabel and Annabelle?
Q+A With Jessica Of Barebeauty.com
Maison Pur: You’re obviously a stickler about the ingredients in your beauty products, but with so many clean beauty products popping up, it feels like we actually have a lot more to choose from these days! What else do you look for in your products when you shop around?
Bare Beauty: When I’m checking out a product to see if I want to review it or purchase it for myself, I look at ingredients, but I also want to know how the formula is made, where it’s made and who it’s made by, as I want to support small, independent companies as much as possible. I also look at packaging. Ideally it is beautiful, durable, recyclable and contains as little plastic as possible.
MP: When you first made the switch to cleaner products, what was that process like for you? Did you gradually change over or was it a complete overhaul?
BB: A little bit of both, actually! Because of health issues, I was determined to make a total switch as soon as possible, so I did not wait until I ran out of one product at a time (which is actually what I recommend my readers do, so they don’t go crazy like I did). However, there were a few old favorites I kept going back to until I found a Clean replacement I was 100% satisfied with. All in all, it took me a few months to make the switch.
MP: We both have young kids and as we both well know, it can be hard not to drive yourself crazy with all of the information out there about harmful things when you’re trying to make the best choices for your family. It’s sometimes tempting to put my own kids in a bubble! How do you strike a balance between a healthy lifestyle for your family and still living in our modern world?
BB: That is a great question, Molly, and I’m still trying to figure it out, to be honest. Using Clean bath and diapering products are an easy decision to make when protecting a child’s health; they’re easy to find and easy to afford, making the switch very convenient. We also have a whole-house water filter from Aquasana, which was an investment, but it gives me so much peace of mind. Food is harder for us. We enjoy eating out, and traveling is a big part of our lives, so not every meal my daughter, Annabel, eats is homemade and/or organic. Like every child, she loves grilled cheese, french fries and ice cream (ugh). I do my best to “control” (ha!) this situation by making a Clean family smoothie every morning that contains greens, fruit, superfoods and a high quality vegan protein powder. I figure if I can at least start her day off on the right foot, I’ve done something to help her health. Also, when we cook at home, it is always Clean, organic food, lots of vegetables, nothing processed or too indulgent, and she eats what we eat 80% of the time. However, if we are on vacation or at a birthday party, you would never know that I’m a health nut. You will find my daughter eating two pieces of sugary, processed birthday cake, goldfish and a juicebox. I don’t want to deny her those special treats or make her feel left out. Maybe it’s balance, or maybe it’s pointless!
MP: In a few short months you will be welcoming a new baby boy into the world (which is SO exciting!). For all the mamas out there- Have there been any stand out products to help you through your pregnancy this time around?
BB: My routine doesn’t change when I become pregnant, but I do apply body oil every night when I’m expecting. Mun No. 7 Ayour Body Serum is, hands down, the best body oil I’ve ever used. It does the job without leaving even a trace of greasy residue, and it smells beautiful. I also reach for Urban Moonshine’s Citrus Digestive Bitters a lot more often these days. They ease indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, upset stomach, you name it. I think they even help me sleep better. I also like to take Pursoma baths before bed when I have time.
MP: Clean beauty keeps getting bigger and better! Anything you’d like to see next in the natural beauty world?
BB: Almost every single green beauty wish has come true, but I would still love to find a Clean, full-coverage, non-greasy tinted moisturizer with SPF, and a Clean (or as Clean as an aerosol can be) spray-on dry shampoo.
MP: What’s the one beauty product you can’t live without? We’re talking desert island status.
BB: That is so hard! If I have to choose just one, it must be Lily Lolo Black Vegan Mascara. It’s the best Clean mascara I’ve found; it lengthens, volumizes, and doesn’t smudge or flake.
I have to say, I loved all of her answers and couldn’t agree more on everything (including her fave mascara!). For more from Jessica, be sure to follow along with her blog barebeauty.com and follow along on social media: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
