Effective and Affordable Low-Tox Personal Care Products

A few years ago I began having some health issues, particularly my thyroid. Crunchy moms on the internet, and endocrine specialists alike seem to suggest that reducing toxic burden, aka watching how many chemicals we burden our bodies with, can be helpful in healing or preventing further disease. I will say, I am not a chemist or a doctor and this is not medical advice. I am a woman with a working brain trying to do the best I can with the money I have.

For reference, I do not believe everything the crunchies say, and I also am not inclined to believe every piece of mainstream advice. But as a consumer, I am really inclined to ask, “Who is profiting off of my fear?”.  If you are curious about endocrine disruptors, read for yourself and talk to your doctor. I am not here to convince you of anything but rather provide some of the best products for middle of the road, slightly crunchy-leaning moms who need practical and affordable options. 

If you’re new here, we’ve been a single-income family for about ten years. That’s a choice we absolutely embrace but sometimes money is alright, and sometimes it’s tiiiight, ya know? We always look for affordable options to maintain our lifestyle.

We aren’t currently in a financial crisis, but it’s not been that long ago since covid kind of wrecked our world and our business. So, it’s fresh. I remember.

I want to continue to share how to afford things when money is tight and to create some margin when it’s alright.

Prioritize

In this post about affording groceries, I said that you should have a game plan. That is, decide what your priorities are before even making a meal plan. In regard to skincare products, I like to prioritize clean skincare products that really work. I enjoyed Beauty Counter products for years but they became out of reach financially. I also love Molly’s Suds detergent, but when we were struggling financially there was just no way to make it happen, so I replaced it with Kirkland brand (Costco) free and clear or something similar. I’m saying be realistic. Know what you need to budge on, and what to stick to. For example: I have sensitive skin and I am particularly sensitive to scents and fragrance. I will break out in a rash and sometimes it affects my breathing. I have to be careful but if it’s between the $6 fragrance-free body wash or the $20 fragrance-free body wash there’s usually no immediate noticeable difference. Some non-toxic products are more of a priority for me, such as deodorant. 

Hold it Loosely

If you’re in a financial crisis, having all low-tox products might be out of the price-range. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, it’s not time for $40 Shampoo no matter how organic it is. Maybe low-tox isn’t your thing but you love high quality hair care, fancy body wash ect.. Same principle applies, don’t spend the extra while in crisis. It’s time to use it up and wear it out.

I’m all about reducing toxic burden, taking care of my family and the environment. But if you’re in financial crisis, it may be time to set some of those expectations on hold for now. Prioritize what you can and hold it all loosely. As much as I want to avoid harsh chemicals, I mostly want to take care of my family while avoiding as much stress as possible. Stress is not good for our bodies. Last thing we want is a menty-b. Hold the expectations loosely.

Define Clean Products

What exactly are “clean products”? Well honestly, that is likely different for different people. I’m not a chemist, I can’t just look at an ingredient list and pick out all the harmful chemicals. As much as I try to learn, I also go with my gut. Even if a product label advertises as “non-toxic”, “clean ingredients” or “green beauty”, I do not automatically assume it will work for me. Additionally, not everything marketed “non-toxic skincare” works how I want it to. 

​In the same vein, I do not necessarily toss all conventional beauty products simply because they do not fall under the category of “natural”. I weigh my options against my personal priorities. 

Personal Priorities

#1) Avoiding Fragrance– I was once a child of Bath and Body works: wallflowers, soap, candles, lotions and sprays. If “Love Spell” by VS could actually cast a love spell it would have been problematic because I DOUSED myself in that.  And my locker, backpack, car ect..  Endocrine system destroyed. *robot voice* Ironically yet unsurprisingly, I now can hardly tolerate fragrance. I can usually tell just by taking a whiff of the bottle if it will break out my skin or effect my breathing. Artificial fragrances seem to irritate my sensitive skin the most, but sometimes even essential oils bother me if they are too strong. However, the fragrance in my shampoo does not seem to irritate my skin. I react less to it than I have some “natural” products in the past. So, again, back to the part where I do my best and also use my brain.

#2) Affordable Price: Finding affordable skincare products that are also effective can be a challenge in the general. Adding the low-tox component can add to that difficulty but if you look you can find amazing brands that work and provide effective skincare options. 

#3) A score of 5 or less on the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep website. Again, I am not a chemist so there could be perfectly safe products that score above that but since I am not trained enough to know the difference I error on the side of caution.

Skin Care

I’m a skincare girlie for sure. I don’t skip skin care. I never have and hope I never will have to. (except at night sometimes when I forget.) However, when money was really tight, there was no wiggle room for any high-end products. It was basic town. Gentle cleanser and moisturizer was it. No toner, no serums, no creams or brighteners…just cleanser and moisturizer. And you know what? My skin cleared up really nicely. I learned that I had probably been over-doing it with the “treatments” all along. So, although I worked exfoliator back into the mix now, that’s about it. You can read my review of three La-Roche Posay moisturizers. 

**Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I might make a small commission at no charge to you.**

I started using La Roche-Posay, when I could no longer afford Beauty Counter. I was on the hunt for an affordable skincare brand that really worked and I found it! I’ve stuck with them even though money isn’t as much of a squeeze now. La Roche-Posay isn’t like $6 a bottle it’s more like $18 for a large bottle of cleanser, BUT it lasts foreverrrrrr. Truly, for me, a bottle of face wash will last 6 months or more. Additionally, the La Roche-Posay line usually goes on sale buy one get one 40% off at Ulta and Target. Amazon will also have 20% off sales. Maybe better sales exist, if you’ve seen them drop it in the comments. If you’re concerned about toxins, La Roche-Posay is pretty low according to the Environmental Working Group. I just checked the Enviromental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database and the cleanser and moisturizer below score a 1 and a 2, respectively.

Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser

Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream

This is an example of a brand that does not necessarily advertise themselves at “clean beauty” and yet, according to my personal priorities it’s a good fit for me. Finding beauty brands that work can be a challenge but I have really enjoyed this brand. I have tried 4 cleaners and 3 moisturizers from their line. I think that have a lot of good options for different skin types. The moisturizer I use frequently and what’s linked above is not what’s pictured. The one in the picture is the La Roche-Posay double repair facial moisturizer. I used it for a couple years before trying the triple repair, and now the triple repair is my personal favorite. Bonus points: it’s a better value. Bonus bonus: it can also be used on the body.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Okay, hear me out. I’m telling you this Suave Line of Shampoo and Conditioner is pretty good. I have become quite fond of it, it’s a great price and works pretty well. I have a lot of hair, it’s thick and long and this shampoo does well for me. Listen, I know the stylist friends are going to freak out a little. I get it. Is this the *best* shampoo on the market? No. Is it absolutely affordable and does a decent job? In my opinion, yes. Also, though I’m sure it contains synthetic fragrance, it doesn’t bother me. I added the Amazon link, but you can buy these individually at Wal-Mart for like $3 a bottle.

Verb Ghost Shampoo and Conditioner is my favorite but broke girls don’t buy $40 shampoo and conditioner! FYI Verb is not super low-tox (I think it scores a 5 on EWG) but the fragrance doesn’t bother me. The Ghost is very subtle and reminds me of the scent of baby shampoo. I have a hard time finding a “clean” shampoo that gets the cross-fit sweat out of my hair or doesn’t weigh my hair down. I love the Verb line but it is not a broke girl’s shampoo. Remember, this is the time to get real with yourself! If you don’t have the money for $20+ shampoo…don’t buy it. It’ll be ok if you have to go down to $3 shampoo for a while.

If you’re very sensitive to fragrance, this is one of the only fragrance-free shampoos I’ve found. I do need to double wash when I use it, but overall I like it. It’s about $12/bottle. Sometimes it goes on sale at Target. I think you can find it at Wal-Mart as well but ours is out of the shampoo often.

Kristen Ess Fragrance-Free Shampoo

Kristen Ess Fragrance-Free Conditioner

If you’re very sensitive to fragrance, this is one of the only fragrance-free shampoos I’ve found. I do need to double wash when I use it, but overall I like it. It’s about $12/bottle. Sometimes it goes on sale at Target. I think you can find it at Wal-Mart as well but ours is out of the shampoo often.

Kristen Ess Fragrance-Free Shampoo

Kristen Ess Fragrance-Free Conditioner

Soap and Body Wash

Soap and body wash can add up quickly. Especially if you have little kiddos who end up using way more than necessary OR using body wash as bubble bath…ask me how I know.

Ivory Frangrance-Free Body Wash is a favorite of ours. Its affordable, gentle on everyone’s skin and does not make me break out. It scores a 2 according to EWG’s database.

Bars of Soap: Yes, it might be kind of old school, but they’re pretty affordable and it’s much harder for little kiddos to wash a whole bar of soap down the drain or use it for bubble bath. (Not that that’s ever happened in MY house.) Ivory or Dove work well for us. Bars of soap might not be a good idea if you have dry skin, but I think they are worth considering. 

Side note: If you’re super tight on cash-that $3 shampoo can totally double as body wash. No one will know OR care.

Deodorant

Here we have the category I am least likely to budge on. If you are someone who can go without deodorant, I’m happy for you. Believe me, I am not that person. Additionally, this is the product I will always prioritize a low-tox. I’m looking for an absence of toxic chemicals and no synthetic fragrances. Because the armpits are a gateway to the lymphatic system, deodorant without toxic ingredients is one actually the top of my list for clean beauty products. 

I used to buy Schmidt’s almost exclusively, and I do still like the brand. The Lavendar one that I use scores a 1 on EWG and I can find it on sale often for around $5-$7. TJ Maxx often has lower tox items at discounted prices. I have purchased quite a bit of deodorant there over the years.

I love this deodorant from Redeemed Skin Care. Redeemed is owned by my good friend Carrie. She’s passionate about providing low-tox, earth-given personal care products. Check out her website and that link above. She is adding new products frequently. Another one I love is the Rejuvenate Exfoliator. I actually use it on my hands the most because my hands so dry. Do you remember the Jergens commercial from like 2002 where it looks like a desert but it’s actually the lady’s skin? My hands are that desert and the exfoliator followed by a heavy dose, or three, of moisturizer before bed really helps!

Toothpaste

We have been using Boka Toothpaste for several years. My teeth are extremely sensitive, and this has really helped with the sensitivity. A few weeks ago, we ran out and my husband just grabbed a regular whitening toothpaste, and I could immediately tell a difference in the sensitivity of my toothpaste.

That’s a wrap on affording low-tox persoal care items! I’ll add to this series over the next month.

Please add any favorite personal care items to the comments. Or anything else you’de like to see.

Remember, no matter how tight money is, there’s a light at the of the tunnel. You might have to get creative and scrappy to get there but you can.

-Lauren