Clean Beauty: Summer Favorites

During my pregnancy, I made a huge effort to baby-proof my beauty routine by cutting out some controversial ingredients (more on that here). I wasn’t sure if I would keep up a cleaner approach to cosmetics post-pregnancy, but I actually find it just as important to use more natural products since I’m constantly snuggling up to my baby and covering him with kisses (and he’s all about putting everything in his mouth, including my hands, my knee, whatever). Thankfully, it’s getting easier and easier to find high-quality, better-for-you beauty products these days, with sites like Goop stocking clean skin-care and makeup picks and subscription services like Goodebox offering monthly samples. Here are a few new discoveries that I’ve been loving this summer.

John Masters Organics Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Milk: This luxe, lightweight lotion is full of certified organic ingredients and absorbs much faster than most organic moisturizers. It smells just like a creamsicle but without anything artificial—the sweet scent comes from the perfect combo of essential oils.

Coola Sport SPF 35 Citrus Mimosa & Coola Face SPF 30 Matte Tint: I first learned about Coola’s chemical-free sunscreens on Goop. When the authors described the face SPF as both cool and freaky, I knew I had to try it. Unlike the white veil that most mineral-based sunscreens leave behind, this universal tint disappears into your skin almost instantly (it is kind of freaky). The body sunscreen goes on without a trace, too, with the added benefit of smelling like a summer cocktail.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer: Tarte is one of the cleaner lines carried at Sephora—you can count on them for products that are free of parabens and sulfates and never tested on animals. This talc-free bronzer gives a subtle (not sparkly) glow that’s perfect not only for summer but all year-round.

Suntegrity Natural Self Tanner: I received a sample of this tanning lotion in a recent Goodebox and immediately purchased the full-sized version. The long-lasting, non-sticky formula lets you fake a golden tan from—get this—vegetables, plus it’s packed with more good-for-you ingredients like organic oils and antioxidants. The best part? No tell-tale tanner scent! Since I’m pretty fair, I mix a dollop into my body lotion for a lighter tan.

Enjoy your last weeks of summer!