Floor Cleaner

Better Life Floor Cleaner Citrus Mint US	$$	★★★★★	Cleans well, with fresh scent. Does not leave residue.
Aunt Fannie’s Floor Cleaner Vinegar Wash (Eucalyptus) US	$	★★★★★	Very effective. Receives an “A” rating by EWG
Bissell / Shark Steam Mop US UK AU CA	$$$$	★★★★★	Cleans wood and tile floors very well with minimal effort and no cleaning products. (Discard any optional fragrance discs.)

Bathroom Cleaner

Better Life All Purpose Spray Unscented US	$	★★★★★	Effective cleaner with mostly natural ingredients and no scent at all. A more specialized cleaner may be needed for tough soap buildup though.
Better Life Tub & Tile Cleaner – Tea Tree and Eucalyptus US	$	★★★★	Effective, but not recommended due to overpowering natural fragrance.
Better Life Kitchen and Bath Scrubber US	$$	★★★★★	An effective cream cleanser to remove soap scum and mineral build up on shower doors etc (with a scrub sponge/cloth/brush). No scent or fumes.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Lemongrass and Citrus US	$	★★★	Reasonably effective, but has an unpleasant scent.
ALKIMI Bathroom Cleaner With Eucalyptus Extract and Clove Oil (UK)	$	★★★★★	Highly rated on Amazon UK. Specifically labelled as phthalate-free.
Abode Bathroom Cleaner – Rosemary Mint AU	$$	★★★★★	Natural ingredients. Excellent reviews on Nourished Life.
Attitude Natural Bathroom Cleaner Sensitive US & CA	$	★★★★★	EWG verified. Good reviews online.
Honest Bathroom Cleaner	$$	★★	Not the best cleaner and has an overpowering scent.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes Lemongrass Citrus	$	★★	An effective alternative to Clorox wipes, but leaves an unpleasant lingering scent. A better alternative for disinfecting wipes is to use alcohol hand sanitizer gel or alcohol wipes.

Window & Glass Cleaner

Better Life I Can See Clearly Wow US		★★★★★	Works even better than Windex, without the chemicals.
Alkimi Glass Window Cleaner (UK)	$	★★★★★	Highly rated on Amazon UK. Specifically labelled as phthalate-free.

Brands to Avoid

These brands are marketed as being non-toxic, but can contain synthetic fragrance, other toxic ingredients, or have poor ratings by the EWG and ThinkDirty App:

• Method
• Meyers
• Green Works

The best place to start when replacing makeup is with foundation and lipstick. Both often contain parabens and may contain phthalates for texture. Foundation is also applied to a larger surface area than other make-up, while lipstick is a top priority given that some is inevitably ingested.

Replacing eye make-up is a lower priority, so specific products are not listed here. If you choose to replace eye make-up too, recommended brands include Bare Minerals, Mineral Fusion, Beautycounter, and Burts Bees.

Product Name	EWG/ Think Dirty	Price	Rating	Comments
Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage (SPF 20) -Where to buy: US)	2	$$$	★★★★★	Lightweight tinted moisturizer with added SPF. Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner.
Beautycounter Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation – Where to buy: US	3	$$	★★★★★	Light creamy foundation with medium coverage.
100% Pure fruit pigmented healthy foundation -Where to Buy: US	0	$$$	★★★★	Full coverage. Some report that it can be drying.
Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation  -Where to Buy :US CA	0/3	$$	★★★★	EWG verified. Good for those with particularly sensitive skin or eyes.   *contains phenyoxyethanol- see note at end.
Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder -Where to Buy: US CA	0/3	$$	★★★★★	EWG verified. Highly rated by Amazon reviewers (74% of reviews are five stars). *contains phenyoxyethanol- see note at end.
Vichy Laboratoires Dermafinish Corrective Fluid Foundation SPF 30 -Where to Buy: US UK AU CA	1	$$	★★★★	Full coverage. Does not settle in pores or wrinkles. Can be blended with a moisturizer for lighter and more natural-looking coverage.
Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals Foundation -Where to Buy: US UK	3	$$$$	★★★★	Full coverage. Good for sensitive skin.
Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick – Where to Buy: US	1/3	$$	★★★★★	My absolute favorite lipstick (in Rose). Lightweight and moisturizing. Feels like a high-end conventional brand. (The 3 score on ThinkDirty comes from titanium dioxide—product deserves a better rating).
Beautycounter Color Intense Lipstick -Where to Buy:  US	1	$$	★★★★	Smooth and long-lasting. Subtle peppermint flavor/aroma.
Beautycounter Lip Gloss  -Where to Buy: US	1	$$	★★★★★	Sheer color and high shine. My favorite gloss (in Bare Shimmer) because it is not sticky or drying and lasts well.
100% Pure Anti Ageing Lipstick -Where to Buy: US CA	0	$$$	★★★★	Natural ingredients, with pomegranate oil and shea butter to moisturize.
Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm -Where to Buy:US	1	$	★★★★★	All natural.
Burts Bees Lip Balm Original Beeswax -Where to Buy: US UK	2	$	★★★★★	All natural, good value, and easy to find in local stores. Moisturizing, but does not add much gloss.
Mineral Fusion Lipstick or Lipstick Butter -Where to Buy: US	0	$$	★★★	Good ingredients, but some reports that the lipstick breaks off at the base.
Boots No 7 High Shine or Matte Lip Crayon	1			Readily available in stores (Target/ Wallgreens in US, Boots in UK)
Burts Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick -Where to Buy: US	1	$	★★★★	Many Amazon reviewers love it, but some complain that the color fades quickly and the liptick itself becomes rough and bumpy after a few months of use.

See my recommendations for: 

Skincare 

 Shampoo & Conditioner

 Sunscreen

Favorite Stores & Brands 

My top picks for haircare products without synthetic fragrance, phthalates, or parabens.

Shampoo 

The Honest Company Shampoo & Body Wash Sweet Orange & Vanilla

• I have been happily using this for the past five years, although some find that it is not cleansing enough. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $
• Where to Buy: US

Everyone 3-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash Unscented

• Although it is labeled as unscented, this combined shampoo and body wash does have a very subtle lavender scent. It cleanses well and leaves hair shiny, although for very dry hair I would recommend Honest instead. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $
• Where to Buy: US

ATTITUDE Super Leaves Shampoo

• Range of shampoos that are all EWG verified (best score available from EWG).★★★★
• EWG Verified
• $$
• Where to Buy: US & CA

Avalon Organics Volumizing Rosemary Shampoo

• Can be slightly drying but leaves hair very clean.
• ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

• Facebook group favorite, especially for those with curly hair. Note that many other Shea Moisture products include synthetic fragrance so check ingredients lists. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $
• Where to Buy: US UK CA AU

Vanicream Free & Clear Medicated Antidandruff Shampoo

• This has the same active ingredient as Head & Shoulders, without the fragrances and other chemicals. ★★★★★
• $$
• Where to Buy: US

ATTITUDE baby leaves 2 in 1 Shampoo

• Variety of natural scents available, all with very good ratings from EWG. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $$$
• Where to Buy: US & CA

Living Nature Balancing Shampoo

• New-zealand based company that uses natural ingredients. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $$
• Where to Buy: AU, NZ & Rest of World, US

Giovanni Avocado and Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Shampoo

• Very popular with Amazon reviewers
• ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• Where to Buy: US AU CA

Conditioner

The Honest Company Conditioner Sweet Orange & Vanilla

• This conditioner has a very subtle scent and strikes the perfect balance of moisturizing without being heavy. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 2/3
• $
• Where to Buy: US

ATTITUDE Super Leaves Natural Conditioner

• Range of conditioners that are all EWG verified (best score available from EWG). Nourishing version (green bottle) is highly rated by Amazon reviewers
• ★★★★★
• EWG Verified (top scoring product)
• $$
• Where to Buy: US & CA

Tree to Tub Organic Argan Oil Conditioner

• Mostly natural and organic ingredients and highly rated by Amazon reviewers. ★★★★★
• $
• Where to Buy: US

Acure Mega Moisture Argan Oil and Pumpkin Conditioner

• Acure makes a range of different shampoos and conditioners, all of which
• ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 3
• $$$
• Where to Buy: US

Rocky Mountain Soap Co Unscented Conditioner

• Canadian company that uses natural ingredients
• EWG /Think Dirty:0
• $$$
• Where to Buy: US & CA)

Living Nature Balancing Conditioner

• New-zealand based company that uses natural ingredients.
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $
• Where to Buy: AU, NZ & Rest of World, US

Giovanni Avocado and Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Conditioner

• Highly rated by Amazon reviewers and reader favorite. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

Shea Moisture African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner

• Highly rated by Amazon reviewers ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• Where to Buy: US UK

For other buying options, and to check for discount codes, see my favorite stores & brands 

Facial Moisturizer

La Roche Toleriane Ultra Intense Soothing Moisturizer

• A great moisturizer with no preservatives, although not based on natural/organic ingredients. ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $$
• Where to Buy: (US) (UK) (AU) (CA)

Green People Anti-Ageing 24- Hour Cream Sensitive

• UK-based company that uses natural ingredients. Reader favorite. Also available as light day moisturizer. ★★★★★
• $$$
• Where to Buy: (UK) (US)

Living Nature Sensitive Skin Night Moisture Cream

• Made from natural oils. Living nature makes a range of moisturizers, all rated 0 by ThinkDirty. Made in New Zealand. ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $$
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

Rocky Mountain Soap Co POMEGRANATE DAY CREAM

• 100% Natural. Main ingredient is pomegranate oil. Online reviews say it is light, absorbs well, and smells good. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 0
• $$
• Where to Buy: US &CA

Sukin Facial Moisturiser

• Australian-made, with mostly natural ingredients. Allergy caution: contains sesame oil and wheat germ oil. ★★★★
• $$
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

Nakin Active Dew Moisturizer

• New UK-based skin-care brand using mostly natural ingredients. ★★★★★
• $
• Where to Buy: UK

Swisse Vitamin E moisturizer

• 99% natural ingredients.
• Where to Buy: AU

My DIY Face Oil Recipe

• For those with dryer skin, face oils can be incredibly soothing. This is my version of of RMS Beuty oil, which costs $78
• Combine 3 Tbs Organic Jojoba oil, 1 Tbs Rosehip or Argan oil, ½ Tbs Tamanu Oil

Face Oils

• Pura D’OR Organic Rosehip Oil (Soothes inflammation, heavier and does not absorb as well as argan or jojoba oil). US
• PURA D’OR Organic Morrocan Argan Oil (Absorbs well. The same as Josie Maran but much less expensive. US
• Cliganic Jojoba Oil Certified Organic Cold Pressed (Good base to combine with other oils, or use alone as a quickly-absorbing body oil).US

Anti-Ageing/ Serums

Beautycounter Rejuvenating Radiance Serum

• Lightweight and easily absorbed serum, with vitamin C, fruit acids, and marine extracts to improve skin tone and reduce wrinkles.
• $$$
• EWG verified (top scoring product)
• Where to buy: US

La Roche-Posay Redermic C Pure Vitamin C Eye Cream

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum 

Facial Cleanser

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

• Excellent low-cost and gentle cleanser that is widely recommended by dermatologists. A good alternative to Cetaphil, which contains parabens. Typically costs $5-6 in the US, but sometimes much more expensive in other countries.
• ★★★★
• $
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

• Relatively expensive, but impressive reviews on Amazon.
• ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $$$
• Where to Buy:US

Beautycounter Rejuvinating Face Cleanser

• Lightly lathering luxurious cleanser. A top scoring product on EWG. ★★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $$$
• Where to Buy:US

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

• To me, this doesn’t cleanse quite well enough, but many people love it- there are almost 1000 five star reviews on Amazon. ★★★★
• EWG /Think Dirty: 1
• $
• Where to Buy: US UK AU CA

My Recommended Sunscreens:

Everyday/Face SPF

		EWG/Think Dirty rating	Price	Overall rating	Where to Buy
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick	Zinc oxide 15%. Lightweight formula that applies easily and without leaving a white layer or heavy/waxy feeling. Preferred option for daily use under makeup.	2	$$	★★★★★	US
Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage (SPF 20)	Lightweight tinted moisturizer with added SPF. Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner.	2	$$$	★★★★★	US
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30	Zinc oxide. Excellent lightweight and water resistant sunscreen. Contains phenoxyethanol, so may be best for face or rather than applying to whole body.	1	$$	★★★★	US
Green People Organic Sun Lotion SPF30 Scent Free FACE	Best option for sunscreen in UK. Not available in US. Active ingredients are isoamyl P-methoxycinnamate (excellent UVA-filter, 1 rating by EWG) and titanium dioxide. Think Dirty rate of 4/5 based on old formulation.	N/A	$$	★★★★★	(UK) (CA)
Rocky Mountain Soap Co NATURAL SUNSCREEN VANILLA COCONUT SPF 31	Zinc oxide 20%. 100% Natural. One of Rocky Mountain’s Best Sellers.	1		★★★★★	(US&CA)
Attitude Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Fragrance Free	EWG verified. Zinc oxide (20%)	EWG V.			(US &CA)

Best Beach/ Sport Sunscreens

ThinkBaby SPF 50+ Sunscreen	Zinc oxide 20%. Very popular and good value mineral-based sunscreen, with 72% of Amazon reviewers giving it five stars. Received a poor rating on UVB protection by Consumer Reports, but that result is questionable given that the product has a high concentration of zinc oxide and reports of sunburns with this product are exceedingly rare. Light fruit scent from raspberry oil and papaya extract.	1	$	★★★★★	US UK CA AU
Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick	Zinc oxide 15%. Lightweight formula that applies easily and without leaving a white layer or heavy/waxy feeling. Preferred option for daily use under makeup.	2	$$	★★★★★	US
Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50+	Consumer reports rates as good UVA, fair UVB protection. 72% of Amazon reviewers give five stars. Thick and looks white on skin, but eventually absorbs. Good choice for very sensitive skin.	2	$$$	★★★★★	US UK
Badger Active Unscented Cream SPF 30	Good rating by Consumer Reports for both UVA and UVB. (Excellent UVA, fair UVB). Can be oily and heavy.	1	$	★★★★	US UK
Goddess GardenEveryday Natural Lotion SPF 30	Good rating by Consumer Reports for UVA and UVB. Some amazon reviewers describe it as leaving heavy white residue and hard to rub in.	1	$	★★★	US UK AU CA
Block Island Natural Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30	EWG’s top rated beach/sport sunscreen. Zinc oxide 22%. Lower average reviews on Amazon ratings than other alternatives.	1	$$	★★★	US
Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion	One of the best options for sunscreen in UK. Not available in US. Active ingredients are isoamyl P-methoxycinnamate (excellent UVA-filter, 1 rating by EWG) and titanium dioxide. Think Dirty rate of 4/5 based on old formulation.	N/A	$$	★★★★★	UK
Eco Logical Sunscreen SPF 30	Zinc oxide 20%. One of the best options for sunscreen available in Australia. Australian-made.	N/A	1	★★★★	AU

My absolute favorites:

Over the years of trying just about every fragrance-free mineral sunscreen available (since I live in Miami), these are the ones I use most often on myself and my eczema-prone little boy:

• Face: Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Stick (available here: US)
• Body: ThinkBaby SPF 50+ Sunscreen (available here: US UK CA AU)

If I lived in the U.K I would also consider Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion (available here: UK)

Detailed Sunscreen Buying Guide

When choosing a sunscreen, there is always a trade-off to be made. The active ingredients that are the least toxic are unfortunately not the most effective.

There are two forms of active ingredients in sunscreens: chemical and mineral. Chemical sunscreens include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Mineral (also called physical) sunscreens are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

Some of the chemical sunscreens have been found to disrupt hormones and are best avoided while pregnant or trying to conceive. According to the Environmental Working Group, “The most worrisome is oxybenzone, which was added to nearly 65 percent of the non-mineral sunscreens in EWG’s 2018 sunscreen database. Oxybenzone can cause allergic skin reactions (Rodriguez 2006). In laboratory studies it is a weak estrogen and has potent anti-androgenic effects. (Krause 2012, Ghazipura 2017).” Other studies have found that high levels of oxybenzone can lower testosterone levels, reduce pregnancy duration, and alter birth-weights. Octinoxate is another chemical sunscreen that is probably best to avoid, because it too has been linked to hormone disruption.

Fortunately, there are many mineral sunscreens available, which use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the active ingredients. For fertility purposes, we can also go a little further and choose products without parabens or fragrance.

Yet we have to bear in mind that these sunscreens are simply not as effective as the chemical blockers. Each year, Consumer Reports tests a selection of sunscreens for how well they block UVA and UVB rays. They consistently find that the most effective sunscreens are those that use chemical filters, rather than zinc or titanium dioxide. In 2018, every single one of the most effective suncreens included oxybenzone, which is likely the most problematic of the chemical sunscreens.

So how do we find a balance between sunscreens that are safe but still provide adequte sun protection? The first step is to choose a physical sunscreen that includes zinc oxide, not just titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is relatively good at blocking UVB rays, which cause sunburn, but not very good at at protecting against UVA rays, which cause premature ageing and likely increase the risk of skin cancer. Zinc oxide is very good at protecting against UVA, and can protect against UVB fairly well if the the concentration is high enough. For this reason, the sunscreens recommended in this guide include either a high concentration of zinc oxide, or a combination of both zinc and titanium dioxide.

In Consumer Reports 2018 sunscreen tests, the most effective mineral sunscreens include:

Sunscreen	Active Ingredient	Comment
Badger Active Unscented Cream SPF 30	Non-nano zinc oxide 18.75%	Excellent UVA protection, but UVB only fair.
Goddess GardenEveryday Natural Lotion SPF 30	Titanium Dioxide 6.4%, Zinc Oxide 6%	Good on both UVA and UVB
Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50+	Titanium Dioxide 5%, Zinc Oxide 7%	Good UVA, fair UVB

Mineral sunscreens that received a “poor” rating on either UVA or UVB include:

• Thinkbaby SPF 50+ Lotion sunscreen
• BadgerSport Cream SPF 35
• The Honest CompanyMineral Lotion SPF 50+2
• Tom’s of Maine Baby Lotion SPF 30 sunscreen
• Thinksport Safe Lotion SPF 50+ sunscreen
• Alba Botanica Kids Mineral Lotion SPF 30
• True Natural Baby & Family Unscented Lotion SPF 30 sunscreen
• Banana Boat Kids Sport Lotion SPF 50+
• MDSolarSciences Mineral Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 50 sunscreen
• CeraVe Body Lotion SPF 50
• Babyganics Mineral-Based Lotion SPF 50+ sunscreen

The common theme amongst all of these “poor” performing sunscreens is that they either used zinc or titanium dioxide along (rather than a combination) OR if they did contain a combination of both, the concentration was too low (often below 5%).

One more issue with mineral sunscreen is whether they contain nano-sized particles of zinc or titanium dioxide. I am not particularly concerned about nano particles in sunscreen. As the Environmental Working Group has stated “a large number of studies have produced no evidence that zinc oxide nanoparticles can cross the skin in significant amounts.” The real concern with nano particles is inhalation, so for this reason you should avoid spray-on and powder-based mineral sunscreens. For more, see the EWG report on nanoparticles in sunscreen.

From this, Overall rules for sunscreens:

• Look for at least 6% zinc oxide AND at least 5% titanium dioxide, as a bare minimum, or around 20% zinc oxide.
• Fragrance free and paraben free
• Choose a lotion, rather than spray or powder-based sunscreen.
• Reapply often
• Use other measures to reduce sun exposure (shade, clothing, staying out of the sun in the middle of the day).

For occasional times when you will be in the sun for a longer period of time and need a more powerful sunscreen, it may be reasonable to choose a product that also contains one of the safer chemical sunscreens. This means no oxybenzone or octinoxate, but instead one or more of the following: octisalate, octocrylene, avobenzone, and Mexoryl. For this, I would recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Kids Face & Body Lotion SPF 60 sunscreen. It has an excellent score from Consumer Reports and a rating of 3 by the EWG. It is slightly greasy, but does not leave a white residue, unlike most physical sunscreens.