As New Year's resolutions come and go, I've always found it most effective to adopt change in a way that enriches my life, rather than one that elicits a sense of deprivation. If your resolution this year is to incorporate more natural products into your routine, there's no better person to ask for advice than Jean Godfrey-June. A long-time beauty editor at some of New York's top fashion magazines (you may have read her work in Elle or Lucky), Godfrey-June recently joined Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle website Goop as beauty editor. Like Paltrow, she's a long-time user of green products and has watched the natural category improve by leaps and bounds, in the skincare arena in particular. "A lot of the time it's better because it's not full of texturizers or fragrance that's going to irritate your skin," she says.
Because of the personal relationship we have with our products, switching a conventional product for a natural alternative might be easier for some people than others. Ease into your own process by first looking for ways to incorporate natural products for your more vulnerable areas, such as eyes, lips and underarms. "Your underarms are right next to your lymph nodes. You have really thin skin there, you shave and you're exposing yourself to whatever is in those things," Godfrey-June says, adding that natural deodorants are more effective now than ever. At first, Godfrey-June struggled with giving up Retin-A, an anti-aging skincare drug derived from vitamin A, but has since found botanical oils to be a superior substitute. With so many beautiful, effective products available, keeping this 2018 resolution will be a cinch.
What to try
Goop Enriching Face Oil, $150 through thedetoxmarket.ca.
This 99-per-cent organic blend of oils, including sunflower seed, olive fruit and jojoba, works with your moisturizer or on its own, and can be applied over makeup throughout the day.
Kaia Naturals Deodorant Booster Bar, $22 through kaianaturals.com.
To help your natural deodorant work properly, prep underarms with this Canadian all-natural soap that's been specifically formulated with activated charcoal and apple-cider vinegar to manage odour-causing bacteria.
Burt's Bees Nourishing Mascara, $13.99 through burtsbees.ca.
Available in two shades, this 100-per-cent-natural mascara nourishes with jojoba oil and is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.