Small Steps, Big Shifts: A Gentle Way to Start Clean Beauty

posted on 6/4/25

You know how the most meaningful change sometimes begins with something simple—like sharing tomatoes from your garden or chatting with a neighbor over the fence? Those small, thoughtful actions have a way of adding up.

That same spirit carries into how we care for ourselves.

Clean beauty might sound like a trend, but at its core, it’s about something very old-fashioned: paying attention. To what we use. To what we put on our bodies. And to how those choices affect both our health and the environment around us.

And if the idea of overhauling your skincare routine feels overwhelming—you’re not alone. Many of us are already juggling enough. That’s why I always suggest starting small.

Begin Where It Matters Most

Instead of trying to change everything all at once, look at the products you use every single day—especially those that stay on your skin, like moisturizers or cleansers. These are the products that touch you the most often and sit on your skin the longest. So, they deserve a closer look. Upgrading just one or two of these daily essentials to clean, safer alternatives can be a meaningful step in the right direction—without the pressure of doing it all.

What Is Clean Beauty?

Clean beauty refers to products made without ingredients that could harm your health. But how do you know what’s actually safe? That’s where the EWG VERIFIED® mark comes in. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit that helps consumers navigate ingredient safety. Their VERIFIED program is one of the strictest in the industry—and when a product earns that mark, it means it’s been thoroughly vetted for health and safety.

Look for the EWG VERIFIED® mark to avoid ingredients like:

Parabens (linked to hormone disruption)
Phthalates (commonly hidden in synthetic fragrances)
DEA (a health risk flagged by the European Union)
Formaldehyde (yes, the one used in embalming—and its sneaky chemical cousins)

EWG

Having that third-party check means you don’t need to memorize a list of hard-to-pronounce chemicals. The EWG handles the research so you can feel confident in your choices.

A Local Touch

As a community member, I love that companies like Shaklee take these standards seriously—earning the EWG VERIFIED® label for many of their products. It's a reflection of values that align with how so many of us want to live: health-conscious, earth-conscious, and neighbor-minded.

So here’s a question for you:

What are the top two personal care products you use every day?

If you’re ever curious about swapping them out for something safer, I’d love to help point you toward a few thoughtful, clean alternatives—no pressure, just support.

Final Thought

Clean beauty isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about caring—just enough to make one small, better choice at a time. Whether that’s what you put on your skin or how you show up for your neighbors, those steps always count.

And in the long run, they make a difference.

To healthier habits and stronger communities,

bob