The Lemon Aid: Credo Beauty's Laura F. Shares Her Definitive Guide To Clean Beauty

Wellbeing

Jan 21

You eat organic. You are religious about going to Pilates. You write every day in your gratitude journal. But, if you’re skipping this one often overlooked component, you may be missing a crucial part in your healthcare routine.

Beauty.

The FDA does not regulate what is in our beauty products. This leads to lead, phthalates, sulfates, and more creeping into our beauty and skin care routines which can have deleterious effects on our body. Your skin is your largest organ, absorbing up to 60% of what you put on it. So how do you better understand your products and switch over to a clean beauty routine?

That’s where Credo Beauty comes in. A destination for safe (and beautiful!) skincare. I was thrilled to speak to Laura F., Credo Retail Marketing Manager, french beauty and brains, clean beauty expert, and founder of Clean Beauty Slate, who shared how working for the brand is helping her live a healthier life.

Credo Beauty's Laura F. taking a selfie in a yellow shirt with her finger on her chin

FAST FACTS

NAME: Laura F

LOCATION: San Francisco

OCCUPATION: Marketing Manager at Credo Beauty

BEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Being at the forefront of the Clean Beauty movement, meeting the founders of amazing brands and trying new products all the time :)

WELLNESS CAUSE YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT: Clean Beauty

FOLLOW ME ON: Instagram @cleanbeautyslate

Credo Beauty's Laura F. smiling against a gray background while rubbing in white product on her face

ON HER CLEAN BEAUTY JOURNEY

WHY I GOT INVOLVED IN CLEAN BEAUTY: Working in a beauty salon, I started getting curious about ingredients in the products brands were pitching. The more I read, the more worried I grew about the lack of regulation in this industry and the toxicity of certain ingredients in products we use everyday. Parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates… so many bad ingredients that are irritants, endocrine disruptors and/or, in some cases, carcinogenic. I started transitioning to clean beauty and figured it could be useful if I shared my journey, findings and product switches through a blog.

THE CLEAN BEAUTY IMPACT: My skin feels so much better! It’s healthier. I’ve learned to deal with my hormonal acne. I feel proud being part of a movement that is changing how people see what they put on their body. It’s so rewarding to be working toward healthier beauty!

HARDEST PART OF MY WELLNESS JOURNEY: It’s not always easy to keep a blog up while having a full time job. You have to discipline yourself, and accept that it’s going to take some of your evenings and part of your weekends.

BEST PART OF MY WELLNESS JOURNEY: Sharing it! Converting my friends, meeting the clean beauty community and becoming part of the wellness movement.

A lineup of 4 beauty products against a white background

CLEAN BEAUTY DEEP DIVE

WHY CLEAN BEAUTY IS SO IMPORTANT: We’ve grown conscious of how we treat our bodies these past few years. Eating organic, practicing yoga, meditation… but what about what we put ON our bodies, on our face, on our scalp everyday? Clean beauty is for me the natural next step toward healthier lifestyles and a better tomorrow.

HOW TO GET INTO CLEAN BEAUTY (AND NOT BE OVERWHELMED): It’s not realistic to think you can throw away your whole vanity kit and start over. That would definitely be overwhelming and super expensive! It is ok to switch step by step. When you finish a product, throw it away and look for a clean alternative. One of the first things I swapped was lip balms. For others, it’s deodorant. Multi-brands retailers like Credo are a great option as they offer a wide choice of products, for every budget. Credo also has a Clean Swap service in-store where you come in with your conventional products and they help you choose a good, nontoxic alternative.

CRAZIEST CLEAN BEAUTY STATS:

1. In the EU, 1,300 ingredients are banned in cosmetics. In the US… 30.

2. Last time the law about cosmetics was updated in the U.S.? 1938. Yep, that’s 80 years.

3. A recent study showed that you can reduce your toxic burden by using clean beauty products in just 3 days.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Books: No more Dirty Looks, Not Just a Pretty Face
Blogs: Gurl Gone Green, This Organic Girl, Organic Bunny, Bare Beauty (and of course Clean Beauty Slate)
Other Websites: Well + Good, The Good Trade, Goop
Ingredients Database: EWG’s Skin Deep, Think Dirty

Credo Beauty's Laura F. smiling with eyes closed and sun shining on her

HEALTHY FAVORITES

CLEAN BEAUTY STORE: Credo of course!

SPLURGE: One Love Vitamin B Cleanser – best oil cleanser and makeup remover out there!

STEAL: W3ll People Expressionist Mascara

CURRENT BEAUTY OBSESSION: Maya Chia Super Blend

BEST FACE MASK ADVICE: Wash your face first, even if it’s just with water! Apply mask, pour yourself a drink and put on some music. Wait and enjoy. Rinse, apply toner and moisturize.

ALWAYS IN MY MAKEUP BAG: RMS Un cover-up Concealer

BEST BOOK: Currently halfway through Beneath a Scarlet Sky. Amazing.

BEST HEALTHY RECIPE: Very simple salad with spinach, grapefruit, avocados and shrimp.

BEST HEALTH TIP: Drink water. A lot. And sleep. A lot.

FAVORITE NOT-SO-HEALTHY HABIT: Pasta*

*Author Note: Pasta is good for the soul in my opinion so I say it’s healthy every once in awhile!