Nowadays, everybody is trying to reduce their carbon footprint by driving less, carpooling when possible, and even changing their shampoos! Yea, you read that right, changing shampoo. We all know that sulfates in shampoos can fade and ruin your expensive dye job, but did you know that sulfates are just as damaging to the environment? Even if you don’t color your hair, using a sulfate free shampoo will be less irritating to your scalp, and you’ll actually use less of the product, since most of these formulas are much more highly concentrated than generic drug store shampoos. Luckily for you, beauties, Planet Beauty has a bevy of hydrating, volumizing, and even purifying shampoos that are wonderfully sulfate free and made from natural, organic materials!
A recent addition to many of the Planet Beauty stores is the French inspired, ever-chic line called Number 4. Number 4 is 100% vegan, gluten free, paraben free, sodium chloride free, sulfate free, AND they proudly test on people, not animals! Number 4 is high performance hair care, featuring shampoo and conditioners in hydrating, volumizing, and purifying. The line also boasts nine styling products plus a masque and detangler to help you look your very best! (PST! This week only, Number 4 is offering samples of their purifying shampoo– get yours!)
Also stocked for your hair care needs is a line that flew virtually under the radar for many years called Alterna. Mostly giggled at because of the large hemp leaf largely displayed on the front of many of the products, Alterna has recent done an overhaul of their line, adding the favorite Bamboo line to the ranks of the wildly popular Caviar line. Alterna puts into its products advanced, proprietary technologies such as Enzymetherapy, an enzyme delivery system enabling the absorption of essential ingredients for superior keratin production and color hold, protecting hair from color fade & wash out. Alterna is conscious of the environment and your health, so what they leave out of their products is just as important as what goes in. All Alterna products are free of sulfates, parabens, gluten, phthalates, and sodium chloride.
If your conscious of natural ingredients on your face as well as your hair, try Caudalie Skin Care. This French line believes that women (and gents, too!) shouldn’t have to choose between great skin care that actually works, and natural ingredients in products. Because of this, Caudalie removed parabens and mineral oils form their products, and rely on a centuries old fruit that packs a serious punch: the grape. All of their products are organically based with grape seed oil and polyphenols which help deliver serious hydration and anti-aging benefits. A few of the Buff’s favorites from this line are the Caudalie Hand Cream, which moisturizes even the driest of hands without a yucky, greasy feeling after. Another is the Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peeling Mask, which helps tighten pores and reduce oil production, and removes dead skin cells as you peel it off! Stop by your nearest Planet Beauty store to try it out today!
Tip from a Beauty Buff: When using sulfate free shampoos, use the smallest amount you think you’d need, and start there. You can always add more product or water to make the product foam up!
Next time you’re shopping for a shampoo, look at the ingredient list! If the second ingredient is sodium lauryl sulfate, reach for a different brand. Many skin care lines claim to be organic, but check the label! If there’s a lot of words you can’t pronounce, pick something new.
XOXO, Allie
Allie Kelley has been a Planet Beauty Buff for four years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English. She enjoys painting her nails, trolling Pinterest for new trends, and has an obsession with lip gloss.
