Ditch + Switch

Maybe you’re reading this because you’ve finally decided to make the transition to clean skin care. Congrats! You have started to ditch and switch your products but let me warn you - it’s not always just a quick and easy fix. 

If you’ve heard the phrase “ditch and switch” before then you know it refers to the process of “ditching” the toxins and chemicals in your daily life (found in the products you use on a daily basis) and “switching” it with pure and clean ingredients.

One of the biggest and most important ditch + switch moves you can make is with the products you put on your skin. It’s truly eye-opening when you really look at how many chemicals and toxins are actually in the products we use on a daily basis. 

One important thing to note is that when you are in the process of switching your skin care products over to the cleaner products, a very common side effect is the process of “purging”. Maybe you’ve never heard of this and what it means which is why I’ve brought in a friend to help explain this a little further.

I’ve brought in Maya, a Holistic Esthetician to go over this process in detail and explain what the purging process often looks like and why it is happening. First, we’ll start with a little introduction so you can get to know Maya! 

"Hi! My name is Maya McEntee and I’m an esthetician. I decided to go into esthetics after struggling with my own skin issues and learning how to heal myself by switching to cleaner skincare products. 
I’ve struggled with acne since I was a teenager. I tried everything you can think of to get rid of it in those early days: harsh topical treatments, antibiotics, even accutane eventually because my doctors made it sound like that was my only choice. It came and went throughout the rest of my teens and into my early twenties. 
Right after I graduated college, I was living in Spain and I started breaking out badly again- little bumps filled my face until I had no smooth skin left. I couldn’t get medicine sent to me in Spain due to their laws so I had to wait until I got back to the U.S. I immediately started taking a high dose of spironolactone (a medication meant to lower blood pressure, but also helps with acne) to mitigate it because I was so frustrated. 
Then, a couple years later, the acne came back with a vengeance. It was different this time though- it was hormonal, deep and painful. Around the same time, I had a bout of eczema that made my arms and legs so inflamed I was embarrassed to wear shorts or short-sleeve shirts. I had finally had enough, and knew there had to be a way to stop these issues for good. I stopped going to the dermatologist and instead started researching on my own to get to the root of my skin problems. 
I soon discovered the amount of harmful chemicals, harsh ingredients, and toxins that are in the products we use every day...and how companies don’t have to disclose what they put in beauty products we use daily. I cleared out my skincare products and went back to simple, natural products. And then I sought the help of a naturopath and a holistic esthetician to get my skin back to healthy. In the midst of all of this, I decided I was going back to school to become an esthetician to help others find happy, healthy skin. I’m thrilled to provide some guidance on what the process of switching from conventional to safer, cleaner skin care looks like."
 

Now that you’ve gotten to know a little bit more about Maya, I’ve asked her a few questions that I think are very important to talk about when first making the switch to products like the ones we have here at Tanzi Natural Beauty. 


  • Is it normal to breakout when first using these products?
    •
        • Breakouts can be a form of detoxification of the skin. When switching to clean products, our skin is not used to the new ingredients because they’re more natural and probably have more active ingredients than your skin is used to. As your skin adjusts, it may start to break out as it brings these toxins to the surface of your skin. This process is often referred to as purging. 
  • What is happening on a more detailed level when my body goes through a purging process?
    •
        • If you’ve been using toxic products, your skin has now absorbed those chemicals and toxins. The longer you’ve been using those products, the more of those chemicals and toxins that exist. When you switch and start using cleaner and safer products, your skin is not used to these new products and their active ingredients (especially the more natural ones). These ingredients can be a big change if your skin is used to a lot of chemicals and synthetic ingredients! Your skin may begin to turnover quicker to get toxins out, causing acne and sensitivity issues. 
      • Why does my skin “purge”?
        • It is trying to get used to the new products, and get rid of any toxins in the skin. A lot of times when you start using more natural ingredients, your skin is a little shocked, and can get worse before it gets better.
  • How long can I expect to have these side effects before it gets better?
    •
        • Typically, the skin will normalize after anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, but it depends on your biology, your skin, and the products you have been using leading up to switching. Try to be patient as the skin adjusts and know that you’re making a transition that will have a huge positive impact over time! 
  • Why is clean skin care so important? 
    •
      • Clean skincare is important because it affects more than just the skin. The products that you use absorb into the skin and can affect your general health, as well as the condition of your skin. When you use clean beauty products, you are drastically reducing your overall toxic load for your body.
    • What parts of my skin care routine should I switch first? 
      • My advice is to start with the next item you run out of. I know the idea of swapping all of your products can be daunting, but you don’t have to do a complete overhaul overnight! Start with the next one you need, and slowly start replacing over time. It’ll be great for your skin because it will be less of a shock to change out one product at a time, but it’s also great for your wallet!

    Lastly: clearer, happier, and healthier skin is attainable, but it is definitely a whole body approach. I tell all of my clients that even though switching to clean products will definitely help, it cannot be the only change they make. Taking care of your overall health by moving your body once a day, eating whole foods, maintaining a healthy gut, getting good (and enough) sleep, and keeping your stress in check will all contribute to the wellbeing of your skin.