Clean & Green Living Regan Nelson

In today's episode, I am diving deep into a phenomenon sweeping the lives of our teens and tweens—especially girls—the growing obsession with high-end skincare, makeup, and fragrance. If you look at your social media feed or walk into a sephora or Ulta, it is very clear that skincare and makeup are no longer just for women. Our girls have been drawn into complex skincare and makeup routines by glamorous influencers and persuasive marketing campaigns targeted directly at them. And it’s not just girls experiencing this, boys are interested in products like cologne, hair gel and body spray as well. 
While makeup and skincare is fun for our girls, it’s important to recognize that this obsession has real implications. It can affect self-esteem, your family’s budget, and the thing that worries me most, is the impact of toxic chemicals found in many of these products on the developmental health of our kids. 
I know that many of you are seeking guidance on how to approach these conversations with your kids. I promise that this episode will offer you both valuable insights and effective strategies to help foster both healthier choices and conversations with your kids about makeup and skincare. You will walk away feeling more informed and empowered to navigate this complex issue. 
I’ve been thinking about doing an episode on this topic for months now. In the past year I have hosted 4 events for tween and teen girls to talk about skincare and makeup, what’s appropriate for their skin and how to choose safer products. A few months ago, one of my favorite parenting podcast, actually the only parenting podcast I listen to, Ask Lisa with Dr. Lisa Damour covered the topic of why kids, specifically a 10 year old in this case is hooked on Luxury skincare. The episode was great, but it was missing one key component, she never talked about the safety risk of some of the ingredients in these products. 
So, in today’s episode I want to share some of the great points that Dr. Lisa Made to help parents address this issue, and add my own perspective. 
Let’s start with the big and important question, why are young girls so obsessed with skincare and makeup? Dr. Lisa provided some great insights into this behavior that I had necessarily thought about before. 
Part 1 Why are girls into skincare and cosmetics?
The first being` that collecting is truly a Timeless Tween Tradition
Remember when we were kids? It was all about Beanie Babies, Pogs, or Pokémon cards. Well, today's young girls are no different, except now, the collectibles have taken a glamorous turn into the world of beauty.
 
Just the other day, a friend shared a story about her daughter who was absolutely set on getting a specific pink skincare product. Why? Not just for the product itself, but because the bottle would look perfect in her collection. This story really highlights how these items are more than just skincare or makeup for our girls; they're part of a curated collection that expresses their identity and that word that I’ve come to loathe but I am going to use it anyway because they’re using it, aesthetic.
 
The second point that Dr. Lisa brought up is that girls are drawn to these products because they like things that are cute, flowery and fruity. It’s about the color and the smell that is youthful and fun and playful. 
 
I am sure you Have noticed how many of these products are designed to be almost irresistibly attractive? They come in pastel colors, adorned with cute logos, and often smell like a basket of fruits. It's almost like walking into a candy store, but for your skin! This sensory appeal is a huge part of what makes these products so enticing. They're not just skincare items; they're also an experience for our girls that appeal to multiple senses.  A perfect example of this is drunk elephant products. Years ago they were marketed as high-end clean skincare to middle aged women, now the packaging and hte out of  box

I talk a lot here on the podcast about the toxic chemicals we bring into our homes, like personal care items and cleaning supplies. But have you ever stopped to consider what your home itself is made of? Today, we're diving into that topic with Andy Pace from The Green Design Center. Andy's about to open your eyes to the shocking amount of chemicals lurking right under our roofs. We kick off with a straightforward, yet powerful first step that you can take right now to drastically cut down on toxic exposure in your living space. Throughout our chat, Andy shares practical advice on choosing safer building materials and how to maintain your home in a healthier way. I've learned something new in this episode, and I am excited to pass this great insight along to you. I assure you, by the end of this episode, you will  feel equipped to make those small but mighty changes to make your home a  safer and healthier sanctuary for you and your family.
 
Resources Mentioned
Use this link and promo code somethingbetter for 15% off starter kits with Branch Basics 
Interview with Allison Evans from Branch Basics (Here)
First interview with Andy (Here)
 
Connect with Regan
On Instagram @cleanandgreenlivingpodcast 
On LinkedIn 
On Threads
Join the Clean & Green Living Free FB community here
Join the Clean & Green Living Newsletter here
Download the Clean & Green Living Guide here
Email regan at cleanandgreenlivingpodcast@gmail.com 
 
Connect with Andy 
Website https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/ 
Podcast https://www.thegreendesigncenter.com/non-toxic-environments/  
On Instagram
On Facebook

Have you ever glanced at your shampoo bottle or face cream and wondered what all those complex ingredient names actually mean for your health and the environment? Today, I am joined by Krupa Koestline, a dedicated green chemist who specializes in helping companies create safer, more sustainable personal care products. In this conversation, we're tackling some of the key questions you likely have about ingredient safety in your personal care products. These questions include: does natural mean safe? Are all synthetic ingredients harmful? Are preservatives really necessary and which ones are safe? And so much more. 
Krupa and I are also talking about some of the more controversial and nuanced ingredients like phenoxyethanol, and the chemical filters used in sunscreen.  Whether you're a beauty product aficionado or just someone interested in making healthier lifestyle choices, this episode will equip you with the knowledge to critically assess beauty products for safety and sustainability. 
 
Resources Mentioned
Use this link and promo code cleanforall20 for 20% off at Beautycounter
 
Connect with Regan
On Instagram @cleanandgreenlivingpodcast 
On LinkedIn 
On Threads
Join the Clean & Green Living Free FB community here
Join the Clean & Green Living Newsletter here
Download the Clean & Green Living Guide here
Email regan at cleanandgreenlivingpodcast@gmail.com 
 
Connect with Krupa
Website http://www.kktlabs.com/ 
On Instagram 
On LinkedIn

Our kitchens are the hub of nourishment in our homes, and yet they are also a source of harmful chemicals and practices that affect our health and the health of the planet. From the utensils we cook with to the containers we store our food in, every choice has an impact. In today’s episode, I am sharing five simple swaps you can make to transform your kitchen into a safer and more sustainable space. And remember, while I am sharing five ways, it doesn’t mean you have to do all of them at once. Pick one thing at a time and tackle them slowly. 
 
Resources Mentioned
Use this link and promo code somethingbetter for 15% off Branch Basics Starter Kits
Use this link and promo code somethingbetter25 for 25% off drops, returning customers can use somethingbetter15 for 15% off
Molly’s Suds
Episode Five Ways to Make Your Laundry Room Safer & More Sustainable
 
Connect with Regan
On Instagram @cleanandgreenlivingpodcast 
On LinkedIn 
On Threads
Join the Clean & Green Living Free FB community here
Join the Clean & Green Living Newsletter here
Download the Clean & Green Living Guide here
Email Regan at cleanandgreenlivingpodcast@gmail.com 

Are you on a journey to make your life cleaner and greener, but sometimes feel overwhelmed by where to start or how to keep going? Today’s guest, Alexx Stuart, is here to help. Alexx is the founder of Low Tox Life, a platform that offers a wealth of resources, including books, a blog, online courses, and a podcast. Alexx’s mission is to help us rethink our daily choices, from the food we consume to the products we use, offering us a path toward a healthier, more sustainable way of living. In today's conversation, we dive deep into reconnecting with nature, and how our food choices impact both our health and the planet, and we share practical strategies to make living a low-tox life achievable for everyone
It’s easy to feel like you are not doing enough, but I promise this conversation will have you celebrating the positive choices you are already making and maybe even inspire you to make a few more. 
 
Connect with Regan
On Instagram @cleanandgreenlivingpodcast 
On LinkedIn 
On Threads
Join the Clean & Green Living Free FB community here
Join the Clean & Green Living Newsletter here
Download the Clean & Green Living Guide here
Email regan at cleanandgreenlivingpodcast@gmail.com 
 
Connect with Alexx
Podcast https://www.lowtoxlife.com/podcast/ 
Website https://www.lowtoxlife.com 
On Instagram 

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the endless cycle of buying and storing, only to realize that much of what you purchase is made from things that are harmful to your health and the health of the planet?
If you're looking for a way to break free from the clutter and make your life safer and more sustainable through easy and everyday actions, then this episode is for you. Today, I’m  joined by Stephanie Seferian, the voice behind the Sustainable Minimalists podcast and author of the book Sustainable Minimalism. Stephanie is sharing practical steps to help you adopt a minimalist lifestyle, including 3 easy actions we can all take starting today to simplify our life and live with greater intention. 
 
Resources Mentioned
Eight Cost-Free Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
 
Connect with Regan
On Instagram @cleanandgreenlivingpodcast 
On LinkedIn 
On Threads
Join the Clean & Green Living Free FB community here
Join the Clean & Green Living Newsletter here
Download the Clean & Green Living Guide here
Email regan at cleanandgreenlivingpodcast@gmail.com 
 
Connect with Stephanie
Podcast 
Website
On Instagram 
Book https://mamaminimalist.com/sustainable_minimalism_book/