A Clean Beauty Routine That Actually Works, Straight From Blogger Geri Hirsch

Blogger, mother, kitchen connoisseur, and business boss Geri Hirsch may have started out as one of our favorite bookmarked fashion muses, but as time's ticked on, she's also become the ultimate inspiration in terms of her beauty and wellness aesthetic. When she started her blog, Because I'm Addicted, 14 years ago, it was an à la carte side hustle the California-native used as an opportunity to channel her love of fashion, food, music, and art. Over time, however, it's become a full-time gig and Hirsch's passionate pipeline for all things lifestyle.

In addition to cultivating what The Hollywood Reporter referred to as Hirsch's "mini media empire," creating (and eventually selling) LEAF.tv, and being celebrated and recognized by such noteworthy publications as Women's Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Refinery 29, and yes, we here at Who What Wear, Hirsch increasingly establishes herself as a go-to destination for everything the modern-day mega-woman might type into Google—from mouthwatering cocktail and smoothie recipes to pregnancy and baby dilemmas to self-love, mindfulness, and, yes, all the beauty inspiration. 

If you follow Hirsch on social media, you're already fully cognizant of her striking skincare and makeup MO, which over the past six years has gradually transformed into a cleaner, greener, and leaner crop of staples the blogger routinely shares and photographs for her followers. However, since the concept of clean beauty and the process of switching over to the greener side of the market can be intimidating and confusing (not to mention frustrating as you hunt for effective products), we tapped Hirsch directly to learn more about why green lifestyle choices have become a priority, how the process felt switching over, and what the blogger's current stash of products looks like.

Refreshingly honest that she's still not perfect and has yet to fully convert her makeup arsenal, Hirsch did give us a coveted glimpse into her holy-grail green skincare haul while also sharing the most essential tips and tricks she's learned converting to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly beauty routine. Ahead, Hirsch shares the clean skincare products she (and her virtually perfect skin) swear by, plus everything else you've wanted to DM her regarding a clean lifestyle routine. Keep scrolling!

On how it all started: 

"I think it was around six years ago? I was doing The Clean Program which is a 21-day full-body detoxification, and I wanted to fully commit. While doing the cleanse, Alejandro Junger, MD, (the founder) suggests massage, hot and cold baths, skin brushing, only eating organic foods, and limiting toxins everywhere possible, including beauty products. The reason being, as he explains, 'When our systems are overtaxed, they begin to break down in a multitude of ways. Allergies, headaches, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, fatigue, weight gain, and insomnia are just a few of the symptoms that can result. The majority of these common ailments are the direct result of toxin buildup in our systems that has accumulated during the course of our daily lives.'

"This made perfect sense to me, and I wanted to feel as toxic-free as possible. So, I went all in which included ditching all my beauty products and swapping in clean alternatives."

On why it's important to her: 

"The Food and Drug Administration last updated beauty and cosmetics legislation on June 25, 1938. That's over 80 years ago. Stop and think about that for a second. Meanwhile, the EU has banned more than 1300 ingredients in personal care products. The average woman who uses regular beauty products can absorb an average of five pounds of chemicals into their bodies each year. 

"Combine those two facts and the amount of toxic, carcinogenic, endocrine/hormone-disrupting products we are packing into our bodies is alarming. Keeping as much of that out of my system is the benefit. I feel less run down and am 100% certain it will have positive effects on my long-term health."

On the process of converting to clean beauty: 

"The first three things I swapped out were body soap, lotion, and deodorant because these are products you slather all over your largest organ: your skin."

On the green skincare products she can't live without: 

"Right now, I'm dealing with some breakouts, so at night I'm cleansing with One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover ($42) and then I use True Botanicals Clear Repair Serum ($140) along with its Antioxidant Booster ($90) and seal it all in with its Moisture Lock Overnight Mask ($60). Hands down, it's the most hydrating mask I've ever used.

"I also love Tata Harper's products (shoutout to the Crème Riche Velvet Moisturizing Cream $185), a luxurious coat of Vinter's Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($185)—you haven't lived until you try it—Goop's Exfoliating Instant Facial ($125), Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular Exfoliating Peel Spray ($52) and Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift Algae Mask ($10), May Lindstrom's Honey Mud ($90), The Honest Company's Gentle Gel Cleanser ($13), Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes ($24)… How much time do we have?!"

On her makeup strategy:

"My makeup isn't 100% clean. I'm probably at a solid 70% but am making strides along with the industry. There are some products that I simply haven't found equal to or better clean versions of and there are certain things I am not willing to compromise on because of vanity! You feel me? But, it is getting so much better as brands like Kosås, W3LL People, Ilia Beauty, RMS Beauty, Juice Beauty, Jillian Dempsey, Olio E Osso, and Kjaer Weis pave the way—just to name a few!"

On her favorite places to shop for clean beauty:

"CAP Beauty is a pretty magical place, and now that it's here in L.A., I love to go there regularly. The brand has a very strict policy and only carries 100% clean products, which is key because clean beauty can be confusing. Words like 'all natural,' 'organic,' and 'clean' are tossed around like Drake lyrics but often are just marketing ploys. It's important to trust your retailers and/or really understand what is genuinely clean vs. clean by 'insert retailers' standards."

On tips for switching to a clean beauty aesthetic: 

"Start slowly with the things you feel you can compromise on. This is different for everyone, but think things like toothpaste (I love David's Premium Natural Toothpaste $10!), floss (I love Cocofloss $8), soap (Dr. Bronner's is an amazing brand), body oil/balm, deodorant, and laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is actually so important since it's all over your skin, especially your face while you sleep. Therefore, I recommend ditching the toxic stuff and opting for something clean, instead. On my blog, I have a detailed list of the best and highest rated non-toxic cleaning products you can use!

"Once you get the easier product types under your belt, start tackling other items as you run out of what you regularly use. Out of face wash? That's the perfect time to try swapping in a clean alternative, and the same goes for face mists, serums, moisturizers, and other makeup. Lucky for all of us, brands are catching up and clean beauty is getting pretty darn chic—both products and packaging."

Shop Geri's Clean Beauty Must-Haves: