I connected with Margot White, founder and head choosy chick late last year and after learning more about her green journey, I asked her to answer a few questions about herself, the shop, and making the switch to healthier products.
Keep reading for Margot's answers, plus a special discount code for Naturalla Beauty readers.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how The Choosy Chick came to be?
We
live in a world today in which we are exposed to thousands of toxins. Cancer,
diabetes, asthma, infertility and developmental disorders among other serious
health issues are on the rise. Protecting those we love is becoming an
increasingly difficult job. An educator for the last 15 years, wife and mother
of 4 boys, I understand fully that we need to do everything possible to help
the next generations live healthy, sustainable lives. Having been a
Health Educator, I always tried to make the best choices for my family. After developing some autoimmune issues and
watching so many of our loved ones
develop cancer, I began to look for more
ways I could reduce toxins in my home.
Like many, I was shocked to learn of the multitude of harmful chemicals
in skincare products, including those that disrupt hormones and cause
cancer.
Our
first step in our green beauty journey was to educate ourselves. We studied
ingredients. We bugged manufacturers about their products and manufacturing
processes, referenced independent testing firms and other reputable sources.
The next step was to find products deemed to be toxic-free in our local drug
stores and supermarkets. Not so easy. Even products claiming to be
“natural” or “organic” still contained toxins. We grew tired of coming out of
stores empty-handed. The need to find a place to shop for safe but
effective products for the whole family was obvious. As a result, The Choosy
Chick was hatched.
What makes The Choosy Chick different from other
online boutiques?
At The
Choosy Chick, we’re committed to researching, sampling and selecting the finest
non-toxic personal care products families deserve. We developed our very
own standard for
ingredients which has become the foundation for our product selections. We will
NOT be duped by natural sounding names or natural looking packaging. At
times we have had to dig deep to find products that meet this standard. We are often excited by promising “green”
brands only to find a risky ingredient or two way down at the bottom of the
ingredient list. We must stay true to who we say we are. Our customers
rely on our decision making, and we won’t let them down.
Second,
we believe that going “non-toxic” should not break the budget. We are not a
luxury-only store. Everyone should have
access to healthy, effective products that are affordable. Therefore we have a
wide range of choices to meet every budget.
In addition – we feel that entire families should switch to non-toxic
products. Babies and children are more
vulnerable than adults to the effects of toxins in the environment because
their body systems have not fully matured. According to The ATSDR,
childhood is a time of rapid growth and development. It is accompanied by
changes in organ system functioning, metabolic capabilities, physical size and
behavior that can significantly modify the effects of toxicant exposure.
Therefore, we offer wide selections for babies and kids.
How do you select what products to carry?
We follow our standard
strictly! Before we accept new products
for evaluation, we review them to see if they fit our guidelines:
- Products must be SAFE. We spent a long time researching ingredients and have compiled a thorough list of “Big Baddies” in products commonly found in supermarkets, drugstores and so-called health food stores. We will not sell products that contain any of these ingredients. PERIOD. To determine our list of Big Baddies, we referenced the ingredients with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, The David Suzuki Foundation, The Environmental Working Group, our own favorite Naturopathic Physician- Dr. Matthew Fisel, among other reputable sources.
- Products must be EFFECTIVE. We personally test products and have a testing team to determine if they actually do what they claim. We look for superstars!
- Our partners must SHARE OUR MISSION by putting the health and safety of consumers first and by demonstrating sustainable practices for the environment. We support companies that do not test on animals and provide packaging that is reusable and/or recyclable.
What are your main tips for someone just starting
to transition to natural products?
When we began this journey, we
literally got rid of everything that had suspect ingredients! We filled a large
tub with products from 3 bathrooms. Of
course this can be overwhelming and expensive, so we recommend starting simply.
- Get to know your ingredients. It may seem confusing at first, but it does get easier! Refer to our Big Baddie list of ingredients.
- Begin replacing products one by one. If you have to choose – start with the kids’ products first. Then move on to products that are left on the skin – lotions, makeup, etc. As you run out of something, replace it with the non-toxic version.
- Less is more. We find that when you have really good quality products without unnecessary chemicals, you need less. Skin issues tend to improve, so you need less product to combat skin irritations and less makeup to cover up!
If you had to pick, what are three products from the shop that you’d recommend for just about everyone?
Thank you Caitie for this opportunity to share
our story with your friends at Naturalla Beauty. We wish everyone the very best
in their journey towards a healthier, non-toxic lifestyle.
CHECK OUT THE CHOOSY CHICK HERE! Get 10% off site-wide with the code NATURALLA (through March 31/16), plus take advantage of The Choosy Chick's current 20% off promotion on French skincare brand DN-UNIK with the code DNUNIK20.
CHECK OUT THE CHOOSY CHICK HERE! Get 10% off site-wide with the code NATURALLA (through March 31/16), plus take advantage of The Choosy Chick's current 20% off promotion on French skincare brand DN-UNIK with the code DNUNIK20.
All photos courtesy of The Choosy Chick.
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