When it comes to self-care, we know we’re not the first to tell you that products with unsafe chemicals should have no place in your daily regimen. With no shortage of clean and ethical goods in the market, standing out against those that are harmful to our health and our babies’, there’s no better time to truly clean up your act than during your entry to motherhood. The problem is, there are so many products to choose from, it can be hard to select products that are actually in favor of our good health. Understanding labels can feel like a science in itself. And, it’s even harder to know which ones will achieve optimal results for women of color—who are the most vulnerable to toxic personal care products.
We reached out to beauty and wellness industry veteran Rachel Cook Northway, who specializes in this exact craft. Through her own health tribulations, Rachel has learned firsthand the impact that clean products can make on a mother’s journey—and is passionate about educating others on healthy alternatives, which, in many cases, can be truly lifesaving. Following a breast cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, Rachel was inspired to launch The Northway Edit, a bespoke curation service focused on non-toxic self-care products for individuals. Created as a way to welcome black women into clean beauty and wellness, Rachel finds customized products and solutions for each woman’s self-care needs. She’s an absolute pro at deciphering labels and knowing what’s good—and she’s agreed to share some of her must-haves with our Little Honey Money community. If you’re looking for a clean beauty guide to set the tone for your motherhood journey, we’ve got you—read on for Rachel’s clean beauty curation.
The Northway Edit Starter Guide
where to begin on Your Clean Beauty Journey
There’s no better time to start your clean beauty regimen than when motherhood is on the horizon. Pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum are great times to explore clean beauty. Any changes you make during this period can also translate to your children and family. I’m also a big fan of products that work for the whole family together. No matter where you are on your journey, it’s never too late to make healthy changes. The fact that you’re exploring it is a wonderful first step to opening your awareness. I’m excited to share some of my go-to products to support new motherhood.
Makeup
Makeup is very personal, and is often dictated by a woman’s lifestyle, and I love working with clients to find the perfect set for their daily needs. Lately, the no-makeup-makeup looks have made it easier to lean into clean skincare by letting the skin shine in its own right, while using minimal products. Here are a two products I absolutely love.
Saie Super Skin Tint Foundation
I love this brand’s attention to foundation shades for all skin complexions that provide beautiful coverage that’s not too much, not too little, but just right. Because their products contain skincare ingredients, their foundation also super nourishing at the same time.
Goop Beauty Nourishing Lip Balm
Lip care is a great area that I focus on with my clients. It’s important to understand that you’re literally ingesting whatever you put on your lips. For pregnancy, I love to keep it simple with goop Nourishing Lip Balm. Be sure to pack this one in your birthing bag!
Body Care
While expecting, the body goes through so many transformations. To support this process, I encourage mineral-rich body care products.
Pai Skincare Polly Plum Comforting Body Cream
Pai is one of my absolute favorite clean brands. Their Polly Plum body cream has a mild scent, and is super nourishing with calendula and jojoba oils—which makes it absolutely perfect for helping the skin adjust to changes throughout all trimesters of pregnancy.
Love this nourishing cream for all nursing mothers. A little dab of this balm goes a long way!
Hair Care for Textured Hair
Hair maintenance is a big one. I work hard to educate my clients on the realities of in-salon chemical treatments. While they often give us desired beauty results, the toxicity levels of many straightening and relaxing treatments, over time, can be dangerously carcinogenic. I love working with my clients to find healthy alternatives to work into their rituals.
I absolutely love Innersense! This brand has dedicated products for textured hair that are actually nourishing. Through the years, I found this category to be the most difficult to convert for women of color, but brands are definitely catching up! Here are a few of my Innersense favorites for targeted needs.
For protective styles (braids, natural curls):
For silk press prep:
For styling:
Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner
Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Nail Care
Bare Hands The Dry Gloss Manicure Kit
Bare Hands has an entire manicure method, that’s super easy to use. Keep this kit by your bedside table. You can even quickly do this manicure while your little one nurses.
Wellness Practices
Acupuncture has been a huge part of my healing practice, that I really wish I started during my pregnancy journey—especially for morning sickness. Find a local acupuncturist in your area that focuses on fertility, pregnancy, and supporting you once baby arrives. I can’t say enough about how this practice has changed my life—I’m currently a patient at ORA in NYC.
Meditation and prayer are also wonderful practices—especially if this is your first pregnancy! Utilize the quiet time before baby arrives. If you’re feeling sick in the mornings, start an afternoon or evening meditation practice. Just a few minutes per day will ground you and serve as a great foundation into motherhood. Once baby arrives, schedules change quite a bit, but take your time, that first year is a transition for you and baby.
Wishing you a wonderful journey to motherhood. Advocate for yourself, ask questions, and enjoy this moment in time!
Rachel Cook Northway is a mother of two and founder of The Northway Edit. Follow along on Instagram.
